Comments on: Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists: Linda Ronstadt

By: Erik North

Erik North — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:57:28 +0000

I should note here that today marks Linda’s 64th birthday. Following her recent appearance on Jimmy Webb’s recent album JUST ACROSS THE RIVER, she may not be making any more record or concert appearances–in short, she has retired from the recording/concert world in all but name, due to health issues. If true, it has been a staggeringly long, eclectic, and hugely influential career that may never be surpassed, or equaled, by anyone.

By: Erik North

Erik North — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:09:54 +0000

With respect to “Heartbreak Kind”, like I said in my overview, it should have gotten some country radio airplay, and I could say the same for “Walk On.” Linda, however, is not known for catering to the whims of the marketplace, certainly not after 1990; and besides, her rootsy approach to country music probably wouldn’t get her much in the way of country radio airplay anyway. In the end, it’s a loss for country radio and its audience if they don’t play her (IMHO).

By: Carol Ann

Carol Ann — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:19:11 +0000

GREAT list!!! Most of this would have totally matched mine :)

“Heartbreak Kind” is definitely my fave.

By: Erik North

Erik North — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:39:29 +0000

Linda has always had very strong political opinions, as do a lot of singers, country and otherwise, but there’s nothing anyone can do about that. And anyway, with all due respect, I wrote this piece about Linda’s contributions to music, and for no other reason, least of all not to revive the tired old “shut up and sing” canard about singers mixing politics and music.

By: Soul Miners Daughter

Soul Miners Daughter — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:47:30 +0000

I’ve been a slightly more than casual Ronstadt fan since the ’70s. Have always loved her vocals and how she can perform so many styles so well. I really love and appreciate her Nelson Riddle work. It’s just a shame that her public persona has become such a joke… talk about someone who really should “shut up and sing”.

By: Erik North

Erik North — Mon, 31 May 2010 01:46:16 +0000

I’d have included a lot more, but “Different Drum” and “Adios” would not really fit into the mix here, as good as they are (the first being very baroque folk-rock; the other being a tearful but strictly pop ballad). Still, even though she doesn’t consider herself just a one-genre artist strictly, there’s not too much doubt that her influence with female country and roots-rock singers has been staggering…and grossly under-reported in the music media (IMHO).

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:57:48 +0000

Great article about a great singer. One favorite of mine not mentioned is “Adios” written by Jimmy Webb from her 1989 cd “Cry Like a Rainstorm-Howl Like the Wind”. It features background vocals by Brian Wilson. Another favorite is “White Rhythm & Blues” written by J.D. Souther from her “Living in the USA” album which also includes her great cover of Chuck Berry’s “Back in the USA”.

“Different Drum” was before Linda went solo. It was written solely by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees. It’s from the 1967 album “Stone Poneys Evergreen Vol. 2″. On the back of the LP cover it says “Catch a Stone Poney and Take Your Mind for a Ride”.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:35:19 +0000

I guess I’m aRonstadt newbie myself – I bought my first collection about a year ago now – and I must have missed this piece when it was first posted. I’m glad someone commented on it to bring it back up. Solid rankings of course, even if I haven’t heard all the songs yet. Favorites of mine include ‘Love Is a Rose’, ‘Tracks of My Tears’, and her version of ‘Desperado’. The one omission I was surprised at is ‘Different Drum’, which is a masterful lyric, and just a bit ahead of its time.

Great read, and I learned a lot. Thanks.

By: Erik North

Erik North — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:52:57 +0000

In choosing “Love Is A Rose”, one of the things I wanted to do was to demolish the myth that Linda was a mere remake artist, even if the lion’s share of the hit singles she has had were hits for others ten to twenty years before. Linda’s just one of those artists who not only likes to test her own capacities, but also wants to challenge the notion that women can only do “female” songs. In doing that, of course, she set the bar rather high for a lot of women who’ve followed in her wake.

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:29:05 +0000

I enjoyed reading that very much. I am not entirely familiar with Linda’s music, but I do have a basic knowledge of her biggest hits. This list has given me some more songs to check out, and I was very pleased to see some of my personal favorites included. (“Silver Threads…,” “I Can’t Help It,” “Blue Bayou”) As I was scrolling through the list, I was thinking “Where’s ‘Love Is a Rose’? It’s an awesome song. Surely it’s got to be on here somewhere… Oh there it is – right at number one!” Great post.