Linda Ronstadt Album: “Linda Ronstadt”

these songs captured my attention as a FM dj at a college station in the early 70's-what would become the eagles was her traveling band Linda can belt out a song with the best of them and she surely does on several here. I think the choice of music was eclectic-a trademark of hers on future efforts-the players can play and Linda will kill with that voice- this is a little country so if you don't like pedal steel guitars this isn't for you- I love this more than "heart like a wheel" and the rest-she was full of passion on these songs and it comes through.She wasn't famous when these were recorded so it's sparse on studio gimmicks which I appreciate. If you appreciate the changes country has made in 20 years this is an album that pointed the way.

This is a 15-year-old, non-remastered, out-of-print CD which is being hawked for ridiculous prices here on Amazon by opportunistic Sellers who are hoping to trick some unsuspecting LR fan into needlessly spending big bucks.

Instead, Ronstadt's entire four album Capitol output, including all the tracks on this album, are now available on the 46-track 2CD set,

, in glorious remastered form, for far less money than the prices here.

Don't get scammed and waste your money on this old and tired CD!

This is a lovely album by Linda Ronstadt recorded in the brief period after she had left the Stone Ponys and before she really burst onto the scene with "Long Long Time". The collection included here are really much more country and even blue grass than she would move to later, but the effect of that clear, sharp voice on all these traditional songs is simply electrifying. I had the opportunity to see her at a small venue in Lenox, Massachusetts called the Music Inn, a country summer place where the performer was up on a covered stage which was more an open platform covered by a roof than anything else, and the audience was sprawled out across an expanse of lawn that made a natural sloping amphitheater. Of course, Linda and the small group she had backing her were simply spellbinding.

Here she works her way through a number of great songs, putting her own special style to magical work. From Jackson Browne's early "Rock Me On The Water" to Willy Nelson's "Crazy Arms", from "I Won't Be Hanging Around" to "Crazy Arms", from an electrifying "I Stil Miss Someone" to "In My Reply", from Patty Cline's "I Fall To Pieces" to "Ramblin Round", this is terrific country work by a performer who was just starting to find her style and form. My favorite song is her interpretation of Neil Young's "Birds",along with a rip-roaring version of "Rescue Me", one of her first hits. This is an album that is essential for any real Linda Ronstadt fan. Enjoy!

Linda Ronstadt could always do one thing well, sing, I love this country, country-rock record, it was a beautiful album when I first bought it. The sound was rich and simple, A great list of country cover songs, kinda odd for her self titled record, but it surely works here.

Jackson Brown's "Rock Me On The water" has a gospel touch to it. Her version of "I fall to Pieces" is precious. I saw Ronstadt with a four piece band at the Main Point, near Philly, sat about 10 feet from her in this small about 75 seat venue, coffee house.

Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris are very similar during this part of their careers. Another great Rerelease CD by Capital Records is "The Best of Ronstadt, The Capital Years", four full Cds ,with xtras, remastered very nicely, might contain this.

Now I know why Linda Ronstadt has always irritated the hell out of me. We're talking after all about America's favourite pop/rock singing sweetheart of the last 3 decades who has shown a versatility in adapting to different musical styles that can only be described as remarkable. It's not that she lacks interpretive skills as a stylist. It's the lack of finesse in using that powerful (but crude) vocal equipment of hers that's the problem. If only she could be persuaded to sing with more sensitivity and restraint like she does on "Rock Me On The Water", "In My Reply", "Birds" and "I Ain't Always Been Faithful", she'd endear herself to those of us who don't judge a vocal performance by the decibel it clocks. When she yells or gives full reign to that foghorn voice of hers, she only sounds like a show off and there's no worse example of this than on her ludicrous version of "Rescue Me". It's so bad it's embarrassing. Anyway, what's Linda doing tampering with a soul classic ?? Linda's penchant for (mis)using that big voice of hers only got worse over time. I was hoping not to detect signs of it in this early (third) solo album of hers. Most of the time, she had me believing it until the closing track which is the epitome of what I detest most about Linda's singing. Having said all that, "Linda Ronstadt" is a pretty decent album and if you're not allergic to her deafening style of singing, it's a four-star album.