Folk Rock
The song “Take It Easy” was written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. It was released initially as the opening track on The Eagles’ 1972 debut album, which was titled, not surprisingly, Eagles. The song was then released as a single later in 1972 backed with “Get You in the Mood.” “Take It Easy” went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, spending 11 weeks on the chart. It went on to become one of their (many) signature songs.
Glenn Frey was one of the founding members of the Eagles. They became one of the definitive 70s rock bands and helped to define a California rock sound. Group members of The Eagles for “Take it Easy” were Glenn Frey (vocals, guitars, slide guitar), Don Henley (vocals, drums), Bernie Leadon (vocals, guitars, banjo), and Randy Meisner (vocals, bass guitar).
A tidbit of trivia is that the city of Winslow, Arizona, which is mentioned in the second verse, has a life-size bronze statue and mural to commemorate the song at its Standin’ on the Corner Park. The statue is a male figure holding an acoustic guitar, standing next to a lamp post. The mural shows a storefront with a reflection of a red flatbed For pickup truck driven by a blonde female. The second floor of the storefront in the mural has an eagle perched in one window on the left and a man and woman embracing in the window on the left.
