I'm Easy - Keith Carradine (1976) 11/15/21

Today, we're highlighting the Oscar-winning song of 1975. It's also the Gold Globe winner, and it currently sits at #81 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years/100 Songs" survey of the top tunes in American Cinema.

I'm Easy" was written and performed by Keith Carradine in the Robert Altman-directed (and Oscar-winning) film, "Nashville." In the film, Keith plays a manipulative womanizer, who sings the song at a Nashville nightclub, while dedicating it to someone special. Several women in the audience think it's about them.

The film version of "I'm Easy" was backed only by acoustic guitar and cello.

When it was released as a single, several other instruments were added and Keith sang it just a tiny bit faster.

Whomever made those subtle changes was pretty smart, because in 1976, the single version topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart, while reaching #17 on the Hot 100.

Interestingly, Keith became a one-hit wonder...but his acting career has been pretty solid ever since. Broadway fans may remember him as Will Rogers in "The Will Rogers Follies," and on TV, he played Wyatt, Penny's dad on "The Big Bang Theory."

(Yes, He is a member of the famous Carradine acting family that included father John and, brother David).

"I'm Easy" by Keith Carradine: an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, and certainly a "Great Song of 1976!"

Single version:

Film version: