Linda Ronstadt Album: “Greatest Hits, Vol. 2”

the first Greatest Hits (1976) for Linda Ronstadt caught her as she was still a rising star in the California sound. Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1980) is the culmination of the peak years of Linda's popularity, 1977-1980.

When "Greatest Hits" was released, Linda was still pushing Hasten Down The Wind (also 1976). In early 1977, she had a surprise hit single with "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me", which is included here. The song was not one of Linda's biggest, but it's a powerful, memorable track.

In the fall of 1977, Linda released her biggest album ever, "Simple Dreams". The album contained no less than four major hit singles, two of which ("It's So Easy" and "Blue Bayou") were on Billboard's top 5 at the same time in late 1977. "Blue Bayou" showcases Linda at her best Patsy Cline vocal moment, "It's So Easy" is a classic country-rocker, "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was a great and sarcastic Warren Zevon number, and her version of The Stone's "Tumbling Dice" shows just what a great female rocker Linda is.

The next year, Linda topped the charts again with "Living In The U.S.A.", in which three hits are culled. "Back In The U.S.A." is sadly one of the weakest hits of her catalog. The Chuck Berry version is classic, but Linda's version is rather aimless. However, all is made up by Linda's smash top 10 jazzy version of "Ooh Baby Baby". Another classic Ronstadt-style track is "Just One Look".

Even though "Living In The U.S.A." was another #1 platinum smash for Linda, it became obvious her formula was getting stale. So Linda decided to shake things up and returned in early 1980 with "Mad Love". Guarenteed to show the Benatar's and Harry's that she is still a force to be reckoned with, "Mad Love" became another huge hit, even if it missed #1. The hard-rocking "How Do I Make You" was the first single and it quickly went top 10, then Linda released a breathtaking remake of "Hurt So Bad" that became an even bigger hit. The third single culled from the album, "I Can't Let Go" harkens back to her Stone Poneys days, but updated to sound 80's.

"Greatest Hits Vol. 2" was released in late 1980 and was the culmination of this stellar hitmaking period in Ronstadt's career. One more rock album (1982's Get Closer) after this and then Linda settled into the world of standards, Adult Contemporary and Spanish music, all genres she has done well at too.

Any assessment of Linda's worth as a singer must rest with her voice, which just so happens to be one of the premiere voices in either country or rock. Forget those hard-hearted cynical critics like Dave Marsh or Robert Christgau, who gleefully pan Linda every chance they get...and look downright foolish doing it!

Linda's second GREATEST HITS compilation looks at the 1976-1980 era of Linda's career, when she outsold every female singer on the planet. This album includes the heart-rending versions of such standards as "Blue Bayou", "It's So Easy", and "Hurt So Bad", as well as the deliciously macabre "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me".

A lot of people say that Linda Ronstadt fell off the wagon after this, and one can make the case that her albums of standards, Mexican rancheras, mambos, and lullabies, far from making critics take her seriously, actually made them ridicule her that much more. But none of the Ronstadt pretenders out there these days, least of all Faith Hill and Shania Twain, are ever going to replace Linda, the Queen of Country Rock. GREATEST HITS II is a prime example of why that will always be.

If what you ever need is dance to the rhythm of a nice rock and roll beat, then take Linda Ronstadt' Greatest Hits, Vol. 2.

Linda gives justice to such rock and roll standards like 'It's So Easy', 'Poor, Poor Pitiful Me', 'Tumbling Dice' 'Just One Look' and 'Back In The U.S.A.'. The pining and feeling of homesickness that Ms. Ronstadt clearly exhibits in 'Blue Bayou' could make the great Roy Orbison proud!

This is one hell of an album.

I love her music. She can sing anything. I have her old albums (remember LPs?). The CDs are even better.

Not as great a mix as Ronstadt's first Greatest Hits album, but a five-star album none the less! The best thing about the album is it features most of the best songs from "Simple Dreams" and "Mad Love", so essentially you're getting two albums for the price of one! There are a number of songs from "Livin' in the USA", as well, but in this reviewer's opinion, not the pick of the litter. (Hint, hint, buy "Livin'", too!")And "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me" proves Linda can "La, la, la." better than anyone! Buy this CD! Tralzden of the Megadors commands it!