It Do n't Come Easy - wikipedia It Do n't Come Easy Not to be confused with Do n't Come Easy. `` It Do n't Come Easy '' UK picture sleeve Single by Ringo Starr B - side `` Early 1970 '' Released 9 April 1971 ( UK ) 16 April 1971 ( US ) Format 7 '' vinyl Recorded 8 and 11 March, October 1970, Trident Studios, London Genre Rock Length 3 : 00 Label Apple Songwriter ( s ) Richard Starkey Producer ( s ) George Harrison Ringo Starr singles chronology `` Beaucoups of Blues '' ( 1970 ) `` It Do n't Come Easy '' ( 1971 ) `` Back Off Boogaloo '' ( 1972 ) `` Beaucoups of Blues '' ( 1970 ) `` It Do n't Come Easy '' ( 1971 ) `` Back Off Boogaloo '' ( 1972 ) `` It Do n't Come Easy '' is a song by English musician Ringo Starr that was released as a non-album single in April 1971. Apart from in North America, where `` Beaucoups of Blues '' had been a single in October 1970, it was Starr 's first single release since the break - up of the Beatles. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 1 in Canada and number 4 in both the US and UK singles charts. The recording was produced by Starr 's former bandmate George Harrison, who also made an uncredited contribution as a composer. Starr performed the song with Harrison at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 and it has remained one of his most popular hits as a solo artist. Contents 1 Background 2 Recording history 2.1 Early takes 2.2 Official version 3 Release and reception 4 Covers and appearances 5 Personnel 6 Chart performance 6.1 Weekly charts 6.2 Year - end charts 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Background Although Ringo Starr received sole writing credit for `` It Do n't Come Easy '', author Bruce Spizer writes that he had `` substantial, but uncredited, assistance from Harrison ''. Starr subsequently acknowledged that Harrison had helped write it. In an episode of VH1 Storytellers ( Season 3, Episode 4 ) in 1998, right before performing the song, Starr said : `` I wrote this song with the one and only George Harrison. '' He went on to say that Harrison suggested the last verse be about God. When Starr protested, Harrison suggested Hare Krishna. Starr protested again, and Harrison suggested `` peace '' as a topic, and they settled on that. Recording History Early takes Recording of the new composition was begun at a late - night session on 18 February 1970 at Abbey Road 's Studio 2, during the Sentimental Journey album sessions. At this stage, the song was known as `` You Gotta Pay Your Dues ''. On this first session, George Martin was producing, with Harrison playing acoustic guitar and directing the other musicians -- namely, Starr ( on drums ), Klaus Voormann ( bass ) and Stephen Stills ( piano ). Twenty basic track takes were made, with take 20 being labelled `` best ''. Starr then added a lead vocal and Harrison added two electric guitar parts, finishing at 4 am, with the song being mixed into stereo. On 19 February, after overdubs onto `` Love Is a Many - Splendored Thing '', recording resumed on `` You Gotta Pay Your Dues '', with Starr overdubbing another lead vocal. Harrison was not present at the session that evening, although Eric Clapton may have been involved. During the session, Starr decided to remake the song ; a new basic track was then taped between 7 and 11 pm. Take 30 was labelled `` best '' and onto this take, two bass parts were added. This version was also discarded, however, since Starr again decided to remake the song. Official version Recording for the third version of `` It Do n't Come Easy '' began at Trident Studios on 8 March 1970. Harrison produced the sessions and played guitar. Voormann and Stills contributed as before, while the other participants included Mal Evans ( on tambourine ) and Ron Cattermole ( saxophone, trumpet ). Overdubs were added to the new basic track on 11 March, again at Trident. The song was then left until October 1970, at which point further overdubs were made, including a new piano part, performed by Gary Wright. According to his recollection in a 2002 interview, Jim Keltner added maracas to the finished recording, at Trident, having arrived in London in February 1971 to escape the Los Angeles earthquake. When news of the sessions reached the press in March 1970, Apple had told the music press there were `` absolutely no plans for the record to be released as a single at the present time '', and the song remained unissued until early 1971. An early mix from the sessions has appeared on bootlegs, featuring Harrison on lead vocal. While the instrumentation is almost identical to the released version ( the horns had not been added yet ), during the guitar break, the backing vocalists, Pete Ham and Tom Evans from Badfinger, add the line `` Hare Krishna. '' This can be heard on the final Starr release, although buried in the mix. Following the guitar solo, rather than there being another verse, there is a repeat of the song 's opening guitar phrase from Harrison, again with the backing vocalists singing ' it do n't come, oh no, you know it do n't come easy '' twice, with Harrison adding a few shouted lines behind them before returning to the verse. Subsequently, there are some additional backing vocal lines. Release and reception `` It Do n't Come Easy '', backed with `` Early 1970 '', was released on 9 April 1971 in the UK, and a week later, on 16 April in the US. In a contemporary review, in the NME, Alan Smith described the song as `` undoubtedly one of the best, thumpin'est things the Starr man has ever done '' and added : `` That 's a very strong hook he 's got there, and George Harrison has given the record a fat, pumping backing full of guts and stuff. '' Smith criticised Starr 's vocal on the track, however, before concluding : `` But on the credit side we have an inventive mind and a dry wit coming more and more into play with better songs. One day he may even write a masterpiece. '' Billboard 's reviewer admired the single as Starr 's `` most commercial solo effort '' yet and predicted : `` Potent Top 40 rock material and vocal workout has it to take him all the way. '' The single peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached the fourth spot on the UK singles chart. The single beat the sales of Starr 's fellow former - Beatles ' singles at the time : John Lennon 's `` Power to the People '', Paul McCartney 's `` Another Day '' and Harrison 's `` Bangla Desh ''. The 22 April 1971 edition of the BBC TV show Top of the Pops showed the promotional video for the song. On 27 April, Starr was in Norway to shoot another music video for `` It Do n't Come Easy '', that was broadcast on another edition of Top of the Pops, on 29 April. Starr was filmed performing the song live at Scandinavia, on 24 June 1971, backed by an orchestra, for the BBC TV show Cilla, which aired on 27 November 1971. Backed by Harrison, Voormann and Keltner, among others, Starr performed `` It Do n't Come Easy '' at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971, forgetting some of the words. While this live recording was included on the Concert for Bangladesh triple album, the studio version remained unavailable on an LP until the release of Starr 's 1975 Apple greatest hits compilation, Blast from Your Past. The song was also heard in the 1978 NBC - TV special Ringo. Although Starr recorded new versions of several songs for the special, the released recording of `` It Do n't Come Easy '' was used. Starr 's re-recording of his 1972 hit `` Back Off Boogaloo '' for the Stop and Smell the Roses 1981 album alludes to several Beatles songs, among them `` It Do n't Come Easy ''. On 12 March 1984, EMI released a single of `` It Do n't Come Easy '' / `` Back Off Boogaloo '' in the UK as part of their Golden 45s series. Starr has frequently performed `` It Do n't Come Easy '' in concert with his All - Starr Band. Starr included the song on the set list for his July -- September 1989 American tour, and a performance of this song opened the 1990 album Ringo Starr and His All - Starr Band. It was also included on a bonus 5 '' CD single released with the US limited edition deluxe CD version of Ringo Starr and His All - Starr Band. In 1991, `` It Do n't Come Easy '' was added as a bonus track to the CD version of Ringo, along with `` Down and Out '' and `` Early 1970 ''. Starr 's song `` Do n't Go Where the Road Do n't Go '' from his 1992 album Time Takes Time features a homage to the song during the bridge with the line `` Well I said it do n't come easy, well I sure know how it feels ''. Starr 's song `` Eye to Eye '' from his 2003 album Ringo Rama starts with the lines `` Remember when I said it do n't come easy, that seems so long ago ''. Covers and appearances In 1987, a cover version of `` It Do n't Come Easy '' was used in a commercial for 7 - Eleven using the slogan `` Where the good things come easy ''. Along with a guest appearance by Starr, the song was featured in The Simpsons episode `` Brush with Greatness ''. The song is used as inspirational background music for a montage of Marge Simpson painting a portrait of Mr. Burns. The song was covered by the American band the Smithereens on their album of rarities, Attack of the Smithereens. A cover is featured in the 2014 movie The Identical. The song was the opening theme of the 1973 - 1975 ABC late night talk show Good Night, America hosted by Geraldo Rivera. Personnel The following musicians played on the released version of `` It Do n't Come Easy '' : Ringo Starr -- vocals, drums George Harrison -- guitars Gary Wright -- piano Klaus Voormann -- bass Uncredited musicians -- horns Unknown -- organ, tambourine Pete Ham, Tom Evans -- backing vocals Ken Scott -- recording engineer Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1971 ) Peak position Australian Go - Set National Top 60 Australian Kent Music Report Austria Belgian Ultratop Singles 9 Canadian RPM 100 Dutch MegaChart Singles 7 Irish Singles Chart Japanese Oricon Singles 30 New Zealand NZ Listener Chart 7 Norwegian VG - lista Singles 5 Swedish Kvällstoppen Chart 14 Swiss Singles Chart 5 UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Easy Listening 24 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles US Record World Singles Chart West German Media Control Singles 5 Year - end charts Chart ( 1971 ) Rank Australia 35 Canadian RPM Singles 9 UK 42 US Billboard 43 US Cash Box 25 References Footnotes Jump up ^ UK Apple R5898 Jump up ^ US Apple 1831 Jump up ^ This version would later be repeated on 2 August 1993, as part of Top of the Pops re-showings. Citations Jump up ^ Spizer, Bruce ( 2005 ). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records. New Orleans, LA : 498 Productions. p. 293. ISBN 0 - 9662649 - 5 - 9. Jump up ^ Rodriguez, Robert ( 2010 ). Fab Four FAQ 2.0 : The Beatles ' Solo Years, 1970 -- 1980. Milwaukee, WI : Backbeat Books. p. 28. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4165 - 9093 - 4. ^ Jump up to : Miles, Barry ( 1998 ). The Beatles a Diary : An Intimate Day by Day History. London : Omnibus Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7119 - 6315 - 3. Jump up ^ Stannard, Neville. Working Class Heroes. p. 154. ^ Jump up to : Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 224. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Madinger, Chip ; Easter, Mark ( 2000 ). Eight Arms to Hold You : The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO : 44.1 Productions. p. 498. ISBN 0 - 615 - 11724 - 4. Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 223. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. Jump up ^ Kubernik, Harvey ( July 2011 ). `` With a Little Help from His Friends : George Harrison and the Concert for Bangla Desh ''. Rock 's Backpages. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 183. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Miles, Barry ; Badman, Keith, eds. ( 2001 ). The Beatles Diary After the Break - Up : 1970 -- 2001 ( reprint ed. ). London : Music Sales Group. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7119 - 8307 - 6. Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. pp. 182, 183. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. Jump up ^ Smith, Alan ( 24 April 1971 ). `` Singles Reviews ''. NME. p. 20. Jump up ^ Hunt, Chris ( ed. ) ( 2005 ). NME Originals : Beatles -- The Solo Years 1970 -- 1980. London : IPC Ignite !. p. 33. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Billboard Review Panel ( 17 April 1971 ). `` Spotlight Singles ''. Billboard. p. 54. Retrieved 24 March 2016. Jump up ^ Schaffner, Nicholas ( 1977 ). The Beatles Forever. Cameron House. p. 149. access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 174. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. Jump up ^ Rodriguez, Robert ( 2010 ). Fab Four FAQ 2.0 : The Beatles ' Solo Years, 1970 -- 1980 ( illustrated ed. ). New York : Backbeat Books. p. 123. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87930 - 968 - 8. Jump up ^ Harry, Bill ( 2004 ). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London : Virgin Books. p. 14. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7535 - 0843 - 5. Jump up ^ Calkin, Graham. `` Ringo Starr - It Do n't Come Easy ''. Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2013. Jump up ^ Ingham, p. 143. Jump up ^ Good Night America. IMDB. Jump up ^ Spizer, Bruce ( 2005 ). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records. New Orleans, LA : 498 Productions. p. 294. ISBN 0 - 9662649 - 5 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Go - Set Australian charts -- 10 July 1971 ''. poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ringo Starr -- It Do n't Come Easy ''. ultratop.be. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` RPM 100 Singles, July 4, 1971 ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ringo Starr -- It Do n't Come Easy ''. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Search by Artist > Ringo Starr '' Archived January 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine., irishcharts.ie ( retrieved 23 March 2016 ). Jump up ^ `` Ringo Starr Chart Trajectories on the Oricon Singles ( 1968 -- 2005 ) ''. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` NZ Listener chart statistics for Ringo Starr ( search by artist ) ''. Flavour of New Zealand. Retrieved 24 March 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Ringo Starr -- It Do n't Come Easy ''. norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swedish Charts 1969 -- 1972 / Kvällstoppen -- Listresultaten vecka för vecka '' > `` Oktober 1971 ( in Swedish ) '' ( PDF ). hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 24 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ringo Starr -- It Do n't Come Easy ''. hitparade.ch. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ringo Starr ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2016. ^ Jump up to : Whitburn, Joel ( 2015 ). The Comparison Book. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. p. 481. ISBN 978 - 0 - 89820 - 213 - 7. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 Easy Listening ''. Billboard. 19 June 1971. p. 36. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Top Pop 100 Singles '' Billboard December 25, 1971 : TA - 36 Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 06 - 26. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 30. Further reading Ingham, Chris ( 2006 ). The Rough Guide to the Beatles ( 2nd edn ). London : Rough Guides / Penguin. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84836 - 525 - 4. Lewisohn, Mark ( 1992 ). Complete Beatles Chronicle. Harmony. ISBN 978 - 0 - 517 - 58100 - 1. Whitburn, Joel ( 2000 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits ( 7th Rev ed. ). Watson - Guptill Publications. p. 598. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8230 - 7690 - 1. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Ringo Starr Studio albums Sentimental Journey Beaucoups of Blues Ringo Goodnight Vienna Ringo 's Rotogravure Ringo the 4th Bad Boy Stop and Smell the Roses Old Wave Time Takes Time Vertical Man I Wanna Be Santa Claus Ringo Rama Choose Love Liverpool 8 Y Not Ringo 2012 Postcards from Paradise Give More Love Live albums Ringo Starr and His All - Starr Band Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Volume 2 : Live from Montreux 4 - Starr Collection Ringo Starr and His Third All - Starr Band - Volume 1 VH1 Storytellers King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo & His New All - Starr Band Extended Versions Tour 2003 Ringo Starr and Friends Ringo Starr : Live at Soundstage Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Live 2006 Live at the Greek Theatre 2008 Compilations Blast from Your Past Starr Struck : Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2 The Anthology... So Far Photograph : The Very Best of Ringo Starr Icon Singles `` Beaucoups of Blues '' `` It Do n't Come Easy '' / `` Early 1970 '' `` Back Off Boogaloo '' `` Photograph '' `` You 're Sixteen '' `` Oh My My '' `` Only You ( And You Alone ) '' `` No No Song '' / `` Snookeroo '' `` ( It 's All Down to ) Goodnight Vienna '' `` Oh My My '' / `` No No Song '' `` A Dose of Rock ' n ' Roll '' `` Hey ! Baby '' `` Wings '' `` Lipstick Traces ( On a Cigarette ) '' `` In My Car '' `` I Keep Forgettin ' '' `` Act Naturally '' `` Weight of the World '' `` Never Without You '' `` Liverpool 8 '' `` Walk with You '' Books Postcards From the Boys Octopus 's Garden Photograph Related Articles Discography Song list Filmography The Concert for Bangladesh Ring O ' Records Scouse the Mouse Ringo 's Yellow Submarine Ringo ( 1978 film ) The Hollywood Vampires Bands Rory Storm and the Hurricanes The Beatles Ringo Starr & His All - Starr Band People / Artists Maureen Starkey ( first wife ) Zak Starkey ( son ) Barbara Bach ( second wife ) Francesca Gregorini ( stepdaughter ) George Harrison Mark Hudson Harry Nilsson Vini Poncia Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Don%27t_Come_Easy&oldid=822865816 '' Categories : Ringo Starr songs 1971 singles Apple Records singles Songs written by Ringo Starr Songs written by George Harrison Song recordings produced by George Harrison Music published by Startling Music Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Webarchive template wayback links Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 28 January 2018, at 23 : 30. 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Question: who played guitar on it don't come easy
Answer: George Harrison