“Take It Easy,” when a simple piece of advice became the beginning of an entire California music era
In his induction speech honoring Linda Ronstadt at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Glenn Frey said something brief yet historically significant: “Linda, more than anyone else, helped us put the Eagles together.” That single sentence opens an essential chapter in American rock history, one shaped by friendship, trust, and a summer in 1971 that quietly gave birth to one of the greatest bands of all time.
In the spring of 1971, Linda Ronstadt, already a highly respected singer in Los Angeles, hired Glenn Frey and a young drummer from Linden, Texas named Don Henley to back her touring band. From the very first rehearsal, Frey sensed something unusual. They were playing music that had no clear label yet, not neatly defined, but naturally blending folk, country, and rock. It was the sound of the American West searching for its own voice.
That summer, during long days on the road, Glenn Frey and Don Henley began to realize they wanted more than a supporting role behind a star. They wanted to build a band of their own. When they shared that ambition with Linda Ronstadt, she did not resist or hold them back. Instead, she supported them, connected them, and encouraged them with rare generosity, offering her reputation, her experience, and her quiet confidence. Linda was the one who helped assemble the first pieces of what would become the Eagles.
It is no coincidence that the song marking the beginning of that journey was called “Take It Easy.” Co written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey and released in 1972, it was not only the Eagles’ first major hit but also a spiritual statement for an entire generation. From its opening line, “Take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy,” listeners immediately sense a simple yet profound philosophy: at life’s crossroads, slow down, breathe, and trust the road you are on.
The music of “Take It Easy” feels relaxed and open on the surface, but beneath it lies a very real uncertainty of youth. It is the voice of people leaving their comfort zones, chasing dreams while carrying both hope and doubt. The acoustic guitar chords, the signature Eagles harmonies, and the desert tinged rhythm inspired by Arizona all come together to form a musical landscape that is sun drenched, lonely, and full of promise.
When “Take It Easy” first reached the radio, few listeners realized that behind the song stood the quiet presence of Linda Ronstadt. She was not part of the Eagles’ lineup and did not appear on their album covers, yet she was unmistakably present in the band’s origin story. Without those summer tours of 1971 and without Linda’s firm but understated support, the Eagles might never have come into existence as history now remembers them.
Looking back today, “Take It Easy” is more than a song. It is a shared memory of an era, a time when music was written on long road trips, when friendship and trust mattered more than contracts, and when the simplest advice proved the most enduring. It is also a reminder that some of the most important contributions do not come from the spotlight, but from making space for others to shine.
In his 2014 speech, Glenn Frey honored Linda Ronstadt not only as a great artist, but as a foundational force. And every time “Take It Easy” plays, within those familiar melodies, we can still hear the echo of the summer of 1971, where it all began, gently, sincerely, and steeped in nostalgia.