OP, here.
To explain a bit of my method of choosing songs for the poll:
[ul]
[li]I decided I’d cap the list at 10 because, well, I just decided I would[/li][li]I limited my selection from Greatest Hits 1 & 2 drawing from the peak of her commercial success[/li][li]I decided to limit discussion to songs for which I thought the original, itself, was iconic, already part of the broader cultural consciousness[/li][/ul]
I didn’t include the Warren Zevon songs because of point #3. The Wiki page for “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” even mentions that Jackson Browne pitched the song to her personally at her home, presumably when the song was still brand new. I wonder if Zevon’s recording had even been released yet.
Following this same reasoning, I actually regret including “Desperado” (I voted for it before deciding I shouldn’t have listed it) because Ronstadt recorded the song having personally worked with Frey and Henley and her version was released just a few months after the Eagles version. I wonder even if she was in the studio already before the Eagles album was released. Honestly, I had simply forgotten that that was the case.
I’d actually have included “Heatwave” before including any of the Zevon but I just don’t think anyone thinks of “Heatwave” as a Linda Ronstadt song even if they enjoy her version.
I didn’t include anything from the Nelson Riddle albums because I don’t think of Standards the same as I think of Covers. The Old Standards she recorded with Riddle were written within a musical culture and era with the expectation that they would be recorded and performed by many different performers each adding their own interpretation. I don’t think I’m alone in making a distinction between Standards and Covers though I do understand how that distinction may seem arbitrary to some people.
So, like it or not, there’s the reasoning of the OP. I did, however, say that I’d like to see people add to the list and I’ve enjoyed reading all the responses. Honestly, I thought there was a chance this Thread would drop like a brick. It’s nice to see all the interest.
I will say that the two big vote getters do surprise me:
“Blue Bayou”, I prefer Ronstadt’s version but I expected to be eviscerated for saying so. Not that I don’t think other people enjoy her version, I just thought many music fans would not accept any perceived slight upon Orbison’s brilliant original.
“You’re No Good”, I love Ronstadt’s version and I know many other people do but, for me, it just doesn’t have the gravitas and the raw energy of Betty Everett’s original. So, I’m surprised at that one as well.