Keith Carradine - I'm Easy (1976)

In addition to acting, the Carradine family is musically gifted. This is particularly true of Keith. In 1975, he performed a song he'd written, "I'm Easy", in the movie Nashville. It was a popular hit, and Carradine won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Original Song for the tune. This led to a brief singing career, and he signed a contract with Asylum Records and released two albums “I'm Easy” (1975) and “Lost & Found” (1978).  While horror stories of actors-turn-musicians exist, Carradine is an exception. Rather than simply cash in on his name or image, the artist took full advantage of the situation to record some of his own MOR compositions. The results are undeniably solid with Carradine exhibiting a wide spectrum of moods and styles. The general vibe of the effort fits nicely with the singer/songwriter genre that was prominent during the 1970s. Among the decidedly introspective highlights are the opener "Honey Won't You Let Me Be Your Friend," the stark "Spellbound," and the jazzy and slightly R&B-tinged "It's Been So Long." On the other side of the pop music spectrum is the funky shuffle and brash brass section on "Been Gone So Long" or the smooth blue-eyed soul of "I'll Be There." Without a doubt the arrangements by Dave Grusin (synthesizer/piano/keyboards) as well as the cast of all-star studio instrumentalists, such as Harvey Mason (drums), Earl Palmer (drums), Dean Parks (guitar), and Lee Ritenour (guitar) are key elements in the somewhat soulless and slick production. However, this doesn't diminish the strength of Carradine's well-crafted tunes.

01.  "Honey Won't You Let Me Be Your Friend"  (Keith Carradine)  - 2:43 
02.  "High Sierra"  (Keith Carradine)  - 4:03 
03.  "Been Gone So Long"  (John Mayall: Harmonica, Piano) (Keith Carradine)  - 3:14 
04.  "I'm Easy"   (John Guerin: Piano,  Dave Grusin: Synthesizer [Arp]) (Keith Carradine)  - 3:11 
05.  "The Soul Is Strong"   (Frank Rosolino: Trombone) (Keith Carradine) - 2:51 
06.  "I Will Never Forget Your Face"   (Dennis Budimir: Guitar)  (Keith Carradine)  - 3:23 
07.  "It's Been So Long"   (Keith Carradine)  - 3:08 
08.  "Raining In The City"   (Keith Carradine)  - 2:55 
09.  "I'll Be There"  (Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Berry Gordy, Jr., Bob West)  - 3:18 
10.  "Spellbound"   (Keith Carradine)   - 4:23 

Credits
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Carol Carmichael, Keith Carradine, Ted Neely
Bass – Max Bennett), Reine Press
Drums – Earl Palmer, Harvey Mason), Jim Gordon, John Guerin
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Dave Grusin
Engineer – Fritz Richmond, Jerry Hudgins
Guitar – Ben Benay, Dean Parks, Keith Carradine, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour
Saxophone [Sax] – David Luell
Synthesizer – Dave Grusin
Trombone – Mike Barone 
Trumpet – Al Aarons
Piano – Dave Grusin
Percussion – John Guerin
Arranged By – Dave Grusin
Art Direction – Glen Christensen
Design – Anne Garner
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Henry Lewy, Terry Hudgins, John Guerin
Other [Thank You To] – Chip Leech
Photography By [Photos] – George Hurrell
Producer – John Guerin

Notes
All songs recorded at Devonshire Sound Studios, North Hollywood, Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles.
All songs mixed at Devonshire Sound Studios and A&M Studios.
Genre:  Pop
Length: 36:02

© 1976 Asylum Records