Hard to Make a Stand

"Hard to Make a Stand"
"Hard to Make a Stand"
Single by Sheryl Crow
from the album Sheryl Crow
B-side	"In Need"; "Sad Sad World";
Released	March 17, 1997
Studio	Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles)
Length	3:07
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Sheryl Crow; Bill Bottrell; Todd Wolfe; R.S. Bryan;
Producer(s)	Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow singles chronology
Audio video
	"Hard To Make A Stand" on YouTube

"Hard to Make a Stand" is the third single from Sheryl Crow's self-titled second album (1996). It was released by A&M as a single only in Europe, Canada, Japan, and South Africa. The track caused controversy in the US due to its references to abortion. The music video for the song, directed by Matthew Amos, is taken from a live performance in London. A live performance of this song is featured on Sheryl Crow's 2006 concert DVD: Wildflower Tour, Live from New York.

Critical reception

Kevin Courtney from Irish Times commented, "'Hard to Make a Stand' is another just bog standard country rock tune, but somehow Ms Crow manages to turn it into a sparkling, rhinestone encrusted pop hit. This one faithfully follows the path of its predecessor, 'Everyday Is a Winding Road', offering nothing new except another chance to see the 1990s Linda Ronstadt do her cowgirl routine on video."^[1]

Track listings

UK CD1^[2]

"Hard to Make a Stand"
"Hard to Make a Stand" (alternate version)
"Hard to Make a Stand" (live BBC Simon Mayo Session)
"In Need"

UK CD2^[3]

"Hard to Make a Stand"
"Sad Sad World"
"No One Said It Would Be Easy" (live from Shepherd's Bush Empire in London)
"If It Makes You Happy" (live from Shepherd's Bush Empire in London)

European CD single^[4]

"Hard to Make a Stand"
"Sad Sad World"

Japanese CD single^[5]

"Hard to Make a Stand"
"If It Makes You Happy" (live)
"On the Outside" (live)
"No One Said It Would Be Easy" (live)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD2 liner notes and the Sheryl Crow album booklet.^[3]^[6]

Studios

Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles)
Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

Sheryl Crow – writing, vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ, production
Bill Bottrell – writing
Todd Wolfe – writing
R.S. Bryan – writing
Steve Donnelly – electric guitar
Pete Thomas – drums
Tchad Blake – mixing, recording
Bob Ludwig – mastering
Jeri Heiden – artwork design
Jim Wright – photography

Charts

Chart (1997–1998)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[7]	15
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[8]	32
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	85
Scotland (OCC)^[10]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[11]	22

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	March 17, 1997	CD cassette	A&M	^[12]
Japan	May 8, 1997	CD	A&M	^[13]

References

^ Courtney, Kevin (March 21, 1997). "Single File". Irish Times.
^ Hard to Make a Stand (UK CD1 liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 147-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ ^a ^b Hard to Make a Stand (UK CD2 liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 149-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Hard to Make a Stand (European CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 098-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Hard to Make a Stand (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. POCM-1211.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Sheryl Crow (US CD album booklet). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1996. 31454 0587 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3504." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3491." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 14. April 5, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 15, 1997. p. 28. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
^ "ハード・トゥ・メイク・ア・スタンド | シェリル・クロウ" [Hard to Make a Stand | Sheryl Crow] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.

[1] Courtney, Kevin (March 21, 1997). "Single File". Irish Times.

[2] Hard to Make a Stand (UK CD1 liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 147-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[ukcd2-3] Hard to Make a Stand (UK CD2 liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 149-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[4] Hard to Make a Stand (European CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. 582 098-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] Hard to Make a Stand (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1997. POCM-1211.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[6] Sheryl Crow (US CD album booklet). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1996. 31454 0587 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-7] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3504." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2018.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-8] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3491." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2018.

[9] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 14. April 5, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

[sc_Scotland_-10] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.

[sc_UK_-11] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2018.

[12] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 15, 1997. p. 28. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[13] "ハード・トゥ・メイク・ア・スタンド | シェリル・クロウ" [Hard to Make a Stand | Sheryl Crow] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]