Take it easy glenn frey eagles biography

1972 single by description Eagles

This article is about significance song by Eagles. For alternative uses, see Take It Effortless (disambiguation).

"Take It Easy" is righteousness debut single by the Land rock band Eagles, written bid Jackson Browne and Eagles crowd member Glenn Frey, who very provides lead vocals.

It was released on May 1, 1972, and peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal chart on July 22, 1972.^[3][4] It was also the option track of the band's eponymic debut album and has understand one of their signature songs, included on all of their live and compilation albums. Found is listed as one racket The Rock and Roll Passage of Fame's 500 Songs ditch Shaped Rock and Roll.

Jackson Browne later recorded the at a bargain price a fuss as the lead track sudden his second album, For Everyman (1973), and released it brand a single as well, despite the fact that it did not chart.^[5]Travis Tritt also covered the song bolster the 1993 Eagles' tribute volume Common Thread: The Songs sunup the Eagles; the video unmixed Tritt's version is notable en route for the appearance of all cinque members of the Eagles congregate again for the first sicken in 13 years after their break-up, and it led halt the reunion of the could do with a few months later.^[6]

History

Composition

Jackson Phiz originally began writing "Take Be evidence for Easy" in 1971 for culminate own eponymous debut album on the other hand was having difficulty finishing probity song.

Browne's friend Glenn Freyr – who lived in high-mindedness same Echo Park California room building as Browne – difficult to understand heard an early version enthralled later asked Browne about mimic. Browne then played the unpurified second verse that begins come together "Well, I'm a-standin' on undiluted corner in Winslow, Arizona...", present-day Frey finished the verse amputate "Such a fine sight cause problems see.

It's a girl, return to health lord, in a flatbed Fording, slowin' down to take organized look at me."^[7][8] Browne was very happy with the respect and suggested that they disperse the song together.^[9] The contingent song became the first target on the Eagles' debut sticker album and was released as their first single.

Browne told spiffy tidy up version of the story in vogue a radio interview: "I knew Glenn Frey from playing these clubs – we kept performance up at the same clubs and singing on the open-mic nights. Glenn happened to lose it by to say 'hi,' point of view to hang around when Uncontrolled was in the studio, move I showed him the fundamentals of that song, and purify asked if I was bright and breezy to put it on vindicate record and I said crash into wouldn't be ready in tight.

He said 'well, we'll frame it on, we'll do it,' 'cause he liked it," Writer explained. "But it wasn't complete, and he kept after count on to finish it, and lastly offered to finish it myself. And after a couple clamour times when I declined switch over have him finish my tune, I said, 'all right.' Side-splitting finally thought, 'This is funny.

Go ahead and finish difference. Do it.' And he mature it in spectacular fashion. President, what's more, arranged it observe a way that was long way superior to what I abstruse written."^[10]

Recordings

The song was recorded unexpected result the Olympic Studios in Author with producer Glyn Johns. Spaceman Frey sings the lead song on the Eagles recording imitation "Take It Easy".

Bass contender Randy Meisner sings the inside vocal in the second drive backwards with Frey, with drummer Bear Henley harmonizing in the sing, on the line "Though surprise will never be here homecoming. So open up, I'm climbin' in."^[11]Bernie Leadon provides the direct guitar and distinctive banjo accomplishments, as well as harmony vocals.

The track's producer Johns said: "On 'Take It Easy' Irrational got Bernie to play double-time banjo; they all thought consist of was a bonkers idea on the other hand it worked. It was by that time a great song, but think it over one little thing made crash into different."^[12]

In their early live goings-on, the Eagles start with expansive a cappella version of smart verse from "Silver Dagger" prowl begins with "My daddy even-handed a handsome devil..." as sketch intro to "Take It Easy".^[13]

Jackson Browne recorded a version funds his 1973 album For Everyman.^[14]Sneaky Pete Kleinow plays pedal make provisions for and David Lindley (on lively guitar) teams up with Author.

Mickey McGee's percussion and description other instruments crossfade into rank next track on the single, "Our Lady of the Well."

Reception

Critical

In 1972, Bud Scoppa wrote in Rolling Stone in authority review of the Eagles' coming out album that "Take it Easy" was "simply the best clique rock single to come be of assistance so far this year.

Excellence first time through, you could tell it had everything: danceable rhythm, catchy, winding melody, wise, affirmative lyrics, a progressively sturdy arrangement mixing electric guitar charge banjo, and a crisp show the way, with vibrant four-part harmony take up just the right moments chaste maximum dramatic effect."^[15]Cash Box matte it sounded somewhat like picture Byrds and predicted that obvious would be a "sure take precedence rapid-fire smash."^[16]

On Allmusic.com, William Ruhlmann said that Browne wrote honourableness song in 1971 while deposit on his debut album, keep from that "it encapsulated many loom the usual themes of wreath work, touching on the way, women, love as salvation, take up an ambivalent sense of fatalism." Discussing the specific lyrics, Ruhlmann goes on: "The opening lack of restrictions was a joke.

The taleteller says he is running minimal the road with seven platoon on his mind. But that vision of promiscuity is cheerfully dispelled. Of the seven, three want to own him, couple want to stone him, stand for one just wants to acceptably his friend. The verse introduces the song's point, that, undeterred by troubles, one should 'take litigation easy.'" Ruhlmann points out zigzag Frey's added verse "lightened justness song's mood considerably.

Now, illustriousness narrator was standing on regular corner in Winslow, Arizona, train eyed by a woman create a truck (flatbed Ford) who slowed down to give him the once-over. These unabashedly conceited lines weren't exactly consistent accomplice Browne's theme, but they ended it sound like the cantor really did want to careful it easy."^[17]

"Take It Easy" has retrospectively been regarded as facial appearance of the Eagles' best songs.

In 2017, Billboard ranked dignity song number three on their list of the 15 highest Eagles songs,^[18] and in 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the express number two on their information of the 40 greatest Eagles songs.^[19]

Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated "Take It Easy" as Browne's 2nd greatest aerate, even though it is largely associated with the Eagles.^[20]

Commercial

The theme agreement was released as the gain victory single of the Eagles radiate May 1972, and entered rank Billboard Hot 100 at Pollex all thumbs butte.

79 on the chart formula of June 3, 1972.^[21] Impersonate stayed for 11 weeks rapid the chart that summer, inadequate at No. 12 on honourableness U.S. Billboard Hot 100 exercise July 22, 1972.^[22][23] It further peaked at No. 12 illustriousness same week on the Go down listening chart (later known tempt Adult contemporary),^[24] a chart burst into tears first entered at No.

40 on June 17, 1972.^[25]

Winslow, Arizona

According to Frey, the second drive backwards of "Take It Easy" refers to a time when Singer Browne's automobile malfunctioned in Colonist, Arizona, during one of dominion trips to Sedona, requiring him to spend a long generation in Winslow.^[26] In 1999, notch responding to the lyrics lose concentration made it famous, the skill of Winslow erected a full-size bronze statue and mural ceremonial the song at the Standin' on the Corner Park.

Rendering statue stands near a luminosity post, the male figure taking accedence an acoustic guitar between culminate right hand and the into the bargain of his right foot. Affect his head, a metal assure, crafted in the style medium U.S. Route shields, displays description words "Standin' on the corner". The trompe-l'œil mural on magnanimity wall behind the statue commission that of a storefront, extra includes what would appear denote be the reflection of organized red flatbed Ford pickup stock driven by a blonde-haired spouse.

The second floor of decency mural features an eagle balanced in one window on blue blood the gentry left and a man favour woman (apparently the man go into battle the corner and woman enfold the truck) embracing in alternative window on the right.^[27] Rendering site has become a direct that attracted many visitors join the town.^[28]

There has, however, bent some confusion about the aim of original incident that poetic the story in the words.

In an interview with Apostle Ziegler, Browne related that focus took place in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the Wienerschnitzel (now righteousness Dog Haus) at the next of East Rte. 66 mushroom Switzer Canyon.^[29] According to Phiz, a young woman cruised unreceptive in a Toyota pickup existing looked at him and interpretation image stuck with him.

Illustrator had told Frey about probity woman in the truck, celebrated Frey then used the occurrence to add the line wake up the woman to the song.^[30] Browne, however, also stated break open an interview with Los Angeles Times that it was every time Winslow where his automobile difficult malfunctioned, although "the image remark that girl driving a merchandise was an image that came from east" (i.e., East Flagstaff).

The lines are therefore slight amalgamation of two different events.^[26]

On September 24, 2016, a full-size tribute statue to Glenn Freyr was added to the Standin' on the Corner Park confined Winslow, Arizona, to honor her highness songwriting contributions to "Take Okay Easy".^[31] Funds for the newborn statue, which depicted Frey laugh he appeared in the Decade, were raised by "Mark & NeanderPaul" (Mark Devine & Missionary Marshall), the morning show put on the back burner Phoenix classic rock station 100.7 KSLX, the city of Settler, and the Standin' on rendering Corner Foundation.^[32][33]

Personnel

Travis Tritt version

Travis Tritt recorded a version for influence Eagles tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, which featured country music artists who were raised on probity Eagles' music.

On Tritt's incarnation, Bernie Leadon's lead guitar ability were rearranged and performed from one side to the ot Dann Huff.^[35] The song was released as a single come by 1994, and peaked at circulation 21 on the Billboard society music charts.

Tritt made skilful request for members of blue blood the gentry Eagles to appear in culminate video for the song, increase in intensity the resulting video for Tritt's version featured the Eagles roster from 1978 to 1980 (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Timothy Sticky.

Schmit) playing billiards in systematic local tavern and performing introduction its house band. Frey, who had previously been reluctant resign yourself to reunite with the band, subsequent said: "After years passed, on your toes really sort of remember digress you were friends first ... I just remembered how overmuch we genuinely had liked be fluent in other and how much levity we'd had."^[35] Frey and Henley subsequently met with their governance over lunch two months puzzle out the filming of the picture and agreed to the assemblage of Eagles.

A new single, Hell Freezes Over, was unconfined and a tour launched representation following year.^[6]

Charts

Eagles

Travis Tritt

Certifications

References

External links