Disco de Linda Ronstadt: “Mad Love”

Linda Ronstadt caught a lot of flack with this album for daring to jump on the punk/new wave bandwagon in the 80's, but for all that, this album stands up better than many others from that era. For one thing, Ronstadt has talent, something most of the other acts from that time were lacking. Granted, the title song is bombastic overkill and Elvis Costello's "Talking in the Dark" is a throwaway. But her take on his "Party Girl" is powerful and "Girls Talk" is as terrific as Dave Edmonds version. "How Do I Make You" is awesome: a very convincingly hard-edged rocker. She also puts an edgy spin on her remakes of The Hollies "Can't Let Go" and Little Anthony and the Imperials "Hurts So Bad" that, in my opinion, top the originals. It probably was wrong for this album to get tagged as punk when really its your basic power pop, done with the same taste and professionalism Ronstadt has shown thoughout her career.

She got some fairly bad reviews for Mad Love as I recall. It doesn't matter. This is a great CD to take in Ronstadt's immense range. She does a beautiful job with all the material, much of it ear candy. My faves: "Girl Talk", "Look Out For My Love" and "I Can't Let Go". If you enjoy the writing of Elvis Costello and Neil Young, the backing vocals of Nicollette Larson and the genius of Peter Asher, this is your kind of music.

What I adore about this CD is its well-executed blending of rock rifts and singing. Linda Ronstadt together with producer Peter Asher are able to blend hard edged pumping rockin sounds with cool soulful jams. Top notch blend of musician and singer, which is evident in the way many of these songs rifts can be heard long after linda completes her singing. (check out the ending to "hurt so bad" or beginning of "look out for my love" or "how do I make you" These rifts are catchy. Great from start to finish.

*Party Girl, is a great track and one of Elvis Costello better written songs. would like to hear a live version of this on one of Linda Ronstadt's future CD's.

*How do I make You, starts out with some hard sounding and progressive drum action. Linda Ronstadt just lets it rip and doesn't let go. another top ten hit for her.

*Look out for my love, this is a chestnut of a song and worth the price of the CD alone. will not be found on any of her greatest hits or performances cd's.

*Hurt So Bad, probably my favorite song because it really is sooo soulful yet rock too. probably a good indication of what linda was capable of doing later in "cry like a rainstorm" album. glad it was a top ten hit for her.

The remaining songs like, "justine", "mad love" "i can't let go" are good to listen to. I liked every song on this CD.

I've always appreciated Linda Ronstadt for having a great voice, but I've also had some reservations about her sound being a little too stiff and over-produced. In this 1980 release, Ronstadt tried to let her hair down a little and perform in a more stripped down New Wave style. It would be an insult to true New Wave artists to say that this qualifies as a New Wave album, but I do think this is perhaps Ronstadt's most hard rocking effort.

Album highlights include moody renditions of Elvis Costello's Party Girls, Neil Young's Look Out for My Love, and the great soul ballad Hurt So Bad. How Do I Make You is a catchy and authentically New Wave number. If you like Ronstadt's voice but wish she would rock a little more than in most of her albums, this is probably the CD for you.

The moment I heard the drum roll that kicks of HOW DO I MAKE YOU, my heart began to beat a bit faster. It's now 28 years later, and my 45 year-old heart has not slowed down a bit!

This is my very favorite Linda album. It seems that some folks do not agree with me. That's OK, I know I am right.

For those of you who lost touch w/Linda's music:

Do yourself a favor- revisit her classic stuff and explore her criminally overlooked newer material. Goosebumps will arrive exponentially!