Try Some, Buy Some

Album

Single

Label

Apple Records

Genre

Orchestral pop

Media Type

AC

Duration

4:08

Composer(s)

George Harrison

Entered Chart

May 8, 1971

Peak Date

May 22, 1971

Released

16 April 1971

Recorded

February–March 1971

Catalog #

Apple 1832

B-Side

Tandoori Chicken

"Try Some, Buy Some" is a song written by the English rock musician George Harrison that was first released in April 1971 as a single by the American singer Ronnie Spector, formerly the lead vocalist of the Ronettes. She recorded it in London along with other Harrison compositions for a planned comeback album on the Beatles' Apple record label. The project was co-produced by Phil Spector, Ronnie's husband at the time, but abandoned following recording sessions that were hampered by his erratic behaviour. The only official release from the sessions, the single achieved minimal commercial success, peaking at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 63 on Canada's RPM Top 100. Harrison later added his own vocal onto a new mix of the instrumental track and included the song on his 1973 album Living in the Material World. "Try Some, Buy Some" was one of several Harrison compositions left over from the sessions for his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass, which Spector also co-produced. The song's austere melody was influenced by Harrison composing on a keyboard instrument rather than guitar. The lyrics document his sudden perception of God amid the temptations of the material world, including recreational drugs, and serve as an account of a religious epiphany. Ronnie later admitted to being confused by the concept, and some writers have commented on the song's unsuitability as a vehicle for her comeback. Spector employed his Wall of Sound production aesthetic to full effect on "Try Some, Buy Some" and was stunned at the single's commercial failure. The recording features a choir and long, lavishly orchestrated instrumental passages arranged by John Barham. The single's B-side was "Tandoori Chicken", a Harrison–Spector collaboration in the rockabilly style. Several reviewers have questioned Harrison's decision to reuse the 1971 instrumental track for his version. Among the varied opinions on the Living in the Material World track, some focus on Harrison's struggle to sing in a higher key than he preferred and view its dense production as being out of place on the album; others admire the lyrics and melody, and recognise a seductive quality in the song. Having long been unavailable following its 1971 release, Ronnie Spector's version was reissued in 2010 on the compilation Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records. A longtime admirer of the song, David Bowie covered "Try Some, Buy Some" on his 2003 album Reality and performed it on his tours in support of the album.

Way back in time
Someone said try some
I tried some
Now buy some
I bought some

Oh oh oh
After a while
When I had tried them
Denied them
I opened my eyes and
I saw you

Not a thing did I have
Not a thing did I see
'till I called on your love
And your love came to me

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Through my life
I've seen gray sky
Met big fry,
Seen them die to get high

Oh oh oh
And when it seemed that I would
Always be lonely
I opened my eyes and I saw you

Not a thing did I feel
Not a thing did I know
'till I called on your love
And your love sure did grow

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Won't you try some
Baby won't you buy some

Won't you try some
Baby won't you buy some