Linda Ronstadt - Classic or Dud?

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Anything after 1977 (Simple Dreams) is pretty much crap IMO, especially her attempts at singing standards with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

bah. mad love is awesome! rickey wright already namechecked "how do i make you" but lemme also throw in "justine."

― stockholm cindy's secret childhood (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 14:49 (8 years ago) Permalink

I saw her last year singing mostly standards. Even more than the usual pipes/power/range criteria, her delivery is phenomenal. At one point, the way she sang the "d" in the word "don't" blew me away. People think I'm crazy for bringing up the way she sings consonants, but if you heard you'd understand. Some of her choices of material in the '70s were meh, but still - classic, overall.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 14:54 (8 years ago) Permalink

to be pompous for a second, she has this great style of a very tightly controlled portamento -- a lot of singers kinda artlessly slide between notes as if what's going on between points A and B is of no consequence whatsoever (and sometimes, like bad figure skaters, their liftoffs/landings themselves are sloppy). you can tell linda is paying attention every moment she's singing, and i admire that.

― stockholm cindy's secret childhood (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 14:57 (8 years ago) Permalink

People think I'm crazy for bringing up the way she sings consonants

again, it's just the mark of good training! any teacher with a brain will go over the shaping of consonants and vowels with his students.

― stockholm cindy's secret childhood (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 15:03 (8 years ago) Permalink

"Mr Plow is a loser and I think he is a boozer..."

― Alienus Quam Reproba (blueski), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 15:07 (8 years ago) Permalink

Best albums that we have not been overexposed to were the " Canciones de ma padre" ( sp ) i.e. "Songs for my Father" , sung in Spanish and the lush one she did with Nelson Riddle doing the string arrangements.

Also we thank her/hate her for hiring Don Henley as her drummer...

― Brian C, Wednesday, 16 February 2005 15:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

The ambivalent essay in "Stranded" about the merit of her Zevon, Orbison, and Young covers has always made me curious to check out "Heart Like A Wheel" and "Living in the USA," but I've never made the effort.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 15:50 (8 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

Well actually the song "Heart Like A Wheel" reminds me of the song Bette Midler did later, "The Rose", only "Heart Like A Wheel" is slower. The notes are much the same.

Linda Ronstadt's version of "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" is an exquisite gem of a song. I still haven't heard the original Karla Bonoff version, but I love the tune and the way Linda sings it.
My favourite Ronstadt song.

When I was about 8 years old, my friend's parents next door used to play this album, and I still say this is the one to have:

Other favourites include her version of Tumbling Dice and that Warren Zevon cover...what was it? Ah yes, "Poor Poor Pitiful Me". My favourite thing to play at the end of an academic quarter. I like Linda. She can sing.

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Friday, 3 June 2005 08:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

once again, i love her.

― to let - flats (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 3 June 2005 08:34 (8 years ago) Permalink

Yeah she's great. I don't know much (aha!!!) about her work with the Stone Poneys, but what I've heard sounds quite appealing. My favourite of hers is "Dedicated To The One I Love", the album of lullabyes she made for her own baby in the early nineties. Instrumentation: glass harmonica, harp and multi-layered vocals. And that's pretty much it. Unbelievable.
Also seek her version of Jimmy Webb's "Adios", a phenomenal song heartbreakingly sung. And I *adore* "Don't Know Much".

― harvey.w (harvey.w), Friday, 3 June 2005 11:24 (8 years ago) Permalink

Classic for "Blue Bayou" and for her absolutely entrancing performance as Mabel in the movie of Pirates of Penzance. Also for the song she guests on on Graceland, "Under African Skies."

But she also made some clunky mistakes. I chanced to hear "It's So Easy" the other day; I never did like that song.

― The Mad Puffin, Friday, 3 June 2005 12:57 (8 years ago) Permalink

the video for "it's so easy" is classic for waddy wachtel's hair alone.

― to let - flats (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:34 (8 years ago) Permalink

i only know her from her work with neil young, and the Mr Plow episode, but classic for those.

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:39 (8 years ago) Permalink

I grew up hearing those Aaron Navel duets, which are purty.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

Senor Plow no es macho, Es solamente un borracho...

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Friday, 3 June 2005 14:53 (8 years ago) Permalink

I like her lots. Well, excpet the standards stuff. But my moms played the hell Greatest Hits Vols. I & II (on 8 track, nonetheless!) when I was a kid, so it is permanently imprented on my brain.

"Long, Long Time" is still devestating to me everytime I hear it -- especially when she betls out that last "'Casue I've done everythin I know/to try and make you mine"

― Randy Reiss (undeadsinatra), Friday, 3 June 2005 16:52 (8 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Sooo....where should I begin? Heart Like a Wheel and Simple Dreams?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 3 November 2006 23:41 (6 years ago) Permalink

When Will I Be Loved?

― PappaWheelie, don't fuck this up (PappaWheelie 2), Saturday, 4 November 2006 00:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

that 2cd comp of her first 4(?) records that came out some months back is a good intro if you like the country-rock side of linda (which i'm guessing wouldn't be your cup o' tea so much, Alfred) i really like the first 2 records, sort of lose interest after that but gotta respect those pipes!

― timmy tannin (pompous), Saturday, 4 November 2006 00:41 (6 years ago) Permalink

a good intro if you like the country-rock side of linda (which i'm guessing wouldn't be your cup o' tea so much, Alfred)

Hm. Maybe. I'm a guy who digs upbeat Loretta and Dolly and New Wave Rosanne Cash, so, it's a coin flip.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 4 November 2006 00:47 (6 years ago) Permalink

New Wave Rosanne rules!

― A Radio Picture (Rrrickey), Saturday, 4 November 2006 00:55 (6 years ago) Permalink

I would revive a Rosanne Cash thread if there were enough people who cared.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:00 (6 years ago) Permalink

rosanne is capable of greatness, but...

"you're no good" >>>>> everything rosanne has ever done, with the single possible exception of "seven year ache."

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:31 (6 years ago) Permalink

"You're No Good" is marvelous, but on Rosanne's side we got: "Blue Moon with Heartache," "Hold On," "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me," "Halfway House," "Runaway Train," "Rosie Strikes Back," "Somewhere, Somehow" -- a helluva run.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:33 (6 years ago) Permalink

some damn good songs in there but none of 'em is "you're no good." some of 'em, i might rather here someone else singing (personal thing between me and rosanne's voice). and "i don't know why you don't want me" is a great verse/chorus dragged down by a drab bridge, or maybe a great verse dragged down by a drab chorus, or maybe a great chorus dragged down by a drab verse (dammit, what part is what in that one???).

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:43 (6 years ago) Permalink

(funny, though, on "i don't know why you don't want me," i love rosanne's voice; it's the male harmonies i can't stand.)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:48 (6 years ago) Permalink

I don't think any of her '70s hits were as good as "Different Drum," but I like "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" quite a bit.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 4 November 2006 01:49 (6 years ago) Permalink

Yeah Justine is awesome, I totally dig the Madlove album

California Mafia Faux PunkWave= Adorable

Understanding it's about rock and roll revival and not synths and safety pins = admirable

Ultrathick prog moog in a new wave context classic

― Adam S S (Zephery), Saturday, 4 November 2006 02:42 (6 years ago) Permalink

Alfred we're on the same plane yet again. I pulled out Linda just last weekend in order to make my friend a small compilation of some songs I'd like to see her sing the next time she does a gig in this ritzy hotel bar. My Linda choices for the comp were "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" and "Heart Like A Wheel".

― An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream (Bimble...), Saturday, 4 November 2006 03:23 (6 years ago) Permalink

Prisoner in Disguise is also a good record

― Adam S S (Zephery), Saturday, 4 November 2006 03:55 (6 years ago) Permalink

Classic!

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 4 November 2006 04:54 (6 years ago) Permalink

Her new album with Ann Savoy, the cajun queen, is great. their version of walk away renee is fucking awesome!

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 4 November 2006 04:56 (6 years ago) Permalink

Christ, she was the freakin queen of r&r for a few 70s years for all the right reasons. excellent voice / superb delivery and control / good looking / not half-bad backing bands / some great material / did drugs etc...

― jim wentworth (wench), Saturday, 4 November 2006 06:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

yeah, but after the coke binges were over, the bloat set in :(

― timmy tannin (pompous), Saturday, 4 November 2006 06:38 (6 years ago) Permalink

Christ, she was the freakin queen of r&r

I don't think I'd call her a rock singer, even if she sang rock at times. Way too AM radio, no apparent attitude other than challenging her own vocal cords. Much more a pop artist, moving through genres and styles.

― bendy (bendy), Saturday, 4 November 2006 15:51 (6 years ago) Permalink

In this debate I'd say all three of the last posts were right. And I love you all.

― An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream (Bimble...), Saturday, 4 November 2006 15:54 (6 years ago) Permalink

which wasn't meant as an affront to Scott - I haven't heard that album.

― An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream (Bimble...), Saturday, 4 November 2006 16:10 (6 years ago) Permalink

you can listen to some stuff here:

http://www.vanguardrecords.com/listen.asp?idArtist=30

i love the harmonies. so beautiful to me. but it might not be for everyone. i've always loved her voice. it's a really pretty album.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 4 November 2006 16:20 (6 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Revive!

Re-discovery for me. My dad used to listen to her back in the early 70s so I have heard all the songs. But I didn't remember how great her voice is. Classic.

YouTube has some killer material up:

Long long time

You're no good

Love has no pride

― that's not my post, Monday, 5 November 2007 06:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

Couldn't resist another. Damn, that voice is good.

I guess it doesn't matter anymore

― that's not my post, Monday, 5 November 2007 06:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

I always thought of Mad Love as a response to the first two Pat Benetar albums, although its cover art was quaintly New Wave. If nothing else, it made Elvis Costello some cash at the beginning of his career.

Apparently she and Linda Thompson were drinking buddies on the Shoot Out The Lights tour as well.

― mike a, Monday, 5 November 2007 15:47 (5 years ago) Permalink

I did get Simple Dreams at the beginning of the year and was surprised by much it rocked, in a stiff-jointed way.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 5 November 2007 15:50 (5 years ago) Permalink

Linda Ronstadt was generous in covering rock standards and budding songwriters. But then you hear the original "Blue Bayou," the original "When Will I Be Loved" and "Tumbling Dice," the Dave Edmunds cover of "Girls Talk," and especially the original "You're No Good," and you realize you've been cheated. It's like thinking you hate "Up On The Roof" and "What A Wonderful World" because you're sick of James Taylor's mellow brand of folk-rock, until you finally hear Sam Cooke doing them right. Like it or not, this is the way we '70s kids first heard these songs.

― mike a, Monday, 5 November 2007 15:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

At the end of the early 90's movie version of The Secret Garden they play her "Winter Light" and it's awesome.

― dad a, Monday, 5 November 2007 16:09 (5 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

i'm listening to After The Gold Rush, and liking it

― Surmounter, Saturday, 12 April 2008 22:13 (5 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

"hand full of thorns and you know you've missed it/lose your love when you say the word 'mine'"

COME ON SHE IS CLASSICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 28 June 2008 07:39 (4 years ago) Permalink

I don't care who wrote the song, okay?

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 28 June 2008 07:40 (4 years ago) Permalink

IT'S SO EASY TO FALL IN LOVE

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 28 June 2008 07:41 (4 years ago) Permalink

TUMBLING DICE

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 28 June 2008 07:44 (4 years ago) Permalink

the love for mad love upthread is otm. i tracked it down and downloaded it a while ago because i remember my dad had it and it was one of my favorite records when i was about 10. she did faux-new-wave really well. (and ditto faux-country-rock, hand sown ... home grown is great.)

i also like this stone ponys clip.

― tipsy mothra, Saturday, 28 June 2008 13:35 (4 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 5 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

can't follow the Nelson Riddle bashing.
theres a time where you need this ('Lush Life' & 'Whats New')

― meisenfek, Friday, 15 October 2010 17:30 (2 years ago) Permalink

never heard her version of this until yesterday:

holy cow!
Heart Like a Wheel is a complete classic and should be in every home

― KC & the sunshine banned (outdoor_miner), Friday, 15 October 2010 17:44 (2 years ago) Permalink

There's an original "You're No Good?

Yeah, there's definitely something to be said for the "gateway drug" thing. Ronstadt's covers exposed me to a bunch of things I wasn't really listening to otherwise at the time: Motown, Everly Brothers, Hank Williams and Dolly Parton for starters, as well as 70s songwriters (Eric Kaz, Karla Bonoff, Warren Zevon.)

― Taller than the president (Dan Peterson), Friday, 15 October 2010 22:07 (2 years ago) Permalink

Holy cow indeed at that Playboy After Dark clip; they start soul-clapping about the 1 1/2 minute mark!

― Taller than the president (Dan Peterson), Friday, 15 October 2010 22:11 (2 years ago) Permalink

one great thing about linda is that you can go to most used record stores and get ten of her records for about $10.

― tylerw, Friday, 15 October 2010 22:17 (2 years ago) Permalink

even more original "you're no good"

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 15 October 2010 23:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

oops.

even more original "you're no good":

http://vimeo.com/9054360

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 15 October 2010 23:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 10 January 2011 17:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

This absolutely fucking kills me:

― Mule, Sunday, 5 February 2012 15:27 (1 year ago) Permalink

She's 37 in this video.

― La Lechera, Sunday, 5 February 2012 15:56 (1 year ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

I just heard Blue Bayou today...damn if there was ever a timemachine back to my childhood, it's her voice.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:02 (10 months ago) Permalink

I LOVE that song.

― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:03 (10 months ago) Permalink

Ned mentioned this upthread - worth posting

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:05 (10 months ago) Permalink

I heard "Hurts So Bad" on Sunday. Her voice cracks!

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:05 (10 months ago) Permalink

when her voice gets loud on Bayou I get all teary and goosebumpy

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:07 (10 months ago) Permalink

me too

― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Tuesday, 7 August 2012 23:48 (10 months ago) Permalink

Same for me on "Long, Long Time." That one just absolutely slays me.

― Marco YOLO (Phil D.), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 01:11 (10 months ago) Permalink

Love her version of Love Has No Pride, just an incredible vocal (http://youtu.be/rN8YVVKPNC0). Bonnie Raitt also recorded a great version in the early 70s (http://youtu.be/S2QTdxXmd0k). I love me some Bonnie Raitt but I give the nod to Linda.

― that's not my post, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 06:50 (10 months ago) Permalink

lollin @ some of the comments on these vids:

Wow! That black dress, black hair, sultry lips, tight little body, and those trade-mark mesmerizing eyes. Word cannot describe how sexy she was during the early-mid 80's I would have worshiped her back then.... gladly been her slave.....
Lindawatcher 3 weeks ago

― global tetrahedron, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:10 (10 months ago) Permalink

lindawatcher jfc that's creepy

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:12 (10 months ago) Permalink

rondstalker

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:13 (10 months ago) Permalink

er, ronstalker

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:13 (10 months ago) Permalink

name: lindawatcher
job: lindawatcher
interests: linda, lindawatching
hobbies: lindawatching

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:14 (10 months ago) Permalink

favorites:
Linda's Bedroom Window at Night
Linda's Bedroom Window at Night pt 2

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:17 (10 months ago) Permalink

"Linda told me to shave my head today. I'm amazed at the results. After all this time, she really knows me too well."

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:20 (10 months ago) Permalink

She played Sun City, so dud.

― Jean-Luc Poncey (lpz), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:42 (10 months ago) Permalink

Snow White in South Africa

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:46 (10 months ago) Permalink

Frank Sinatra, whose eyes are apartheid blue

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:52 (10 months ago) Permalink

she has my favorite voice ever

― NASCAR, surfing, raising chickens, owning land (zachlyon), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 17:51 (10 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

weird!

― tylerw, Thursday, 13 September 2012 17:45 (9 months ago) Permalink

And that's what the late 70's were like.

― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:20 (9 months ago) Permalink

C-3PO's arms don't even bend properly, he would be a terrible drummer.

― Darren Robocopsky (Phil D.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:29 (9 months ago) Permalink

That is literally my only problem with that cover.

― Darren Robocopsky (Phil D.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:30 (9 months ago) Permalink

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