I'm Not Easy

"I'm Not Easy"
"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	Country; Countrypolitan;
Length	3:03
Label	United Artists
Songwriters	David Chamberlain; Jim Vest;
Producer	Larry Butler
Billie Jo Spears singles chronology

"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.

Background and recording

In 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

"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

7" vinyl single^[4]

"I'm Not Easy" – 3:03
"Too Far Gone" – 3:15

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "I'm Not Easy"
Chart (1976)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[7]	29
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[8]	11

References

^ ^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.

[Allmusic-1] ""I'm Not Easy": Billie Jo Spears: Track Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

[Allmusicbio-2] Huey, Steve. "Billie Jo Spears Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

[Allmusic_2-3] Adams, Greg. "I'm Not Easy: Billie Jo Spears: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

[Single-4] Spears, Billie Jo (January 1977). ""I'm Not Easy"/"Too Far Gone" (Single Information)". United Artists Records. UA-XW935-Y.

[5] Spears, Billie Jo (November 1976). "I'm Not Easy (Disc Information)". United Artists Records. UA-LA684-G.

[Country_Songs-6] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. various.

[Country_Tracks-7] "Search results for "Billie Jo Spears"". RPM. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Billie_Jo_Spears-8] "Billie Jo Spears Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

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v t e Billie Jo Spears
Discography
Studio albums	The Voice of Billie Jo Spears (1968) Mr. Walker, It's All Over! (1969) Miss Sincerity (1969) Country Girl (1970) Just Singin' (1971) Blanket on the Ground (1975) Billie Jo (1975) What I've Got in Mind (1976) I'm Not Easy (1976) If You Want Me (1977) Lonely Hearts Club (1978) Love Ain't Gonna Wait for Us (1978) I Will Survive (1979) Standing Tall (1980) Only the Hits (1981) Country Girl (1981) Unmistakably (1991)
Compilation albums	The Billie Jo Spears Singles Album (1979)
Singles	"The Harper Valley PTA" "Mr. Walker, It's All Over" "Daddy, I Love You" "Marty Gray" "I Stayed Long Enough" "It Could 'A Been Me" "See the Funny Little Clown" "Blanket on the Ground" "Stay Away from the Apple Tree" "Silver Wings and Golden Rings" "What I've Got in Mind" "Misty Blue" "Sing Me an Old Fashioned Song" "Never Did Like Whiskey" "I'm Not Easy" "If You Want Me" "Too Much Is Not Enough" "Lonely Hearts Club" "I've Got to Go" "'57 Chevrolet" "Love Ain't Gonna Wait for Us" "Yesterday" "I Will Survive" "Livin' Our Love Together" "Rainy Days and Stormy Nights" "Standing Tall" "Natural Attraction" "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" "What the World Needs Now Is Love" "Midnight Blue"
Related artists	Philomena Begley

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