Disco de Linda Ronstadt: “The Best of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years”

A huge "THANK YOU" to the powers that be at Capitol Records and most of all to superstar singer, LINDA RONSTADT for reissuing her first four [fine] studio albums in one crystal clear remastered sound package with a few "bonus" tracks included. These Cd albums can still be purchased as single entities, but, the sound on this compilation easily eclipses those. Collectors' and die hard fans' dream project and word to the wise at Capitol Records would be that the next Ronstadt project should be a similar two disc set featuring all three out of print Stone Poneys albums with "bonus tracks", all/any unreleased recordings from the vaults, plus all the sought after rare Linda recordings from movie soundtracks and obscure non-album singles["She's A Very Lovely Woman"-etc.]she recorded and issued while contracted to the label. Though all three Stone Poneys albums were briefly reissued[no bonus tracks/historical notes]circa 1995-96, copies soon sold out and fans are now paying ridiculous prices[up to $100.00 per cd]for highly coveted early Linda Ronstadt music. RONSTADT's artistic influence has been felt deeply within the three generations of musicians who have followed in her musical steps since her much celebrated groundbreaking "Heart Like A Wheel" album in 1974. That album alone would be quite the jewel if issued on an SACD Hybrid edition. Honors for the ultimate Queen Of Country Rock have been overdue for a long, long time.

I really looked forward to putting this in my CD player after opening it, but the first sounds out of my speakers were harsh. I hoped it would improve as I progressed through the albums, but it didn't. For whatever reason, they put a pantload of compression on these discs, as if they thought you might want to listen to them through an AM radio. While this won't bother the average consumer, they could have done it right and satisfied those of us who care about such things, and the average consumer would have still been happy - everyone would be happy. Suffice it to say that these discs are not intended for audiophiles. Too bad - this is some really good music.

I just counted, and know I've got at least 29 Ronstadt CDs. The albums that went into this collection are the ones I play the most and it's nice to have them together. But the highlight is the live version of Long Long Time. It's a song I've listened to so many times and I'm awed by Linda's wonderful distinctive voice every time. She's in perfect form for this performance. The collection is worth it for that song alone. Kate however doesn't belong. Sure, you can hear Linda throughout the track but it's certainly not her song.

I certainly cannot add anything to what other reviewers have written about Linda Ronstadt in reviews of this CD, but what's strange to me is the very title: "The Best Of..". This makes it sound like another greatest hits CD, and I wouldn't even have bothered to look up the song list had I not been particularly bored on a certain day and had happened upon this CD in a list of search results. "The Best of..." in a CD title usually doesn't mean four complete albums plus bonus stuff on a single two-disc CD release.

But now that I have it...what a treasure! I love early Linda Ronstadt. The early albums aren't quite as slick and produced as her later huge commercial releases like Prisoner in Disguise and Hasten Down the Wind (classics in my book too). There's a rawness and energy here that just screams "I'm gonna be a superstar someday" and sure enough that's exactly what happened.

If there were a Nobel Prize for CD authorship, someone involved with this one sould get it, but the title really doesn't tell you or sell you on what's on the CD.

This two CD set is a must have for Ronstadt fans who may have missed her early post Stone Poneys solo years. Great sound throughout this collection of her four Capitol solo albums plus some great rarities including live material. The only thing missing here are her first three years with Capitol or her Stone Poneys years 1967 thru 1969. Hopefully Capitol will release a second volume, "The Stone Poney Capitol Years 1967 through 1969.

Material from that period such as the Michael Nesmith penned "Different Drum", "Some of Shelley's Blues", "Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water" and the Laura Nyro penned "Stoney End" always showcased Linda's vocal prowess.