Written by: Starkey
Recorded: February; March; October 1970
Producer: George Harrison
Released: 9 April 1971
Available on:
Photograph: The Very Best Of Ringo Starr
Personnel
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums
George Harrison: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Gary Wright: piano
Klaus Voormann: bass guitar
Mal Evans: tambourine
Pete Ham, Tom Evans: vocals
Ron Cattermole: saxophone, trumpet
Jim Keltner: maracas
Unknown: horns
'It Don't Come Easy' was a standalone single released by Ringo Starr in 1971.
The single was a critical and commercial success, and topped the Canadian singles chart. See more…
Although Starr received the sole songwriting credit, in 1998 he said, during an appearance on VH1 Storytellers: "I wrote this song with the one and only George Harrison."
Klaus is teaching me guitar. It's interesting, because I played in E for the past 10 years, and now I can play all the other chords, and with not knowing I just jump into strange chords that no one seems to get into. Most of the stuff I write is 12 bar, anyway. Then I take it to George who puts in five more chords and you all say, 'God , look at that, see the way he wrote that song with all those chords?' Ha, ha, ha. But I usually write it in three.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcZxEpA9XY?feature=oembed&w=800&h=600]
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11.15pm
24 March 2018
I can't believe that there's not a thread about this song here. Maybe I missed it. Anyway, it's my fave song by an ex-Beatle, by far. I realize that many claim Harrison actually wrote it, but it's still my fave. Anyone else feel this way?
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Richard, LucyInTheSkyWithHackneyDiamonds, BeatlebugIf I were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one album with me, it would be Revolver.
I just hope that I would have some means of playing it. Ha ha!
11.45pm
11 June 2015
I agree @Emmett, that's a great song that would not have been out of place on All Things Must Pass . Have you heard George's demo?
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Richard, BeatlebugYou and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
8.39am
4 September 2019
Emmett said
I can't believe that there's not a thread about this song here. Maybe I missed it. Anyway, it's my fave song by an ex-Beatle, by far. I realize that many claim Harrison actually wrote it, but it's still my fave. Anyone else feel this way?
This is definitely one of the best Beatle solo singles. Some people claim George wrote it but Ringo was reportedly working on it during the White Album . I feel pretty comfortable saying it was written by the both of them. I'm guessing George definitely wrote the main riff, it sounds a lot like him. Anyway, it's still a very modern sounding song, similar feel to While My Guitar Gently Weeps . The lyrics sound very Ringo though. Great classic rock song, period.
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LucyInTheSkyWithHackneyDiamonds, Beatlebug, Rube10.21pm
21 February 2024
2.19am
Moderators
15 February 2015
forn said
Emmett said
I can't believe that there's not a thread about this song here. Maybe I missed it. Anyway, it's my fave song by an ex-Beatle, by far. I realize that many claim Harrison actually wrote it, but it's still my fave. Anyone else feel this way?This is definitely one of the best Beatle solo singles. Some people claim George wrote it but Ringo was reportedly working on it during the White Album . I feel pretty comfortable saying it was written by the both of them. I'm guessing George definitely wrote the main riff, it sounds a lot like him. Anyway, it's still a very modern sounding song, similar feel to While My Guitar Gently Weeps . The lyrics sound very Ringo though. Great classic rock song, period.
Full disclosure I am a massive Harrifan so there's a certain bias there, but I'm also a musician and have dabbled in songwriting/music analysis, and George had very distinctive songwriting sensibilities that I can spot from a mile away. With all that having been said, the chord progression does feel very George, especially considering the way the guitar riff naturally falls out of it (I've played this song many times and it's super easy and satisfying to pick out the riff just using the basic notes of the chords, basic "cowboy" chords). I find it hard to imagine Ringo writing the chord progression and then George turning it into a riff – rather, it feels like the riff was stumbled on at the same time as the chord progression.
@sigh butterfly posted George's demo above but that video appears to no longer be available, here's another one:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtius23I34k?feature=oembed&w=800&h=450]
I absolutely freakin' love his voice on this. He totally could've had a smash hit with this. It's just a bloody great song in general and definitely suits Ringo's voice, but George is giving this vocal his ALL. 2:16 is WILD! I didn't even know George could sing like that!
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9.21am
4 September 2019
Beatlebug said
Full disclosure I am a massive Harrifan so there's a certain bias there, but I'm also a musician and have dabbled in songwriting/music analysis, and George had very distinctive songwriting sensibilities that I can spot from a mile away. With all that having been said, the chord progression does feel very George, especially considering the way the guitar riff naturally falls out of it (I've played this song many times and it's super easy and satisfying to pick out the riff just using the basic notes of the chords, basic "cowboy" chords). I find it hard to imagine Ringo writing the chord progression and then George turning it into a riff – rather, it feels like the riff was stumbled on at the same time as the chord progression.
It's a very simple chord progression though, and as you yourself state, very basic "cowboy chords", just as you would expect Ringo to come up. Although for all we know, Ringo came up with the chords on the piano. Since there is a similarity between the riff and the chord progression, it wouldn't be surprising if the riff was inspired by the chord progression. Also, perhaps Ringo originally played a slightly different chord progression, and George made the suggestion to "adjust" it some? Although maybe not - maybe Ringo played it originally in a different key? He did say in Early 1970 that he plays the piano if it's in C (which is a reference to playing all the white keys, which will automatically go together).
Anyway, I'm not trying to cut George out of it, I just find no reason to believe that Ringo didn't originally start writing it himself, so he must have contributed something. The chords are no more sophisticated than Don't Pass Me By , people don't question that Ringo wrote that, although it wouldn't surprise me if George lent him a hand on that as well. George was very generous with his time, clearly, at least to Ringo.
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Beatlebug11.39pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
forn said
It's a very simple chord progression though, and as you yourself state, very basic "cowboy chords", just as you would expect Ringo to come up. Although for all we know, Ringo came up with the chords on the piano. Since there is a similarity between the riff and the chord progression, it wouldn't be surprising if the riff was inspired by the chord progression. Also, perhaps Ringo originally played a slightly different chord progression, and George made the suggestion to "adjust" it some? Although maybe not - maybe Ringo played it originally in a different key? He did say in Early 1970 that he plays the piano if it's in C (which is a reference to playing all the white keys, which will automatically go together).
Anyway, I'm not trying to cut George out of it, I just find no reason to believe that Ringo didn't originally start writing it himself, so he must have contributed something. The chords are no more sophisticated than Don't Pass Me By , people don't question that Ringo wrote that, although it wouldn't surprise me if George lent him a hand on that as well. George was very generous with his time, clearly, at least to Ringo.
Valid points all. I could easily see that happening (a proper Harrison progression usually has more "naughty chords" in it, after all ).
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