More Linda Ronstadt in Ten Easy Tracks
Linda Ronstadt is fantastic. Those of us who have known of her music for a while acknowledge this as a fact. However, if you’re reading this, you may be entirely new to her music. If so, welcome! The Last of Us and its deft use of “Long, Long Time” might have brought you here. Linda’s powerful vocals on this track came at the beginning of her solo career- meaning that if that song is your benchmark, you are in for a world of delights as you explore her discography. I’m here to give you a roadmap to some of Ms. Ronstadt’s songs that you may want to listen to after falling in love with her. I’ve selected one track from each of her ten subsequent albums to give a listen to- create a playlist and enjoy!
1) Linda’s third album, entitled Linda Ronstadt, was her last before seeking a new trajectory with her career. Linda is a keen interpreter of songs and on this album, she tackles her first piece from Patsy Cline. Give a listen to “I Fall To Pieces” if you want to get a taste of her country rock roots as they are on full display here. You’ll recognize her powerful vocals on this track in the same vein as “Long, Long Time.”
2) Linda came out of the gates with her first album for Asylum Records in 1973 with Don’t Cry Now. Fun fact: The legendary rock band Eagles originally started as Linda’s back-up band, and on this album she records an absolutely heart-rending version of the Don Henley/Glenn Frey song “Desperado.” The use of horns on the song gives it an extra resonance and it becomes a soulful, wonderfully vibrant showcase for Ronstadt’s vocals.
3) Much like public awareness of Linda’s career and talents exploded with episode three of The Last of Us, 1974’s Heart Like a Wheel propelled Ronstadt to superstardom and the pop culture spotlight. Need to pump yourself up? Crank “You’re No Good.” It features strong vocals and a musical arrangement that lends itself to pop success. You’ll probably end up listening to the rest of this album after hearing this opening track and that’s incredibly acceptable and possibly required.
4) One of my favorite tracks Linda ever recorded is the title track from 1975’s Prisoner in Disguise. Her harmony vocalist on the track is the writer of the song/Ronstadt’s ex-beau (and still good friend!) J. D. Souther. The orchestral arrangement is supreme and does so much to emphasize the emotion Linda puts into her vocal performance. You FEEL this song in your bones, especially when Ronstadt hits the high note near the end and leaves you feeling absolutely exposed by the end of the song.
5) Hasten Down the Wind has one of Ronstadt’s most iconic album covers, a picture taken by Ethan Russell. This album shows us the variety of material Linda has explored and gives you a taste of what is to come in her career. The lead song is my pick for what to sample from the album. “Lose Again” is an epic pop rock masterpiece. The song, written by Karla Bonoff, gives Ronstadt an opportunity to showcase her big voice. Backed by Andrew Gold and Kenny Edwards on vocals, this song epitomizes the melancholy mood Ronstadt is famous for evoking; Dan Dugmore’s guitar solo is a wonderful breather in the middle of the song so you don’t entirely break down.
6) Linda did so much for the artists whose songs she interpreted. A great example of how her recording boosted the original artist can be found on 1977’s Simple Dreams. Her recording of “Blue Bayou” is not only iconic in its own right, but it started the resuscitation of Roy Orbison’s career that lead to his resurgence in the cultural zeitgeist. It may be one of her signature songs and if you haven’t hear it before, it’s required listening.
7) 1978’s Living in the USA features a song that brings the saxophone to the forefront alongside Linda’s vocals. Ronstadt selected a Smokey Robinson classic to interpret on this album in the form of “Ohh Baby Baby;” the breathy vocals form a stark contrast to the harder vocals featured elsewhere on this list. And when she hits that high note? Forget about it. What a song.
8) Linda’s first studio album of the 1980s, Mad Love, shows us her expanded music tastes and willingness to go outside the box. Considered her new wave album, Ronstadt chose three Elvis Costello songs to sing on this album. A really fun one to listen to is “Girls Talk.” You can definitely tell we are in a different decade and this song sounds so different from what we are used to from her music. That’s the best thing about Ronstadt’s discography- there’s literally something for everyone as she chooses what to do next.
9) Get Closer is Linda Ronstadt’s last traditionally pop album for many years. Linda had taken on a role on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance at the beginning of the 80s and her vocal training for that role paid dividends for her recording career, as she now had greater control of her voice and range. Nowhere is this more easily identified than in “I Knew You When,” which was originally a hit for Joe South in 1965. The passion in her voice is equaled by the heights to which her notes go- just a remarkably great vocal performance that you wouldn’t expect if you are only familiar with the original.
10) Back in #8, I referenced Linda choosing what she did next for her entire career. Our last selection comes from What’s New, the first of three American standards albums Ronstadt recorded with Nelson Riddle and his orchestra. The title track on this album is a good introduction of what to expect from this entire album. Sweeping orchestral arrangements back Linda’s phenomenal singing voice. The emotion she is able to pore into songs that had been around for decades, and sung by equally famous singers of their day, is a testimony of how she could take something and make it her own. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Great American Songbook, this is a wonderful way to experience it for the first time.
There you go- you’re now on your journey to becoming a fan of Linda Ronstadt’s wider catalog of work. If you’re interested in even more about Linda’s career, albums, and songs, make sure to check out my forthcoming book from Sonicbond Publishing all about her career from 1969 to 1989!
