Monday July 11, 2022 “Take It Easy” The Eagles
This week we are going to look back fifty years and listen to some of the songs that were popular way back then, and if you’re thinking Chuck Berry, Connie Francis and doo-wop I believe you are in for a shock. When I started this it surprised me to think that these were tunes, some of which feel relatively current to me, that are now a half a century old.
Today’s song, “Take It Easy” was written by Jackson Browne with a little help from his then upstairs neighbor, Glenn Frey. It would be the first tune on the Eagles debut album and would also be their first single and a top twenty hit that would start a long string of charting songs for the band.
The core of the Eagles started Linda Ronstadt’s touring band in 1971 and would appear on her 1971 album, Linda Ronstadt. The group would end their association with but would remain friends with Ronstadt and would sign with David Geffen who was starting a new record label, Asylum Records. That began The Eagles odyssey until the band broke up in 1982 with all five members releasing solo albums of varying success.
Disputes within the band would lead members to say they would not get back together until hell freezes over, leading to the Hell Freezes Over Tour in 1994 and The Eagles are back out touring once again with their current 2022 Hotel California tour.
The Eagles have five number-one singles and six number-one albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards and have sold more than 200 million records. Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) and Hotel California are two of the biggest selling albums of all time. They are one of the most successful musical groups ever and also are at the very top end for the cost of tickets to their live performances.
Stay safe and well…and there is a statue of Glenn Frey on a corner in Winslow AZ dedicated to the Eagles and this tune, if you ever happen to be in the vicinity.