Linda Ronstadt Album: “Canciones de Mi Padre (Songs of My Father)”

"Canciones de mi Padre" is simply more than one singer re-doing Mexican classics. Ronstadt's versions of "Por un Amor," "Tu Solo Tu," and "Y Andale" raise the stakes high: she sings these songs as if they were just written for her beautiful, soaring voice. Crisply and authentically produced by Peter Asher and Ruben Fuentes, this CD is as much a perfect introduction to traditional Mexican rancheras as it is a fine addition to those who mistakenly believe their CD collection is complete. And when Linda hits those high, long notes in "La Charreada," ay! I can feel my abuelita smiling up in heaven!

Like Linda Ronstadt, I'm from the United States, but I grew up hearing my father play the music of his native land, Mexico.

I was a child of 70's & 80's rock and it took me many years to finally come around to appreciating Mexican folk music and culture. This awesome album by Linda Ronstadt was one of the reasons. I guess it took hearing a familiar voice and modern production values for me to finally hear this beautiful music as something alive and not merely some faded memory from the past. (Another album that helped, and which I highly recommend, is "La Pistola Y El Corazon" by Los Lobos.)

In any case, I am so thankful to Linda for making this album and opening my ears, for igniting my appreciation and love for the folk music of Mexico.

Not being an expert or native Mexican, I wouldn't presume to compare Linda to the great native singers from Mexico's past (Lucha Reyes, Lola Beltran, etc) or present. Whether she is as good as them or not, I can't say. But I do know that I love this album with a passion, and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to discover the great music of Mexico.

What *doesn't* this woman do... and do spectaculaly well? Rock, pop, standards, Gilbert & Sullivan, and now some of the great music from northern Mexico. It simply makes no difference with Linda Ronstadt. She displays an enormous breadth of understanding and empathy for music of all styles.

Backed up by studio musicians of peerless quality, Canciones de Mi Padre should do more to introduce this wonderful music to mainstream America than anything yet available. From "Por un Amor" to "Tu, Solo Tu" (my personal favorite on this album) to "El Sol Que Eres Tu" these traditional Mexican favorites sparkle like the diamonds they are. They are crisp, full of passion, and brimming with harmonies and complex rhythmic patterns.

Ronstadt's Spanish accent is flawless. Her delivery is beyond convincing. It almost seems as though she was spilling over with sadness and disillusionment; themes common to the American country and western genre and, in this writer's opinion, so much more passionately written in music from south of the border.

Bravo! Ronstadt.

I listened to this CD back in Veracruz, Mexico. When I got the tape (that long ago it was)I was kind of reluctant to listen to old classic mariachi songs sung by an American singer, nevertheless she has a Mexican heritage. But I was soon surprised as much as delighted on the beautiful sound that Linda and her producers could achieve. The last time I listended to this record was back in the mid 90's. Now that I found it here, I didn't hesitate in buying it. I hope to get it soon. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made on-line. Greetings to all. Don't forget.

Saludos de

Hilmar Raúl Noriega Sáez (jarocho furibundo)

As a fan of Linda's country-rock music, I bought this CD for my Mexican girlfriend--a woman steeped in ranchera--on a whim. She could not stop listening to the recording. I have since then encountered several other Mexican fans of ranchera who cherish this recording. I have subsequently bought "Mas Canciones," which features a far more assured voice and emotionally involving song selection, and includes the masterpiece "Tata Dios," for my girlfriend, for myself, and for our due-to-arrive baby. I have moreover ordered the video, which will, God willing, arrive in Mexico some time within the next year. While I will happily admit that there are instances of famale ranchera singing that can easily contend with Linda's--Durcal's "Costumbres" or del Rio's "Hijo de Nadie," for example--this CD is, unlike the vast majority of ranchera recordings, excellent from start to finish, and the follow-up CD, "Mas Canciones," is among or is indeed the best album-length recording of female ranchera singing available. I recommend this CD, but if you have enough money for just one, buy "Mas Canciones."