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It's Easy for You

Rating:
4.5 / 5

Words & Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Tim Rice

You may not mind that it's over
But I've a different point of view
Even though I am shattered
It's easy for you

You don't have to face the music
You don't have to face the crowd
Just go back where you came from
You ain't even proud

I had a wife and I had children
I threw them all away
And now you tell me, you dare to tell me
I should go back to them
What do you think I should say

I found it hard to leave them
Saddest thing I ever had to do
My problems haven't started
And it's easy for you

I had a wife and I had children
I threw them all away
And now you tell me, you dare to tell me
I should go back to them
What do you think, what on earth do you think I should say

If you ever tire of the good life
Call me in a year or two
I've got no choice, I'll forgive you
'Cause it's easy for you

You only have to call me, it's easy for you
You only have to call me, it's easy for you

Recordingdate: 1976/10/29, first released on: Moody Blue (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of It's Easy for You:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(electric piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(steel guitar)
(moog)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with It's Easy for You.

old shep wrote on April 09, 2008
I'm not a Tim Rice LLoyd Webber fan but they certainly created a beautiful song here.The only problem that I do have with it is the lousy production where it seems as if Elvis is singing from the bottom of a bucket!
ElvisDayByDay wrote on April 12, 2008
This song needs a "teardrop". Elvis' life was miserable enough when he recorded this song in his Jungle Room din, but strangely enough he could not put that misery in his rendition of this song.
Steve Morse wrote on April 12, 2008
I have always loved this recording and it was the last new song we heard from Elvis before he died, being the final track on the Moody Blue album. I actually like the "distant" sound on this and prefer it to the alternative on Jungle Room Sessions. I also like Elvis's treatment and there's the right sort of desolation in his voice to suit this listener.
Steve V wrote on April 12, 2008
The best ballad from the King in 1976. I agree about the production though. Always bothered me. The song could have been so much better if recorded properly.
Viva wrote on April 12, 2008
This track has always been a favourite of mine. There have been many and various criticisms levelled at this song from all sides including Tim Rice himself; but I do not understand these critiques at all. I believe this track is one of THE standout recordings from the Jungle Room, and Elvis gets the delivery absolutely spot on, as only he could. One of the things which makes Elvis the King is the way he can impeccably convey the emotion of a lyric, and he delivers that same unrivalled standard in It's Easy For You. It's a great tune and a great lyric delivered perfectly. I've always felt that the distant tone of Elvis' vocal to be a deliberate effect as opposed to some kind of poor recording quality. Considering Elvis' obvious disinterest in recording new material at that time this is an exceptionally fine tune and a perfect end to the Moody Blue album which incidently (also against popular opinion) I regard as a quintessential release from start to finish. 10 out of 10 from me.
Lex wrote on April 12, 2008
Beautiful ballad, together with the two singles the strongest song on the album. A pity it got the telephone production.
mak1965 wrote on April 12, 2008
Love it!!! Even better when he does it on the Jungle Room CD... "Emotional Sonofabitch"! Missing You E
RonBaker wrote on April 12, 2008
Also one of my favorites. Elvis could make the most of good songs and this is one of his finest from the 70s.
king35 wrote on April 13, 2008
Also one of my favorites. My favorite line is "You don't have to face the music, you don't have to face the crowd", that line I just love because simply he's saying, It's easy for you 'cos you're you, it's not easy for me because I'm Elvis Presley, I can't escape who I am. I to also have always had a problem with the production on this song, the kinda muffled sound. Still a great track.
Rob Wanders wrote on December 19, 2008
yes, one of the best songs from Elvis. It's battling, in my top 4, with "Pieces of my life", "I've lost you", and "it's midnight" for the top position. But only the Jungle room version. The Moody blue version was so mistreated by Felton Jarvis. It is like Elvis is singing through a telephone. It was really a discovery to hear this Pearl on the Jungle room cd. Elvis opening his heart to all of us (and as all of us would say: "specially to me".)
Marty_TCE wrote on December 19, 2008
A wonderful track from a wonderful session, I've kind of grown up with the distant sound on the track and often wondered why Elvis sounded like this for this song only. The strange thing is it was weird hearing the Jungle Room version. The song flows very well and it truly is one of my favourite Elvis songs. TCE
JJ.aron wrote on December 19, 2008
very good song at the end of the road ! You can feel the pain and heartache from our man. It deserve more attention from the general public. forever gold elvis!!
Matthias Kuenzer wrote on December 19, 2008
This is a song whose lyrics must have appealed to Elvis personally. Sung with soul and conviction, much better than much of the staff writers stuff from the early seventies. Recorded at a time when Elvis recorded almost exclusively songs he brought to the session himself.
Marty_TCE wrote on September 19, 2009
A huge favourite of mine, but as mentioned the final mix version on the original LP is criminal! The version on FTD gives the song it's soul back. Elvis pours his heart out on this, 5 stars from me *****
bajo wrote on September 19, 2009
I really like this song! But, it really gives you an indication of how badly the entire Jungle Room sessions needs an upgrade and hopefully a remix. We have the originals on the revamped Moody Blue album a few years back. I hope FTD handles these sessions in the classic album series in the near future.
Deano1 wrote on February 28, 2010
The final song on the final LP of Elvis' career and what a performance it is. The only thing that keeps this from being a five star track is the syrupy music and so-so production. Elvis wrings every last bit of emotion out of this song and like the songs "It's Midnight" and "Love Coming Down", you could almost swear Elvis wrote the lyrics. It is as if he is living or has lived every word. Sad, haunting and heart breaking, yet it is so beautiful.
Ton Bruins wrote on October 31, 2010
Big favourite of mine. Very personal lyrics indeed. "I had a wife and I had children, I threw them all away".."You don't have to face the music, You don't have to face the crowd.."
Lpool kid wrote on July 18, 2011
this could have been and should have been a massive hit for elvis if felton jarvis hadn't of ruined it.jungle room session is brilliant.he should have been replaced years before with somebody who could challenge elvis and make elvis challenge himself.no more having charlie hodge miked up,trying to finish the high notes,elvis should of had the conviction to do this himself.
Gorse wrote on October 02, 2012
A wonderful performance on a fantastic song. I never get tired of listening to the soul feeling and emotion Elvis pours into this song, which few artists could match. Take 1 from the Jungle Room sessions is the better version and is the one to which I will give 5 stars.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 26, 2012
This is such a brilliant and emotional song and it's my 2nd most favorite track from the "Moody Blue". My favorite version of it is the outtake from the FTD CD "The Jungle Room Sessions".
Great Dane wrote on October 01, 2013
One of my all time favorite song. I like the Moody Blue album a lot. And i also like the distant sound of it on the original, no muffled sound at all. 5 stars for this song and album.
In-A-Flash wrote on October 01, 2013
A touching recording that I never skip. Don't like the mix though, as Elvis his voice sounds like the mike is standing two meters away. Four stars, but could have been five star performance with better mix.
JohnRichardson wrote on January 14, 2014
Should have been massive Again bad management
dismas wrote on February 28, 2014
Throughout the Seventies, both live-in-concert and in his far too few studio sessions, Elvis seemed to be searching for his own personal "My Way" kind of statement-of-purpose song. And here it finally is, the last new track on the last LP to be released during his lifetime. If RCA's A&R darling, Joan Deary, or Mister Mismanagement himself, Colonel Tom Parker, had had a lick of artistic or business sense between them, they'd have made sure this towering ballad was issued as the follow-up to the then-current "Way Down" single. Poorly mixed or not, thanks to the knowing lyrics and Elvis' great performance it would have been a massive hit. And Elvis would've finally had his own "My Way."
Cruiser621 wrote on August 19, 2014
One of the superior songs recorded by Mr. Presley. I agree with a lot of people that this is a top notch song but whether or not it would have made it on the singles chart is another thought altogether. The unadulterated version (aka outtake) is so superior to the overbearing additions that Felton Jarvis added after the fact; such a shame.
shawnrw wrote on August 20, 2014
Nicely sung version of a teary eyed country song. Never been a big fan of hard core country music from anyone, but Elvis brings emotion and depth to otherwise clichéd tune.
jwedwards835 wrote on October 27, 2014
A classic! I give it the same amount of stars that are in the heavens.
Jim Davidson wrote on September 23, 2015
How did Elvis suddenly get his hands on an Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice composition after so many re-treads of old country tunes? "It's Easy for You" is a great song, and a great recording by Elvis. When I was a kid, most of the singers I saw on TV were the likes of Vic Damone, Steve Lawrence and Andy Williams; when they sang a sad song, they were smiling. When Elvis sang, you could hear the emotion.
shoesuedeblues wrote on September 23, 2015
Remastered remixed this could be a sizeable hit,, but it seems singles don't matter now?
TheMemphisFan wrote on September 23, 2015
Elvis' recording of this song can also be found on the 2001 Andrew Lloyd Webber box set "Now & Forever".
Milky White Way wrote on May 08, 2022
Nothing new I can bring to the table that’s not already been said. I personally adore this track. At the time Felton would have his reasons for the strange mix and it is what it is. It baffled me too but it was still my favourite track from the Jungle Room Sessions. 5 stars
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