It’s been a tough week for everyone so I figured we should take it easy, only without Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. I have no interest in standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.

Easy Living was written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin for the 1937 movie Easy Living. It was used as one of the film’s main musical themes but not sung onscreen.

Easy Living is a swell movie with a script by the great Preston Sturges. What’s not to love about a movie starring Jean Arthur and Ray Milland?

We begin with the first and most famous hit version of Easy Living by the Teddy Wilson Orchestra with Billie Holiday on lead vox.

We had black coffee with Peggy Lee on Wednesday morning; Easy Living is on that LP.

Sarah Vaughan gets Sassy with an all-star quartet:

Bryan Ferry recorded the Rainger and Robin classic in 1999.

Finally, Boz Scaggs. Say no more.

What’s a Friday Cocktail Hour without a jazz instrumental version of the week’s song? This time, Sonny Rollins followed by Oscar Peterson with Harry “Sweets” Edison.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

That’s it for this week. Let’s raise a glass and toast Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson. It’s what the stars of Easy Living, Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, and Ray Milland would want. Never argue with them.