Linda Ronstadt : IT'S SO EASY

One of the most successful albums of Ronstadt's career, Simple Dreams spent five continuous weeks at number one on the album chart in late 1977, replacing Fleetwood Mac's Rumours after it had held that position for a record-breaking 29 weeks. It also knocked Elvis Presley out of the number one position on the Billboard Country Albums chart after The King had held it for fifteen consecutive weeks following his death in August.

Simple Dreams was such a success that Ronstadt became the first female artist —and the first act overall since The Beatles— to have two singles in the top five at the same time: BLUE BAYOU (#3 Pop, #3 Adult contemporary, and #2 Country) and IT’S SO EASY (#5 Pop).

IT’S SO EASY was originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958 but had failed to chart. It was Ronstadt's second cover of a Holly song to become a hit in as many years; she had taken a rousing cover of THAT’LL BE THE DAY to #11 Pop in 1976, using a similar arrangement.