Linda Ronstadt Album: “Lush Life”

LUSH LIFE follows in the footsteps of WHAT'S NEW, more post WWII standards and jazz classics. The CD is worth the price alone for her captivating performance, and one of the best versions I've heard of "Skylark". LUSH LIFE once again shows Ronstadt as the interpreter, she ranges from playful and sassy to romantic. LUSH LIFE has more uptempo numbers than WHAT'S NEW did, but she sounds at ease with the material here, joined beautifully by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. She also does a nice simple version of "When I Fall In Love". Other highlights include "Mean To me", "You Took Advantage of me", "I'm A Fool To Want You" and "Lush Life". Go out and get it!

For someone who is so strongly moved by the beauty of music, its melodies and lyrics as well as its arrangements and performances, I find this CD one of the most beautiful recordings of all-time. Once again and as always, the great Nelson Riddle showed off his trademark of excellence in orchestrating and conducting a dozen of ageless standards from the Great American Songbook. This CD will take us to a musical journey as we relish the timeless beauty of this sentimental music.

With the superb instrumental skills of pianist Don Grolnick, drummer John Guerin, bassist Bob Magnusson, guitarist Bob Mann (who also played fabulously on Rod Stewart and Steve Tyrell's recordings) and the creative flair of concertmaster David Frisina, this CD offers some of the glowing moments of Ms. Ronstadt's musical career. "Lush Life," "What's New?" and "For Sentimental Reasons" are three of the greatest and most beautiful albums of standards ever recorded.

Nobody sounded more expressive than Ms. Ronstadt singing "When I Fall In Love," a song lamenting that love has ended even before it has begun. You can hear that beguiling guitar accompaniment by a fine guitarist, Bob Mann, complementing Ms. Ronstadt's exquisite voice. Likewise, nobody sounded so excruciatingly poignant with her moving rendition of "When Your Lover Has Gone."

"What lonely hours

The evening shadows bring

What lonely hours

With memories lingering

Like faded flowers

Life can't mean anything . . ."

In "Skylark," the singer made a mark on this song with her heartfelt rendition as she brings new life to this Johnny Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael classic. She also left a lasting impression to one of Sinatra's signature songs "I'm A Fool To Want You," just like Ol' Blue Eyes did with his meaningful interpretation. They both did the best versions for male and female vocals, respectively.

She swings lightly on Rodgers & Hart's gem "You Took Advantage Of Me," then she takes it slower in Mills/Parish/Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady." And picks up the light swing tempo again on "Can't We Be Friends?"

"Sophisticated lady I know

You miss the love you had long ago

And when nobody is nigh

You cry. . . you cry."

If you're a lover of standards like me and an admirer of beauty in all its forms, you should have this CD in your collection and take pleasure in listening to its endless beauty.

Here's to the magic of beautiful music!

While Linda Rondstadt's material has not appealed to myself, her voice was always admirable. She transcends all boundaries with her skills on this and two other related albums. Each song is a time capsule representing the greatest loves and losses of the World War II era. The human need to express emotion has been the highest motivater for songwriters. People separated by world crisis and the lonliness that follows is captured in these Nelson Riddle arrangements. This is the sort of music that binds all ages and backgrounds.

This is one of the finest album of American Songbook covers ever. In addition, the vinyl LP (unlike the CD and Audio Cassette) features one of the best designed album covers in the history of recorded music! Truly a joy.

BUYER ADVISORY:

If you can, buy BOTH the CD and the vinyl LP. But if you have to choose between the two, buy the LP! You'll understand why once you see the beautiful die-cut cover and credit art.

Love it! These are some of the greatest songs ever written or sung. I can't get enough of this cd.