Can’t deny she has an incredible voice. I’ve tried to like her over the years, but for some reason I’ve never gotten much into her. Joni Mitchell, OTOH…
Hell, her original touring band in 1971 included Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Randy Meisner; when Frey and Henley decided to form a band (which became the Eagles) while on tour with Ronstadt, she was the one who suggested they add Bernie Leadon to their line-up. All four of them played on her 1972 self-titled album.
I’m another who had a big crush on Linda back in the '70s, and I’ve always loved her music.
I watched a TV special about Linda following her involuntary retirement from singing. The most notable segment to me was the interview with her long time friend Dolly Parton. Dolly is well known as the nicest person ever to live and her praise of Linda Ronstadt was effusive and glowing. But then suddenly there was more than praise and professional jealousy was clearly in her voice the way she spoke as she said “That woman can sing anything!”. Even the nicest person, a record breaking vocal artist, was envious of her amazing voice. It is amazing, one of those rare voices that penetrates my tin ears and allows me to enjoy music the way I imagine others can.
I get you. Given your username, I see why you’d more readily appreciate the compositional (and vocal, and creatively-tuned guitar, and lyric-writing) gifts of Joni.
That girl could sing the phone book and I’d listen. And would send chills down my spine when she sang my name!
Linda’s biography is a interesting read. Her parents had a large collection of albums in various genres. Linda loved that music and made a point to record and perform in those styles.
Her album What’s New with Nelson Riddle is a great collection from the American Songbook.Linda wanted to spend a month or two singing the material in clubs to prepare. But the Label refused to pay the cost of an Orchestra. It’s still a great album even without the live performance preparation.
It’s an amazing album, but consider the context:
It’s 1983. Ronstadt is 37 years old, and likely the biggest female name in U.S. rock music at that time. Of her previous seven albums, six made it to the top 4 on the U.S. charts.
And, yet, she wants to make an album of “American songbook” music, which hasn’t been broadly popular for decades, and she wants to record songs that are 40 to 60 years old. It’s no wonder that her record label and her manager thought it was a mistake, and were reluctant to support it.
There aren’t many songs that I could listen to over and over again, but “Blue Bayou” is one of them.
mmm
If you can see this film, check it out!
Linda Ronstadt is part Mexican on her father’s side. She did two albums of traditional Mexican songs: Canciones de Mi Padre and Mas Canciones. Here she is performing La Charreada (The Rodeo) with Mariachi Vargas. The song was on the first Canciones album:
What a coincidence—I bought some new rose bushes a few days ago, and every time I’ve looked at them, her version of Love is a Rose has been going through my mind.
I haven’t otherwise thought much about her music in years (probably due to overplaying it), but she was one of the first artists I liked a lot as a pre-teen back in the ‘70s. I later acquired both of her greatest hits albums on CD. I’m sure I had a crush on her as well.
She did a lot of interesting work. I remember seeing that she did an album of traditional Mexican songs (Canciones de Mi Padre) back in 1987.
Watched that. Loved it, except it was a bit too kind to her about the 70s lifestyle (Linda had problems with amphetamines).
Linda Ronstadt didn’t write much music - all of her hits were covers. But she took a song and made it her own. She put her heart and soul into her music, and Gawd, I love her for that!
What a shift from Heat Wave. Linda could be a star in the 1940’s
One of those little people with giant voices, a la Brenda Lee from an earlier era. She was one of the artists who made 70s music some of the best ever recorded.
Thanks. Added to my watch list.
I’m enjoying her trio work with Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris.
As an aside for her upcoming birthday, 15 July when she will turn 78, San Francisco is making that Linda Ronstadt Day here. Gift link:
You owe it to yourself to hear the originals! Especially the J. D. Souther ones…
Oops, ran into the “can’t imbed”. I’ll try my two favorites separately…
The original of Prisoner in Disguise has wonderful backup vocals from Richie Furay and Chris Hillman…
And his duet with Linda on Hearts Against The Wind. Some of us bought the Urban Cowboy soundtrack just to have this song (hang in there til the 0:48 mark for some almost-yodeling serious country harmony).
(NOPE! Still not working. Go find them yourself.)
The album cover that comes to mind when I think of Linda Ronstadt is Living in the USA with her on roller skates but holding the walls like she isn’t that adept at skating.