Randy Newman wrote Mama Told Me (Not to Come) in 1966 as the sole writer of its music and words, for Eric Burdon's first solo album. The Animals' recording, made with Burdon that year, was withdrawn as a single and released in March 1967 on the album Eric Is Here (MGM, produced by Tom Wilson). Newman recorded his own version for 12 Songs (1970). He said the song was inspired by his lighthearted reflection on the Los Angeles music scene of the late 1960s.
Three Dog Night's version for It Ain't Easy (1970), produced by Richard Podolor with Cory Wells on lead vocal, is longer and more rock 'n' roll and funk-inspired. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1970 and was RIAA gold. Tom Jones and Stereophonics recorded a version in 2000 that reached No. 4 in the UK. The verses rest on a dominant seventh chord, with clipped, repetitious melodic phrases and a speech-like, minimalistic melody, while the chorus is catchier. Newman's version has a mid-tempo piano and slide-guitar bluesy R&B groove. The key is A flat.
