Peaceful, Easy Feeling - The Eagles (1972) 10/5/21

What makes a song a "Great Song?" Here are two (of many) scenarios:

#1: A song that reaches the top of a chart (Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, Rhythm & Blues, Country, etc.) can--but not necessarily--make the grade--whether it's in the US, Canada, or somewhere else--like Iceland or Australia.

#2: A song that was a minor hit when it was originally released becomes more popular over time. So much so, it has become a standard on Oldies and Classic Rock radio stations.

Today, we're highlighting a song from scenario #2: 1972's "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles.

Singer/songwriter Jack Tempchin wrote the song in 1969 when he and some musician friends would get together at a club in El Centro, California and do some girl watching at the bus stop across the street. They'd fall in love with every girl until the bus came and took them away. Then they'd start over with the next group. It was all very casual, "peaceful and easy."

A year or two later, Jack met Glen Frey at the famous Troubadour nightclub in L.A., and when Glen heard the song, he thought it would be perfect for his brand new band...

The Eagles recorded it for their debut album, and in 1972, it was released as their third single (after "Take it Easy" and "Witchy Woman").

The song reached #20 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart, and #22 on the Hot 100 in both the US and Canada. Solid positions, but not spectacular.

And yet, 49 years later, "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" is still played on the radio, is still performed by bar bands everywhere, and still drives people to sing-a-long and harmonize when they hear it.

That, my friends, makes "Peaceful Easy Feeling" a "Great Song of 1972," and pretty much every year since!