Eddy Arnold was a few years past his last major country hit when he made
Loving Her Was Easier. The light country-folk sound was probably influenced by the contemporaneous success of artists like
John Denver and
James Taylor. In fact,
Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is covered, as are big hits such as "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" and
Freddie Hart's "Easy Loving," both of which fit well with the tone of the album, even if the performances are lackluster. A tepid run-through of
Jackie DeShannon's "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is included for
Arnold's least-discerning pop fans. "I Love You Dear" was a minor hit and the only charting single from the album. A year or so after
Loving Her Was Easier,
Arnold's sagging sales resulted in his parting ways with RCA after nearly 30 years with the company.