Ringo Starr Begins Recording ‘It Don’t Come Easy’ – 8 March 1970

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Recording 'It Don't Come Easy': Ringo Starr Begins Remake at Trident Studios – 8 March 1970

Sunday 8 March 1970 | Ringo Starr, Studio

On 8 March 1970, Ringo Starr returned to the studio to begin a second remake of his song 'It Don't Come Easy', the track that would eventually become his debut UK solo single. The session most likely took place at Trident Studios in London, although surviving documentation does not definitively confirm the exact location.

The recording was produced by George Harrison, who had co-written the song with Starr and played both acoustic and electric guitar during the session.

The Origins of 'It Don't Come Easy'

Work on the song had originally begun during earlier sessions on 18 and 19 February 1970. However, Starr was not satisfied with the results, leading to a fresh attempt to record the track on 8 March.

The song reflected the growing musical independence of the former Beatles as the group approached the end of their time together.

Although credited solely to Ringo Starr upon release, 'It Don't Come Easy' was largely written in collaboration with George Harrison, who played a major role in shaping the track during its lengthy recording process.

Musicians at the Session

The session featured several musicians closely associated with the former Beatles' circle of collaborators:

• Ringo Starr – drums, vocals
• George Harrison – acoustic and electric guitar, producer
• Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
• Stephen Stills – piano
• Mal Evans – tambourine

During the session Harrison also recorded a guide vocal for the song. This recording has since circulated unofficially on bootleg releases.

A Long Recording Process

Despite beginning work on the song in early 1970, Starr did not rush to release it. Additional overdubs were added on 11 March 1970, and the track remained unfinished for several months.

The final version of 'It Don't Come Easy' was eventually completed later in the year and released as a single in April 1971. The record became one of Starr's most successful solo hits, reaching number four in the UK and number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ringo Starr's First Major Solo Hit

'It Don't Come Easy' marked an important milestone in Ringo Starr's post-Beatles career. With its distinctive rhythm, strong melody and uplifting message, the song demonstrated Starr's ability to establish himself as a successful solo artist following the breakup of The Beatles.

The collaboration with George Harrison also reflected the continuing musical partnership between the two former bandmates during the early years after the group's split.

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FAQs

Who wrote 'It Don't Come Easy'?

'It Don't Come Easy' was credited to Ringo Starr but was largely co-written with George Harrison.