"I'm Not Easy" is a song first recorded by American country artist Billie Jo Spears. Written by David Chamberlain and Jim Vest, it was released as a single in 1977 and became top 20 charting country single in the United States. The song also served as the title track to Spears's 1976 studio album.
| "I'm Not Easy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Billie Jo Spears | ||||
| from the album I'm Not Easy | ||||
| B-side | "Too Far Gone" | |||
| Released | January 1977 | |||
| Recorded | July 1976 | |||
| Studio | Jack Clement Recording (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:03 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Larry Butler | |||
| Billie Jo Spears singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and recording
editIn 1975, Billie Jo Spears topped the country charts after years of limited commercial success. Songs liker "Blanket on the Ground", "What I've Got in Mind" and "Misty Blue" reached the country charts top ten. They would be followed by several more top 20 singles during the seventies decade.[2] Among these top 20 recordings was 1977's "I'm Not Easy".[3] It was written by David Chamberlain and Jim Vest. "I'm Not Easy" was produced by Larry Butler in July 1976 at the Jack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.[4]
Release, chart performance and reception
edit"I'm Not Easy" first served as the title track to Spears's 1976 studio album.[5] It was then released as a single in January 1977 on United Artists Records. It was backed on the B-side by a cover of Tammy Wynette's "Too Far Gone". It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl disc.[4] It debuted on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 1977. It reached the number 11 position in March 1977 after spending 13 weeks on the chart.[6] On the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart, the it climbed to the number 29 position.[7]
In reviewing the I'm Not Easy LP, AllMusic's Greg Adams described the title track as "painfully forlorn".[3]
Track listing
edit7" vinyl single[4]
- "I'm Not Easy" – 3:03
- "Too Far Gone" – 3:15
Charts
edit| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] | 29 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ a b ""I'm Not Easy": Billie Jo Spears: Track Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Billie Jo Spears Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b Adams, Greg. "I'm Not Easy: Billie Jo Spears: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Spears, Billie Jo (January 1977). ""I'm Not Easy"/"Too Far Gone" (Single Information)". United Artists Records. UA-XW935-Y.
- ^ Spears, Billie Jo (November 1976). "I'm Not Easy (Disc Information)". United Artists Records. UA-LA684-G.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. various.
- ^ a b "Search results for "Billie Jo Spears"". RPM. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ "Billie Jo Spears Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.