Linda Ronstadt Album: “Greatest Hits”

Description :

Personnel includes: Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Ed Black (guitar, steel guitar); Kenny Edwards (guitar, bass); Danny Kortchmar, Richard Bowden, Pete Wade, Al Viola (guitar); David Lindley (fiddle); Jim Fadden (harmonica); Jim Gordon, Nino Tempo (saxophone); Mac Johnson, Darrel Leonard (trumpet); Spooner Oldham (piano); John Boylen (electric piano); Kenny Anderson, Mike Bowden (bass); Micky McGee, Dennis St. John, Andrew Gold, David Kemper (drums); Andrew Gold, John David Souther, Chris Ethridge, Waddy Wachtel, Bernie Leadon, Sneaky Pete, Russ Kunkel, Clydie King, Herb Pedersen (background vocals). Producers: Peter Asher, John David Souther, John Boylan, Elliot F. Mazer, Nikolas Venet. Engineers include: Val Garay, John Haeny, Elliot F. Mazer. Remastered by Steve Hoffman (July 1993). Personnel includes: Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Ed Black (guitar, steel guitar); Kenny Edwards (guitar, bass); Danny Kortchmar, Richard Bowden, Pete Wade, Al Viola (guitar); David Lindley (fiddle); Jim Fadden (harmonica); Jim Gordon, Nino Tempo (saxophone); Mac Johnson, Darrel Leonard (trumpet); Spooner Oldham (piano); John Boylen (electric piano); Kenny Anderson, Mike Bowden (bass); Micky McGee, Dennis St. John, Andrew Gold, David Kemper (drums); Andrew Gold, John David Souther, Chris Ethridge, Waddy Wachtel, Bernie Leadon, Sneaky Pete, Russ Kunkel, Clydie King, Herb Pedersen (background vocals). Producers: Peter Asher, John David Souther, John Boylan, Elliot F. Mazer, Nikolas Venet. Engineers: Val Garray, John Haeny, Elliot F. Mazer, Lee Hazin, John Krause, Peter Abbot. Remastered by Steve Hoffman (July, 1993). Unlike the crop of West Coast artists with whom she was associated (e.g., the Eagles, Jackson Browne), Linda Ronstadt is a singer, pure and simple. Her extraordinary, clarion voice enabled her to distinguish herself as an interpreter of other people's songs in an era that prized the singer/songwriter. Whether she sang country, straight-ahead pop, '50s rockers, or even soul, the results were contagious. This package provides the essentials from the Golden Age of Ronstadt, the early- to mid-'70s, when she ruled the radio. All her major chart hits are here, from "Different Drum" with her pre-solo-career group, the Stone Poneys, to the country-rock of "Desperado" to her sprightly renditions of hits by Buddy Holly (That'll Be the Day") and the Everly Brothers ("When Will I Be Loved.") She belts her way through the soul classic "Heat Wave," and turns in an aching cover of Smoky Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" that does ample justice to that poignant ballad. "You're No Good," perhaps her signature song of the era, captures all of the things that characterize her work: a strong melody, imaginative arrangement and crisp production, all carried by that inimitable voice. Unlike the crop of West Coast artists with whom she was associated (e.g., the Eagles, Jackson Browne), Linda Ronstadt is a singer, pure and simple. Her extraordinary, clarion voice enabled her to distinguish herself as an interpreter of other people's songs in an era that prized the singer/songwriter. Whether she sang country, straight-ahead pop, '50s rockers, or even soul, the results were contagious. This package provides the essentials from the Golden Age of Ronstadt, the early- to mid-'70s, when she ruled the radio. All her major chart hits are here, from "Different Drum" with her pre-solo-career group, the Stone Poneys, to the country-rock of "Desperado" to her sprightly renditions of hits by Buddy Holly (That'll Be the Day") and the Everly Brothers ("When Will I Be Loved.") She belts her way through the soul classic "Heat Wave," and turns in an aching cover of Smoky Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" that does ample justice to that poignant ballad. "You're No Good," perhaps her signature song of the era, captures all of the things that characterize her work: a strong melody, imaginative arrangement and crisp production, all carried by that inimitable voice.

Linda Ronstadt's GREATEST HITS: VOLUME 1 sold more than five million copies; and while those sales have been surpassed by far lesser Ronstadt wanna-bes such as Faith Hill and Shania Twain, it proves that Ronstadt fans really saw her not as a fad singer but as a legend.

This album doesn't contain much of her early material--only the two country-rock standards "Different Drum" and "Long, Long Time". Still, those two songs ARE standards because of her intensely moving voice. Her 1973 version of "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" is a twangy country-rock bar band hoedown, fueled by Gib Guilbeau's fiddle. And who can possibly forget her searing versions of "Heat Wave" and "You're No Good"?

There's much, much more on this first GREATEST HITS album. Even if you have the albums from which these songs come from, pick this one up too.

Linda's had quite a few careers, now, as a singer. She sang old torch ballads; she sang the part of Mabel in The Pirates Of Penzance; she even tried to cut it as a new-waver. There was ALSO that period, many, many years ago, when she was the sexiest little country-rocker there ever was (and, in my book, still is).

Linda's been one of those cover artists--the kind who'll try to pip somebody else's version of some previously-recorded hit. Artistically she's had varying degees of success with this, but in the present collection there's not one misfire. The way she puts over "You're No Good" and "Heat Wave" (with a little help from her L.A. session boys, Peter Asher & Andrew Gold), not to mention that hoe-down "Love Is A Rose" and ESPECIALLY that irresistible sing-along approach to "When Will I Be Loved" let one know instantly why she's considered one of the biggies.

Linda's earlier discography was one of the many special things about the seventies.

Many artists assume that they can cross genre and sing as well as a person that specializes in that gender. Very few can and Linda is one of those few. She has tacked all kinds of singing head-on and is a natural.

This is a fine collection or sample of Linda's diversity. Many albums have one or two songs that do not match the mode of the others. You will not find them in this album. It also makes a great driving album. However you can lose track of time while singing along.

Actually if you were to play all of Linda Ronstadt's greatest hits, you would wear the player out. However if you are only going to buy one album, this should be the one. I do wish they could have squeezed "Blue Bayou" on this one. The only advice I can give to you is to beware; these tunes will stick your head.

I have the CD but also bought the audiocassette for the car.