Name: It Ain't Easy by Tom Paxton
Brand: Tom Paxton
SKU: 888072086265
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 2 (91 reviews)

ALBUM

Veteran folk-pop singer Tom Paxton was still delivering excellent albums in the early 1990s, one fine example being It Ain't Easy. Paxton was always a thoughtful lyricist and a masterful storyteller, and as usual, he gives us a lot to think about. "Billy Got Some Bad News Today" describes a man who has just learned he has a serious illness, while "Living the Street Life" examines the horrors of homelessness without preaching. "Something Going On" finds Paxton portraying a parent whose son is using crack cocaine, and on "Mister Can't-Go-On," he tries to dissuade a man from committing suicide. True to form, Paxton really makes us feel for his characters -- from the man calling a suicide prevention hotline to the homeless man, the singer-songwriter brings these individuals to life in a most insightful, moving fashion. ~ Alex Henderson

1. Something Going On

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

2. It Ain't Easy

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

3. Billy Got Some Bad News Today

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

4. Livin' The Street Life

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

5. Second Nature

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

6. I Was Beautiful

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

7. The Spirit Said "No"

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

8. When It's Gone, It's Gone

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Colleen Peterson
Ken Whitely; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Performer: Chris Whitely
Rodrigo Chavez
Dennis Pendrith
Graham Townsend
Ken Whitely
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton
Fred Koller; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Fred Koller
Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Fred Koller
Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

9. Time To Spare

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

10. Home, Sweet Oklahoma

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

11. Mister Can't-Go-On

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

12. Poems Written With A Borrowed Pen

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

13. If I Pass This Way Again

by Tom Paxton

Accordion: Ken Whitely; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Tom Paxton
Ken Whitely; Performer
Recording Assistant: Jeanine Hollingshead; Production
Charango Guitar: Ken Whitely; Other
Background Vocals: Ken Whitely
Colleen Peterson; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dennis Pendrith; Performer
Dobro: Ken Whitely; Performer
Drums: Bucky Berger; Performer
Electric Guitar: Ken Whitely; Performer
Editor: Clive Allen; Production
Fiddle: Graham Townsend; Performer
Harmonica: Chris Whitely; Performer
Organ: Ken Whitely; Performer
Primary Artist: Tom Paxton; Main Performer
Pedal Steel: Chris Whitely; Performer
Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Composer
Pan Pipes: Rodrigo Chavez; Performer
Performer: Colleen Peterson
Dennis Pendrith
Rodrigo Chavez
Ken Whitely
Graham Townsend
Bucky Berger
Kathryn Moses
Tom Paxton
Chris Whitely; Performer
Piano: Ken Whitely; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Synthesizer: Ken Whitely; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kathryn Moses; Performer
Recording: Jamie Sulek
Ken Whitely; Production
Studio Personnel: Jeanine Hollingshead
Jamie Sulek
Clive Allen
Ken Whitely; Production
Composer Lyricist: Tom Paxton; Other
Triangle: Ken Whitely; Performer
Composer: Tom Paxton; Composer
Vocals: Tom Paxton; Performer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

13 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

49 minutes and 49 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 3000x3000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

3/13 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Folk, Americana, Alternative Folk, Singer & Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Rock, Folk Revival

Label

Flying Fish

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1990

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

888072086265

Shopping cart

Notification

It Ain't Easy

1. Something Going On

2. It Ain't Easy

3. Billy Got Some Bad News Today

4. Livin' The Street Life

5. Second Nature

6. I Was Beautiful

7. The Spirit Said "No"

8. When It's Gone, It's Gone

9. Time To Spare

10. Home, Sweet Oklahoma

11. Mister Can't-Go-On

12. Poems Written With A Borrowed Pen

13. If I Pass This Way Again

Technical Specifications

It Ain't Easy

Product information

Release options

1. Something Going On

2. It Ain't Easy

3. Billy Got Some Bad News Today

4. Livin' The Street Life

5. Second Nature

6. I Was Beautiful

7. The Spirit Said "No"

8. When It's Gone, It's Gone

9. Time To Spare

10. Home, Sweet Oklahoma

11. Mister Can't-Go-On

12. Poems Written With A Borrowed Pen

13. If I Pass This Way Again

Technical Specifications