Customer Reviews

Linda Ronstadt

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although Linda has publicly disparaged her early albums, from her days in the Stone Poneys up to DON'T CRY NOW, in retrospect these are now landmark albums in the developement of the L.A. country-rock style of which Linda was to become the Queen after her 1974 smash HEART LIKE A WHEEL.

This 1972 self-titled album is, in my view, an overlooked country-rock gem. Like its five predecessors, it is somewhat crude and not polished, but it contains hints of what was to come. Linda covers such country standards as "Crazy Arms" and "I Fall To Pieces" with amazing aplomb, and never tries to sound overly twangy. On "Ramblin' Round", she does twang rather nicely over her own bluegrassy arrangement. She also does a very husky version of Fontella Bass' 1965 soul hit "Rescue Me", with some tasty rock backing by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, soon to form the Eagles from her 1971 backing band.

For me, Linda's great achievement on this album is her sensitive live version of Neil Young's "Birds." This song, like the album's opening cut "Rock Me On The Water" (by Jackson Browne), indicates the kind of sensitivity she would bring later on to the singer/songwriter material she often did.

Linda's greatest strength has always been in country-rock; and this early album is proof of that.

This album was the last of Linda's early country-folk-rock music before she began the transition to the mainstream pop-rock artist of the seventies that made her famous. The music is still fairly simple and raw, unlike the slicker music that came later, but the song selection gives clues about the future. The backing musicians became the Eagles soon after this album was recorded. Linda followed this album by recording Don't cry now, a fine country-rock album, then by the hugely successful Heart like a wheel.

The songs are mostly (perhaps entirely) covers. I fall to pieces (Patsy Cline), Crazy arms (Ray Price) and I still miss someone (Johnny Cash) are proof of Linda's enthusiasm for country music. They sit comfortably among the other songs here, including Rock me on the water (Jackson Browne), In my reply (Livingston Taylor), Rambling round (Woody Guthrie), Birds (Neil Young) and Rescue me (Fontella Bass).

If you like Linda's other early albums (Hand sown home grown and Silk purse), you will surely enjoy this one also. There really isn't much to choose between the three of them on quality.

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.

Linda can sing old or new lyrics and bring out in them a warmth that enchants young and older audiences alike. The tunes on this album were the lullabies I put my babies to sleep with in the 70's and we all continue to list these as our alltime favorites. Rock Me on the Water has a gospel quality that endures. Crazy Arms and I Fall to Pieces are "cry in your beer" standards that Linda really puts her broken heart into. Only a lady who has lost at love can put the unspoken tears into a lovesong like Linda Ronstadt. Ramblin' Round is an old-timer's delight from my Dad's generation. The others songs on this album are pure Ronstadt...and unforgettable! She's a four-star talent all the way!

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!

Emotional rockabilly outing from Linda and most of the Eagles can't surpass the superior "Silk Purse", but does have a wealth of wonderful material and Ronstadt's pure, bright voice at the center. It's a lovely, sad, bittersweet effort, thrown a bit by a strident cover of "Rescue Me" at the very end. Otherwise, first-rate.

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, The Best Of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years, 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!

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.

I found just what I had asked for and expected... Linda in fine flower. Listening to Linda sing 'Rock Me On The Water' truly is a religious experience. Rock On!

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.