"Make It Easy on Yourself" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David which was initially a hit for Jerry Butler in 1962.
Chicago-based Vee-Jay Records head A&R man, Calvin Carter, brought back "Make It Easy on Yourself" from a trip to New York City where he scouted song publishers.
Carter played the demo, featuring Dionne Warwick's vocal, for Vee-Jay artist Jerry Butler who commented: "Man, it's a great song, and the girl who's singing it, and the arrangement, is a hit."
When Carter explained that Florence Greenberg, the owner of Scepter Records, who had recently signed Warwick, was not interested in "Make It Easy on Yourself", Butler recalled being "ecstatic" and, wanting the same arrangement featured on the demo, flew to New York City to record the song in a session overseen by Burt Bacharach, although Bacharach's official credit was limited to arranger.
Session personnel included Vic Flick and Big Jim Sullivan on guitars, and Ronnie Verrell on drums.
In the US, Smash Records released a second pressing of the single in October 1965,[12] with Scott Walker's debut composition "Doin' the Jerk" as the B-side.
In 2001, the Walker Brothers' "Make It Easy On Yourself" was sampled extensively by the Northern Irish band, Ash, on their single, "Candy".
As with Warwick's 1966 hit "Message to Michael", the non-involvement of Bacharach and David in the track, beyond writing the song, is evidenced by its producer's credit reading: "a Blue Jac Production".
[citation needed] The 1972, Johnny Mathis album, Song Sung Blue, produced by Jerry Fuller, featured a version of "Make It Easy on Yourself".
In all cases the lead vocal is performed by Karen Carpenter, considered by many as one of the finest singers of popular music ever.