It’s So Easy – Linda Ronstadt | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1977
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
In the wake of Buddy Holly’s death in 1959, a few artists recorded some of the great songs he left behind, however, the British beat groups were the first to really mine Holly’s music catalog.
The Beatles covered Words Of Love in 1964 on Beatles For Sale, while Peter And Gordon reached #14 in 1966 with True Love Ways. “Peter” was Peter Asher, who eventually switched from performing to producing.
His first major success came with James Taylor: his second was with Linda Ronstadt. For Peter and Linda’s first full album together she covered It Doesn’t Matter Anymore; a Paul Anka composition originally sung by Holly.
Two years later, in 1976, she reached #11 with Buddy’s first chart hit, That’ll Be The Day. Linda turned to the Holly songbook once again in 1977 for It’s So Easy.
Her single debuted almost exactly nine years after Buddy and the Crickets released theirs on September 9, 1958, and – whereas the original failed to chart at all – Linda’s version went all the way to #5.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Buddy Holly
- Norman Petty
Lyrics Written by:
- Norman Petty
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).