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“Buster Bailey
opens the first few bars of the
song on clarinet, and Lester Young
and the others play soulfully behind
Ms. Holiday.” |
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- Jon Luthro
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“Easy Living” is a slow ballad
with straightforward lyrics that
declare just how wonderful life
can be when living for someone you
love. The songwriting team of Ralph
Rainger and Leo Robin wrote this
song while under contract to Paramount.
It was written for the film of the
same name and was the film’s only
song.
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The 1937 Paramount movie starred
Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Ray
Milland, Luis Alberni, Mary Nash,
Franklin Pangborn and William Demarest.
Mitchell Leisen directed and Preston
Sturges wrote the screenplay, which
was based on a story by Vera Caspary
(A
Letter to Three Wives,
Laura).
Easy Living is generally
well-reviewed and is best characterized
as a screwball comedy classic.
“Easy Living” was reprised in
the 1949 RKO film,
Easy Living (same name,
different plot), starring Victor
Mature, Lucille Ball, Sonny Tufts,
and Lizabeth Scott. Again it is
the film’s sole song, but this time
it is sung by Audrey Young, who
went on to become better known as
Audrey Wilder, wife of Billy Wilder.
“Easy Living” did not immediately
garner much public attention because
it was only performed instrumentally
in the original film. However,
Billie Holiday recorded it with
Teddy Wilson’s Orchestra on
June 1, 1937, and their version
stayed on the charts for two weeks
in July, 1937, peaking at fifteenth
position.
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To capitalize on the success
of the Holiday/Wilson recording,
“Easy Living” was recycled in the
1939, Paramount film
Remember the Night, also
written by Preston Sturges and directed
by Mitchell Leisen.
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Musical analysis of
“Easy Living”
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| Original
Key |
Eb major,
modulating to B major during the “B”section,
then back to Eb major for the last “A” section |
| Form |
A - A - B
- A |
| Tonality |
Major throughout |
| Movement |
Primarily
skips; leaps of a major 6th and minor 7th
occur frequently. |
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Comments
(assumed
background)
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The initial chord progression is an acending
I-vii˚7/ii-ii-vii˚7/iii, similar to “Memories
Of You” and “Doin’ The New Low-Down,”
which is actually a variation of I-vi7-ii-V7
(“I
Could Write a Book,” “At
Long Last Love,” etc.) The latter progression
would work just as well, but the original
elegant changes are preferable. The reason
is to provide a contrast with the “B” section,
which actually does use the latter progression,
albeit in a distant key. The modulation
from Eb to B in the second ending is worth
commenting on since it works so well. It
begins with a I going to IV7 – typical for
an ending – but then, instead of returning
to I, the IV7 resolves to bviim7. In the
original key this is: Eb-Ab7-Dbm7. The Dbm7
then becomes a ii7 of the new key of B major,
making for a smooth transition. The second
modulation–going from B major back to Eb–is
accomplished almost as well, as the bass
note of the vi7 chord (of B major) drops
two steps, turning it into a “pivot” chord
that leads to the V7 of the original “A”
key (Eb major).
Melodically, this sort of piece is loved
by instrumentalists and hated by vocalists
for the same reason–wide intervals. Despite
this, the range of the song is no more than
octave and a fifth. With proper warm-up
and technique (translation: RELAX!), this
should pose no more than a moderate challenge
for the intermediate jazz vocalist.
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K. J. McElrath - Musicologist for JazzStandards.com
Check out K. J. McElrath's book of Jazz Standards Guide Tone Lines at his web site (www.bardicle.com). |
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Are you a published Vocalist or Instrumentalist?
Add a comment and we'll credit you with a link
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“Easy Living”
was included in these films:
- Easy Living (1937, instrumental)
- Remember the Night (1939,
Billie Holiday)
- Easy Living (1949, Audrey
Young)
- Chinatown (1974)
- The Bridges of Madison County
(1995, Johnny Hartman)
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Click on a CD for more details
at Amazon.com
Ann Hampton Callaway
Easy Living
1999, Sin-drome
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| This CD features two different lineups
of musicians, including, among others, Kenny
Barron and Bill Charlap on piano, Peter
Washington on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums;
an excellent album by an excellent vocalist. |
Clifford Brown
The Definitive…
2002, Universal
Original recording, 1953, Blue Note
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| Trumpeter Brown’s regal version
is included in this collection along with
his compositions, “Joy Spring” and “Daahoud.”
There’s also a bop outing with Art Blakey,
a lyrical version of “Stardust,” an exchange
with Sonny Rollins, and vocals by Dinah
Washington and Sarah Vaughan. |
Alan Broadbent
Pacific Standard Time
1995, Concord 4664
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| This instrumental version features
the ever-graceful and refined Alan Broadbent
Trio with Broadbent on piano, Putter Smith
on bass, and Frank Gibson, Jr. on drums. |
Billie Holiday .
Strange Fruit: 1937-1939
2000, Jazzterdays Records #102423
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| Billie became identified with this
song. This collection includes the 1937
version recorded with Teddy Wilson’s Orchestra.
Buster Bailey opens the first few bars of
the song on clarinet, and Lester Young and
the others play soulfully behind Ms. Holiday. |
Kurt Elling
Flirting with Twilight
2001, Blue Note
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| Elling’s straight-ahead but impassioned
reading of the vocal is leant urgency by
the throbbing instrumental backing. |
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Tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray lived a tragically
short life but made a mark on postwar transitional
jazz. On his 1949 recording session (which produced
his famous original “Twisted”), Gray works his magic
on a ballad version of “Easy Living.” He’s accompanied
by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker’s rhythm section
of Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass) and Roy
Haynes (drums). (The CD reissue includes an alternate
version).
Another tenor player, Stan Getz, was influenced
by Lester Young (as was Wardell Gray). In an interesting
alignment, Getz is featured with Count Basie’s orchestra
in a live 1954 recording, playing the tune that
Young recorded with
Billie Holiday.
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
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| This section shows the jazz standards
written by the same writing team. Click on a name
to see all of a writer's jazz standards.
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Additional information on “Easy Living” may be found in:
1 paragraph including the following types of information: film productions, history and performers.
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