Take It Easy

The story behind *Take It Easy* is a perfect example of how collaboration can create something special. It all began in 1971, when Jackson Browne was working on his debut album and hit a creative block while trying to finish this song. His friend and neighbor in Echo Park, California, Glenn Frey, heard an early version and took an interest. Browne showed him the verse that began with “Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…,” and it was Frey who came up with the iconic continuation: “Such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin’ down to take a look at me.” Browne was so pleased that he suggested they finish it together. The result was the first track on the Eagles’ debut album and their first single.

Recorded at Olympic Studios in London and produced by Glyn Johns, this song became a cornerstone of the early ’70s California rock sound. Glenn Frey handled the lead vocals, while Randy Meisner provided harmonies on the second verse and Don Henley joined in on the chorus. A distinctive feature is the banjo part played in double time by Bernie Leadon, an idea that Johns described as “crazy” but which undoubtedly added a unique touch to the song. The single was released on May 1, 1972, and reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 22, 1972. The song has also been covered by other artists; Travis Tritt recorded a version for a tribute album in 1993, and the video for his performance reunited the five original members of the Eagles for the first time in 13 years, paving the way for their subsequent reunion. In 2017, *Take It Easy* was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting impact.