Ringo Starr - Live At the Mohegan Sun - 1. It Don't Come Easy

July 16th 2006.

"It Don't Come Easy" is a song released as an Apple Records single by Ringo Starr in April 1971, reaching number four in both the U.S. and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US (the first was "Beaucoups of Blues"), following the breakup of The Beatles.

Starr reportedly composed the song in 1970. Decades later, he admitted that the song's producer George Harrison "co-wrote" the song (as he did with other hits such as "Photograph").

The released version included Harrison on guitar, Klaus Voorman on bass guitar, Stephen Stills, Ron Cattermole (brass), Badfinger members Pete Ham and Tom Evans performing background vocals, and Starr on drums and lead vocals. The B-side of the single, "Early 1970", featured Starr on acoustic guitar, piano, drums and vocals, with Harrison playing guitar, bass, and providing backing vocals. Its lyrics refer to the lives of The Beatles around the time of their breakup (hence, the title). Both tracks were produced by Harrison, and published by Startling Music.