"Take Love Easy" is a song written by Duke Ellington and John Latouche for their 1946 musical Beggar's Holiday.
It has become a jazz standard, notably recorded by Lena Horne (MGM 10108, 1948), by Duke Ellington himself with his orchestra (Columbia 38519, 1949; vocals by Dolores Parker), by Ella Fitzgerald (Take Love Easy, 1974), Shirley Horn (May the Music Never End, 2003), Bobby Short, Nancy Wilson, Sophie Milman (Take Love Easy, 2009).
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Critical reception
Beggar's Holiday
Reviewing the 1946 Broadway production of the musical, New York Theatre Critics' Reviews noted this song, calling it an "insinuating item", "which, if one is not entirely mistaken, weaves a sinuous course of sous-entendre" and commented Bernice Parks (who played "Jenny the voluptuous Madame") for "[doing] quite well with [it]".
Lena Horne version
Lena Horne's recording (MGM 10108,c/w "I Feel So Smoochie") was reviewed in 1948 in Metronome, that commended her for handling the "superb tune" in "sexy good taste".
Duke Ellington and his orchestra version
Billboard reviewed Duke Ellington's recording (Columbia 38519, coupled with "I Could Get a Man") in its issue from 9 July 1949, writing: "It's a fine song and is handed excellent treatment by the band, Johnny Hodges' alto and Dolores Parker's vocal." The New Yorker published a favorable review of that single as well, noting: "Miss Parker sings [both songs] engagingly."