Easy (Commodores song)
"Easy" is a song by American band Commodores from their fifth studio album, Commodores, released on the Motown label. Group member Lionel Richie wrote "Easy" with the intention of it becoming another crossover hit for the group given the success of a previous single, "Just to Be Close to You", which spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart (now known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart) and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.[4]
Released in March 1977, "Easy" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart (for a single week, on July 16) and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of "Easy" paved the way for similar Richie-composed hit ballads such as "Three Times a Lady" and "Still", and also for Richie's later solo hits.
American rock band Faith No More covered the song in 1992 and released it as a single in December of that year. This version became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Australia and becoming a top-ten hit in eight other countries. On the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 58.
Content[edit]
Written by Commodores lead singer Lionel Richie, the song is a slow ballad expressing a man's relief as a relationship ends. Rather than being depressed about the break-up, he states that he is instead "easy like Sunday morning"—something that Richie described as evocative of "small Southern towns that die at 11:30pm" on a Saturday night, such as his hometown Tuskegee, Alabama.[5] The song is written in the key of A♭ major[6] and modulates up a semitone to A major.
In the bridge section, following the opening line: "I wanna be high, so high", there is a distinctive electric guitar glide. An electric guitar solo is heard in the instrumental section of the song.
Richie re-recorded a version of the song for his 2012 studio album Tuskegee which features country singer Willie Nelson.[7]
Reception[edit]
Cash Box called it "a bluesy ballad that verifies the Commodores' versatility and professionalism as all-around musicians."[8] Record World said that "the Commodores become the latest r&b outfit to shift gears and offer a ballad – it's one of their best melodies."[9]
"Easy"
"Be Aggressive" (UK and Ireland)
"Das Schutzenfest"
December 29, 1992
3:08
- Matt Wallace
- Faith No More
Sky Ferreira version[edit]
American singer and songwriter Sky Ferreira released a rendition of the song for the soundtrack of the 2017 film Baby Driver, in which she plays Baby's mother. It was produced by Nigel Godrich. To promote the track, a music video directed by the film's director, Edgar Wright, was released on September 4, 2017.[61] On September 7, 2017, the video was uploaded to the 30th Records's official VEVO account.[62]
Other versions[edit]
Boyz II Men covered the song on their 2007 album Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA.
Westlife covered the song on their 2006 album The Love Album (Westlife album).
Charles Givings covered the song on his 2003 album Songs for Sunset Lovers.
Barbara Mason covered the song on the compilation Another Man.
Samples[edit]
"Easy" was sampled by the Houston-based rap group Geto Boys for the song "Six Feet Deep" from their 1993 album Till Death Do Us Part. It was also used as a sample in Cam'ron's song "Hey Ma".