Take It Easy
"Take It Easy" is a song written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, recorded by the American rock band the Eagles as the lead single from their self-titled debut album, released on May 1, 1972.[1][2] The track, which features Frey on lead vocals and embodies the laid-back country rock style that defined the band's early sound, peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent 11 weeks on the listing.[3][4] The song originated when Browne, Frey's neighbor at the time, began writing it for his own debut album but struggled with the second verse and set it aside.[5] Frey, recalling the unfinished lyrics during a rehearsal, completed the second verse—famously including the line "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona" inspired by a real-life hitchhiking encounter Browne had on Route 66—and the Eagles recorded it shortly thereafter.[6][7] Browne later released his own version on his 1973 album For Everyman.[3] "Take It Easy" played a pivotal role in launching the Eagles' career, helping their debut album reach number 22 on the Billboard 200 and establishing them as a cornerstone of the Southern California country rock scene.[2] Culturally, the song's reference to Winslow, Arizona, has had a lasting impact, inspiring the creation of Standin' on the Corner Park in 1999—a bronze statue and mural commemorating the lyric that draws approximately 100,000 visitors annually and boosts local tourism along historic Route 66.[8][9][10] The track remains one of the Eagles' signature songs and continues to symbolize themes of relaxation and escape in American popular music.[1]Background
Composition
"Take It Easy" was primarily composed by Jackson Browne, who penned the first two verses in 1971 while residing at 1020 Laguna Avenue in Los Angeles, drawing from his personal road trips and hitchhiking adventures.[3] Browne initially intended the song for his debut album but encountered writer's block, particularly after drafting the opening lines of the second verse about standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.[11] Glenn Frey, Browne's neighbor and future Eagles co-founder, heard a demo of the unfinished track in the basement of their shared apartment and offered to collaborate, adding the completing line to the second verse—"It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me."[12][3] This contribution transformed Browne's introspective folk-rock sketch into a more upbeat country-rock arrangement suited to the Eagles' sound, with Frey emphasizing a laid-back groove through rhythmic phrasing and harmonious structure.[13] The song received official writing credits to both Browne and Frey, reflecting their joint effort in finalizing the piece.[11] Lyrically, the composition centers on a hitchhiking narrative that captures themes of transient travel and personal ease, embodied by the recurring refrain "Take it easy," which serves as a mantra for releasing stress amid life's journeys.[3]Inspiration
The inspiration for "Take It Easy" stemmed from Jackson Browne's personal road trip through the American Southwest in 1971, during which his car suffered a mechanical breakdown in Flagstaff, Arizona, leaving him to reflect on the region's landscapes and leading to the song's memorable opening verse about "standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona" after Frey suggested changing "Flagstaff" to "Winslow" for rhyme.[14][5] Browne later recounted this incident in interviews as a moment of serendipity amid the vast, open landscapes of the region, capturing a sense of transient vulnerability on the road.[3] Glenn Frey contributed significantly to the song's second verse, drawing from his own hitchhiking adventures in the late 1960s as he journeyed from Detroit to Los Angeles to pursue music, including a vivid encounter where a girl in a flatbed Ford truck slowed down to glance at him, which inspired the lyrics "It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me."[3] This personal anecdote added a layer of romantic wanderlust to the track, blending Frey's youthful mobility with Browne's stalled journey. In 1971, the two collaborators worked on the remaining lyrics together at their shared apartment in Echo Park, transforming the fragment into a complete piece.[12] The song's overarching theme of relaxation and resilience echoed the 1970s counterculture movement, which celebrated personal freedom, nomadic travel along highways like Route 66, and an escape from the pressures of urban industrialization and societal expectations, positioning "Take It Easy" as an anthem for laid-back self-discovery in an era of social upheaval.[15] This ethos resonated with the era's emphasis on individualism and road-trip mythology, influencing the track's enduring appeal as a call to unwind amid life's uncertainties.[15]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording of "Take It Easy" took place in February 1972 at Olympic Studios in London, England, as part of the sessions for the Eagles' self-titled debut album.[16][17] Produced by Glyn Johns, known for his work with acts like the Rolling Stones and the Who, the track was captured during the band's initial foray into studio work following their formation in 1971.[16][17] Johns emphasized a live, organic approach to the sessions, minimizing overdubs to preserve the band's natural interplay and dynamics as a newly formed unit.[18] The arrangement adopted a stripped-down country-rock aesthetic, featuring acoustic rhythm guitar, Bernie Leadon's double-time banjo for rhythmic drive, and Leadon's electric guitar solo evoking a pedal steel-like Western twang.[19][1][20] Leadon, the band's multi-instrumentalist, contributed the banjo part at Johns' suggestion, adding a distinctive bluegrass element that differentiated the track from standard rock fare.[19] Glenn Frey delivered the lead vocals with a relaxed, conversational tone, supported by tight harmonized backing vocals from Randy Meisner, Don Henley, and Leadon, particularly prominent in the second verse to enhance the song's communal feel.[1] Johns' production choices focused on clarity and space in the mix, balancing the acoustic elements with electric guitar leads to capture the Eagles' emerging California sound without excessive layering.[21] The sessions reflected the band's early cohesion, with basic tracking completed efficiently amid the group's adjustment to Johns' methodical style, resulting in a final take that prioritized groove and simplicity over elaborate embellishments.[16]Personnel
The Eagles' recording of "Take It Easy" featured the following core band members and their contributions: Glenn Frey on lead vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar, Bernie Leadon on banjo, lead guitar, and backing vocals, Randy Meisner on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Don Henley on drums and backing vocals.[22][23][24] The track was produced by Glyn Johns, who also served as engineer for the sessions at Olympic Studios in London.[1] No additional guest musicians or string arrangements were involved in this particular recording.[22]Release and commercial performance
Single release
"Take It Easy" was released as the lead single from the Eagles' self-titled debut album on May 1, 1972, by Asylum Records.[2] The B-side featured "Get You in the Mood," an original composition written and performed by band member Glenn Frey.[25] Initial radio play emphasized West Coast stations, aligning with the band's Los Angeles base and the label's promotion of emerging California rock acts.[26] As the opening track on the Eagles' debut album, released on June 1, 1972, the song played a pivotal role in introducing the band to a wider audience and launching their career in the country-rock genre.[2][27] The single's early sales were strong, achieving gold certification from the RIAA for 500,000 units sold.Chart performance
"Take It Easy" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 79 on June 3, 1972, and climbed to its peak position of No. 12 on July 22, 1972, where it held for two weeks before spending a total of 11 weeks on the chart.[28] The single also performed strongly on the Adult Contemporary chart, reaching No. 12 and reflecting its appeal to a broader radio audience.[29] Internationally, the song achieved greater success in North America than elsewhere. It peaked at No. 8 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart, contributing to its status as one of the year's top radio hits there.[30] In Australia, it reached No. 49 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.[31] The track had a more modest impact in the UK, peaking at No. 81 on the Official Singles Chart.[32] In the digital era, "Take It Easy" has seen a significant resurgence, driven by streaming services. As of November 2025, the 2013 remaster has amassed over 840 million streams on Spotify, underscoring its enduring popularity among younger listeners post-2010.[33] This streaming success has amplified the song's role in introducing the Eagles to new generations, with equivalent units exceeding 6 million when combined with historical sales. The single's chart performance was instrumental in propelling the Eagles' self-titled debut album to No. 22 on the Billboard 200. The album, bolstered by "Take It Easy" as its lead track, has been certified 4× multi-platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 4 million units in the US.Certifications
The Eagles' recording of "Take It Easy" has earned multiple certifications from music industry bodies, reflecting its enduring commercial success through physical sales and, in later years, streaming equivalents. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded the single gold certification in 1973 for 500,000 units sold. In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the single silver in 1973 for 200,000 sales. More recently, it received platinum status in 2022 for combined sales and streaming equivalent to 600,000 units. The RIAA also recognizes streaming equivalents as part of updated digital metrics.| Region | Certifying Body | Certification | Date | Units Sold/Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | Gold | 1973 | 500,000 |
| United Kingdom | BPI | Silver | 1973 | 200,000 |
| United Kingdom | BPI | Platinum | 2022 | 600,000 |