Try Some, Buy Some

"Try Some, Buy Some"
Song by George Harrison from the album Living in the Material World
Released	30 May 1973 (US); 22 June 1973 (UK)
Recorded	Abbey Road Studios, London, February 1971; Apple Studios, London, October 1972–January 1973
Genre	Rock
Length	4:08
Label	EMI/Apple
Writer	George Harrison
Producer	George Harrison, Phil Spector
Living in the Material World track listing
11 tracks Side one "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" "Sue Me, Sue You Blues" "The Light That Has Lighted the World" "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" "Who Can See It" "Living in the Material World" Side two "The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)" "Be Here Now" "Try Some, Buy Some" "The Day the World Gets 'Round" "That Is All"

"Try Some, Buy Some" is a song written by George Harrison and released on his Living in the Material World album in 1973. It was initially recorded by Ronnie Spector (formerly of The Ronettes) in 1971 and co-produced by Phil Spector, her then husband. Harrison reused the same backing track for his own version, and simply substituted his vocal for hers.

The Ronnie Spector version was released as a single on 19 April 1971, on Apple Records. In the US, the catalogue number was 1832; in the UK, it was Apple 33. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on 8 May and reached number 77, remaining on the chart for four weeks. "Try Some, Buy Some" did not chart at all in Britain. There was a picture sleeve released with the single.

Its B-side, "Tandoori Chicken", was a collaboration between Harrison and Spector, and is rumoured to feature John Lennon on backing vocals.^{[citation needed]} The B-side's melody bears a resemblance to Fats Domino's 1955 hit "Ain't That a Shame", later covered by Lennon on his Rock 'n' Roll album.

Recording

The sessions for "Try Some, Buy Some" and "Tandoori Chicken" took place at London's Abbey Road Studios on 2–3 February 1971. The musicians were George Harrison (guitar), Leon Russell (piano), Gary Wright (electric piano), Jim Gordon (drums), Klaus Voormann and Carl Radle (alternating on bass), Pete Ham (guitar, percussion) and John Lennon (piano, on 3 February only). John Barham, Harrison's regular musical arranger during this period, added the heavy string and brass orchestration not long afterwards.

Another song recorded during these same Abbey Road sessions, for what was planned to be an entire Ronnie Spector album, was "You". Harrison, who'd written the song with the former Ronette lead singer in mind, and felt it was too good to leave unused, would resurrect this tune also for an album of his own. "You" was released as a single in 1975 and appeared on Harrison's final studio album on the Apple label, Extra Texture.

Cover versions

David Bowie recorded "Try Some, Buy Some" in 2003 for his album Reality. The song was occasionally performed live on the Reality Tour, and a version recorded at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, September 8, 2003, was released on the Tour Edition of Reality.