General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Summer Is Starting Edition Part 103.........."Take It Easy"

This list is in honor of all the times you wanted to hit that "Easy button". Too bad I couldn't use one on this blog.

In order to receive votes for this category, the SONG TITLE had to have the word "easy" in it. Also receiving votes in this category were "It Ain't Easy" by 2pac, "Be Easy" by Massari, "No Easy Way Out" by Roxx Gang, and "It Ain't Easy" by Jason Aldean.

"Let Me Down Easy"- Billy Currington. I almost feel bad for including this song after being so negative about Billy Currington...........almost. This song is absolutely incredible and I have played it to death over the last few days. This single from this 2010 album "Enjoy Yourself" reached #1 on the country charts and peaked #46 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year. Billy Currington sings this song with the smoothness of a soul singer, and while it's very similar to his other country ballad "Must Be Doin' Something Right", the lyrics here are some of the best he ever sang, which it makes it obvious that he didn't write this song. However, let me say that my opinion of Billy Currington hasn't changed. He's really not that good and most of his songs are amazingly annoying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLHwqv0zANc

"Easy"- Commodores. Bonus points for Lionel Richie's square afro. It's almost like it didn't know how to grow out, only in an egg shape like his head. This song included on the band's self-titled 1977 album helped begin to pave the way for Lionel Richie to leave the Commodores and start his solo career, which had to be inevitable all along. Can you name one song besides "Brick House" that the Commodores had that Lionel Richie didn't write.......can you do it? Didn't think so ("Nightshift" doesn't count). This song peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot 100 and was a #1 hit on the R&B charts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UHfu4w7jS8

"Take It Easy"- The Eagles. It's been a while since I've had the Eagles on here, and I'm glad I have an excuse now. This debut single for the Eagles from their 1972 debut album is still one of the best rock songs ever. Most people also forget that this song was actually written by Jackson Browne. Even though the song only peaked at #12, it's still one of the most famous songs of all time, and as you can see here from this 2004 live performance from Australia, the Eagles can still rock it. Let me also point out that this performance is almost exactly like the original despite being performed some 32 years after it was originally recorded. That just shows that the Eagles are one of the best live bands out there. I'm so glad I got to see them live in Tupelo in 2002.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwEYXLiTxGI

"They Call Her Easy"- Harry Chapin. Wow, I pulled this obscure Harry Chapin out of the big time bag on this one. After his early success in 1972 with "Heads and Tales" and "Sniper and Other Love Songs", Harry released "Short Stories" in 1974 which included his hit single "W*O*L*D". Included on this album was his ode to free prostitution "They Call Her Easy". In this clip from one his last concerts in Canada, Harry did the usual pre-song story explaining the meaning of the song and a little background behind it. I hate he didn't live long enough for me to see him live because his concerts had to be amazing.Bonus points for Harry Chapin being able to have that silly smile while he sang- that's pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqroknxPd8o

"It's Not Easy"- Pete's Dragon. I LOVE THIS SONG! In 1977, Disney wanted to recreate the success of 1964's "Mary Poppins" with another partial animation/partial live action musical. Instead of Julie Andrews, Disney chose Helen Reddy to go along with child star Sean Marshall, in what be both of theirs only starring film roles ever. Helen Reddy was a major star on the easy listening/adult contemporary charts in the early 70's, and this was somewhat of a water mark on her career as even though the movie was moderately successful (including a Grammy nomination for the Helen Reddy sung "Candle On The Water"- also the movie didn't do well in it's original theatrical run, but has been very popular in rental/store purchases since it's release), Reddy never made any more major headlines after this movie, and Disney never tried this format of movie for a long time either. Despite those odd facts, the movie included this catchy song that I always thought was really cool. This song is about Pete's Dragon Elliott (who only he can usually see) and how he explains him to his friend Nora. This has always been one of my favorite Disney songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N_HGEeyyrk

"It's So Easy"- Linda Ronstadt. I can never figure out if Linda Ronstadt is a country singer or not, and this song doesn't help. This song is actually a cover song originally recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1958 (I seriously had no idea on that one). This is a pretty good performance in this video, but her backup singers win the award for the "guys who look like they should never be backup singers who are backup singers"- (seriously who in the hell holds their ear singing backup in a live performance?- that's ridiculous), and that guy playing the guitar looks like he should be Carole's King twin.....or should just be Carole King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBeqxKKseA

"Easy Lover"- Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey. While Earth, Wind, and Fire was on a break in the mid 80's Phillip Bailey released his most successful solo album "Chinese Wall" and this song here which was easily his most successful solo single which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. While I think these guys made a good duo, I'm gonna take away bonus points immediately for Phil Collins sweater vest and Phillip Bailey not having his dreads which I always thought were so cool! I really like this song and it's a perfect example of Phillip Bailey's songwriting talent, as this song sounds nothing like anything Earth, Wind, and Fire ever did. Even though Phil Collins is a co writer, that's still a huge difference. Also please notice the difference in rhythm skills between these two guys.....I know the feeling, Phil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29_UDmeXiaU

"Easy To Love"- The Jezabels. The Jezabels are an Australian band that is still rising in popularity across the world. This song was released on their 2009 EP "She's So Hard". After watching this video, I find myself really pulling for the Jezabels to make it bigger, because is it just me, or is that too small of a room to be playing in? I hope for their sake they have more room soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvUQ22Itxjw

"Relax, Take It Easy"- Mika. This debut single for flamboyant British singer Mika from his debut single "Life In Cartoon Motion". This song was also largely used in the gay empowerment movie "Were The World Mine". You know this is pretty decent song, but there is no way you could listen to this song and watch this video and not know beyond of a shadow of a doubt that Mike is gay.....slam dunk?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVmG_d3HKBA

"Breathe Easy"- Blue. Like most European boy bands, the United Kingdom's Blue was huge across the pond in the early 2000's, but had virtually no presence in the United States- I'm seriously baffled as to how that NEVER happens the other way around. This song from Blue's 2003 album "Guilty" was a #4 hit in the UK and #1 in Italy. This is a really good song, and the video really makes sense, but then I look at these guys and I see why they have no presence in the United States. See for yourself- have you ever seen a boy band look that goofy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jo7jG--IwU

"It Ain't Easy Being Me"- Chris Knight. Chris Knight is one of those guys who spent years writing songs for other artists, but waited several years to release his own album. This song off of his debut self titled album was released some 12 years after he started writing songs for artists. I'm not the biggest fan of this song, but this song is still better than most country songs I've heard, and this song never appeared on any charts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wvMNu15Uwo

"Never Easy"- Kurt Nilsen.This Norwegian version of Clay Aiken won the Norwegian version of "Pop Idol" and then the overall European "World Idol" to become a household name in Europe in 2003. His second album "A Part Of Me" was released in 2004 and included this song. This album was #2 in Norway, and the gap in his teeth was #2 behind Michael Strahan. Seriously though, this guy has an unreal voice and reminds me of Matt Nathanson or maybe Ryan Cabrera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFiaCgnv7U

"Easy"- Barenaked Ladies. All I'm gonna say is that I feel like an idiot for just now figuring out that Barenaked Ladies sang this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-8kfq8syI

BONUS VIDEOS- "Easy"- Faith No More- the cover of the Commodore's song by Faith No More from 1990.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH7J3G7Qtt0

"It's So Easy"- Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rU3W45wks