<P> "Take It Easy" is a song written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the Eagles with Frey singing lead vocals . It was the band's first single, released on May 1, 1972 . It peaked at No. 12 on the July 22, 1972 Billboard Hot 100 chart . It also was the opening track on the band's debut album Eagles and it has become one of their signature songs, included on all of their live and compilation albums . It is listed as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll . </P> <P> Jackson Browne later recorded the song as the lead track on his second album, For Everyman (1973), and released it as a single as well, although it did not chart . Travis Tritt also covered the song for the 1993 Eagles' tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles; the video for Tritt's version is notable for the appearance of all five members of the Eagles together the first time in 13 years after their break - up, and it led to the reunion of the band a few months later . </P> <P> Jackson Browne originally began writing "Take It Easy" in 1971 for his own eponymous debut album but was having difficulty finishing the song . His friend and then - neighbor Glenn Frey had heard an early version and later asked Browne about it . Browne then played the unfinished second verse that begins with "Well, I'm a-standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona ...", and Frey finished the verse with "Such a fine sight to see . It's a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me ." Browne was very happy with the result and suggested that they co-write the song . The resulting song became the first track on the Eagles' debut album and was released as their first single . </P> <P> Browne told a version of the story in a radio interview: "I knew Glenn Frey from playing these clubs - we kept showing up at the same clubs and singing on the open - mic nights . Glenn happened to come by to say' hi,' and to hang around when I was in the studio, and I showed him the beginnings of that song, and he asked if I was going to put it on my record and I said it wouldn't be ready in time . He said' well, we'll put it on, we'll do it,' ' cause he liked it," Browne explained . "But it wasn't finished, and he kept after me to finish it, and finally offered to finish it himself . And after a couple of times when I declined to have him finish my song, I said,' all right .' I finally thought,' This is ridiculous . Go ahead and finish it . Do it .' And he finished it in spectacular fashion . And, what's more, arranged it in a way that was far superior to what I had written ." </P>

Who played lead guitar on take it easy