Recording: It Don’t Come Easy by Ringo Starr

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin

Ringo Starr had two back-to-back recording sessions at EMI Studios on this day. The first, from 2.30-5pm, was for his Sentimental Journey album, while this second one was for his standalone single ‘It Don’t Come Easy’.

Recording for ‘It Don’t Come Easy’, which had the working title ‘You Gotta Pay Your Dues’, began the night before. This session began at 5pm and finished at 1.30am the following morning.

In the first hour Starr re-recorded his lead vocals onto the previous night’s take 20. However, during the hour-long break that followed, it was decided that the song should be remade, and takes 21-30 were recorded from 7-11pm.

George Harrison played acoustic guitar, Klaus Voormann was on bass guitar, Starr played drums, and Stephen Stills was on piano. Two bass parts were overdubbed onto take 30 between 11pm and 1.30am.

‘It Don’t Come Easy’ was then left until 8 March 1970, when a second remake was recorded at Trident Studios. More overdubs followed on 11 March and in October 1970.