Linda Ronstadt vs. Stevie Nicks
 

If you're going to do a comparison of early women rockers, like the other one with Grace Slick, you have to mention Linda Ronstadt. She was one of the early female lead singers with a male group, the Stone Poneys, before going off on a solo career. At about the same time that Stevie was joining FM, 1974, Linda launched a string of huge solo hits. I realize she is more folk/country rock, but she has had a lasting legacy. Linda, like Stevie, is still around singing today. Grace Slick retired. Linda and Stevie are about the same age and probably crossed paths on the California circuit. IMO, Linda's solo career was every bit has good as Stevie's (and she didn't end up in Betty Fords, or similar, as far as I know).

I prefer Stevie, but Linda is a helluva singer, up there on my list of favorite female voices.:nod:

Linda's solo work has certainly been much more diverse than Stevie's. But they both dated high profile men and have battled weight problems.

They also have a Tom Petty connection, as Linda has covered "The Waiting".

And this quote from Linda indicates that they had something else in common:

"I had to have my nose cauterized twice- I think they shot sodium nitrate up there- I'm okay now. I don't put anything up my nose anymore, except occasionally my finger."

You are right of course, about the weight problems. I remember a magazine photo of Linda in a bikini at her Malibu beach house. This was late 70's and she, Linda, was quite slim and trim. On the other hand, no one has ever seen Stevie as she is always dressed head to toe in long skirts, shaws, and robes. I read somewhere that when Stevie is swimming at her pool, no visitors, man or woman, is allowed to see her.

As for Linda's quote about her "nose trouble". I was not aware of that.

Linda, definitely. She's probably my favorite female singer. Even though she didn't write most of her songs, her voice is amazing! :thumbsup:

They've got a hell of a lot more than that in common. Three words for you my friends: John David Souther.

Linda didn't write her own songs though. She's got a phenomenal voice and knows how to select songs, and take risks like no one else, but she was never a songwriter--just knew how to recognize talent. She's one of my other favs though. I listen to her songs a lot in fact, although I wouldn't say I'm a fan of hers the way I am with Stevie.

I heard the stories about Linda doing alot of coke back then which for a huge rock star and part of the El Lay scene (The Eagles began as her backing band)it seemed nearly unavoidable .I think the major differences are that Linda did not want to be a rock star and Stevie did.Linda was and is a far more technically gifted vocalist ,one of the best ever IMO and wrote very few songs .Stevie got caught up in and lost in the entire rock star thing so much so that the lines blurred between who she had been and her stage persona .I don't think this ever happened with Linda,in fact she was not terribly wild about performing live in general.

You are absolutely right about the song writing. When you take that into account, Stevie is the superior of the two. Personally, I think Stevie has, or had at one time had, the better sounding voice. But, you can't question Ronstadt's range

Isn't Linda from Arizona too?:confused:

How about Pat Benatar??? Granted, really no solo career and her husband wrote all or at least most of her songs but - still - wow - talk about influence!!!

By the way - yeah, Linda Ronstadt is also from Arizona. And Waddy Wachtell used to be her guitarist. So there's at least two connections there. :)
Similar looks and dress, too ( i.m.o. ) I think maybe R's really shy, though, whereas Stevie is - uhmmm - determined to not let her shyness get in her way???

:eek: I did NOT know that!!! :shocked:

I get the impression that Ronstadt was never really interested in developing a "fan base" in the way Stevie was. She did a show, said "Thanks have a nice DAY," went home, and forgot about it - or at least gave that impression. Stevie, on the other hand - well, she's STEVIE! :rolleyes:
And even if she doesn't feel it in some sort of incredible, mystical way, 24/7, 365 per year, she expresses a lot of love for her fans, and works very hard to keep that "connection" intact and strong. Bottom line, fans sense that her love is genuine. Not slamming Ronstadt or saying she doesn't care at all, but that type of thing was never really a priority for her.
I still claim that Stevie's a LOT more intelligent than most people realize - and - yeah - I think that's related, when 'ya really think about it. . . .

I love Linda. Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind is an amazing CD; my favorite by her. Her voice is truly phenomenal. Winter Light is good too.

I would say tho that Linda isn't as interesting as Stevie and doesn't have the same presence that Stevie has; and I really dig singers that are strong writers with something to say that I can relate to.

I still prefer Stevie's voice, performances and musical mazes...imagine that ;)

Welll, I really do feel that Linda R. has never had the self-confidence
that Stevie so clearly has. Check out this pic. for example -
http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/revsimp1.htm (I'll upload it later when I can) - that's from the inside cover of her album "Simple Dreams" - the entire photo showed the rest of the crew (including Waddy W.) off to the side,
hanging out, and she's sort of looking over her shoulder at them, wondering what to do to get them to hang out with her - she seems to be thinking "Should I SAY something? Go over and TALK to them? Wait for them to talk to ME?" etc. Yeah, I realize this could have been "posed" but it really does look to me like a spontaneous photo and seems to be "as real as it gets." Even if it is posed, I think it's a reflection of her personality - shy and maybe kinda insecure. I love 'er too, though . . . . :nod:
My DAD has always had a huge CRUSH on her, although he'd never admit it! :lol:

You must have never seen a Linda Ronstadt concert. She's a tough bitch who does what she wants. Confidence? She's got enough to spare.

I love Linda. And I hope no one stones me, but I think I'm kinda over Stevie. :eek:

:eek: Take that back! :]

oh fooey!

no, seriously, when I first got into FM/SN I went in spurts but now a day does not go by that I don't rock out to some La Nicks.

if you're over it, at least you can appreciate what her music has given/meant to you

Check the necklace Linda is wearing in the bottom photo. Looks familiar:) She and Stevie have alot in common:) :nod:

http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/index.html

From that very site the following statement

"Linda achieved her greatest commercial success in the mid-'70s when she became the first female rock superstar and became the top-selling female vocalist for that decade. During this era, she became known as The Queen of Rock and The Queen of Country Rock."

That's news to me. I always thought Stevie Nicks was the "Queen of Rock". Has anyone ever heard of LR called that?

I vaugely recall Linda being referred to as the Queen of rock in the late 1970s and she was huge then and topped the Rolling Stone reader's polls at that time .Stevie was called the Queen of Rock and Roll by Rolling Stone in 1981 ,by then Linda's 'rock' career had cooled after the overreaching misfire "Mad Love' where Linda tried out New Wave and proved, while vocally gifted as usual ,she was no Debby Harry.Linda 's 1982 album "Get Closer' sold very poorly and she then swicthed successfully to Standards leaving Nicks and Benatar to vie for the title.

Two "Queen of Rock"?!!!

I was just speaking in terms of early 1980s popularity .Pat and Stevie actually tied in the Rolling Stone Reader's poll in 1981 .I cursed myself for not sending in a ballot that year.Pat took it in 1982 and Stevie by a wide margin in 1983.IMO Pat was never Queen of anything but shrieking and spandex.:lol:

I believe Kunkel and Glaub also played with Ronstadt.

I imagine that boning Henley would be another connection.

Regarding confidence, I've seen Linda in concert and she exudes nothing but. Plus she's not afraid to spout her political views and tell people who don't share them that they are stupid!

which regarding the Iraq invasion she was right on the money .I do disagree with her about one thing though.Stupid is too mild a word.

Sheesh! Havn't the people on that site ever heard of Connie Francis?!!!

Stevie v Linda
 

I have been a long time fan of Linda Ronstadt's, but have to admit, she cannot hold a candle to Stevie. I agree with the previous comments that Linda technically is a wonderful vocalist, and has sang on some of my favourite albums (Trio-with Dolly & Emmylou, Hasten down the wind, Simple dreams) but she does not have the heart or soul that Stevie does. Stevie has the whole package. The voice, the songwriting ability and the image.
However, i have never seen Linda Ronstadt live (living in the UK!), but she is someone i would dearly love to see. Don't think it's going to happen though, as , i have read she has terrible stage fright (another similarity to Stevie!)

I would tend to agree with what you said, except that as far as "having the whole package" Stevie is probably most deficient in the area that is Ronstadt is most proficient - technical ability.

I like them both, but it's hard for me to compare them because...in some important ways they are too dissimilar. Partly in the way that I have experienced them in my life, but more concrete ways, too.

Anyway, as my first sentence alluded to, my sensibility experiences them in such a way that they balance each other out and I enjoy each very, very much. It's like, together they could make the ubersinger.

Of course I listen to Stevie more, and am more passionate and attached to all things Stevie, but several of Linda's songs/vocals are my very favorite around, and really move me. And I really don't know much of her body of material, mostly the main songs - to me that indicates the high quality of her work. But now that I've heard about it I must hear the album where she tries to go...New Wave?

Oh, man. I just know that's going to be awesomely cheesy-with-good-vocal and I'm going to love it. :laugh: :woohoo:

Also? Linda was so, so cute. Just cute. Cutie cute.

Listen to Mad love - that should show you!

Oh lord, don't bring up Pat...someone may rail you for comparing Stevie to such a contrived, corporate rocker! :p:xoxo:

But yes, both Stevie and Pat can belt with the best of them. Personally, I think Stevie is definitely the more creative of the two, but when it comes to vocal ability, we all have to admit that Pat has better range and is a better overall singer than Stevie, although even given that, I still enjoy Stevie's voice more.

As far as Linda and Stevie are concerned, the people who said that Linda was not interested in maintaining a fan base and preferred to keep her career more low profile than Stevie's hit the nail on the head. Linda really preferred to keep her personal life under wraps and concentrate more on being a consumate vocalist and interpreter of others' songs than being a songwriter or pop icon. I respect her for this, I also loved the interview she gave not long ago when after being asked by the interviewer how she felt about her influence as a country artist Linda without batting an eye said something to the effect of, "if you want to be influenced by a real country artist, pick up a Kitty Wells record, I am NOT a country singer, don't lay that on me." She is so incredibly humorous and frank in her interviews and will completely shut down if the interviewer asks her anything about her personal life. As far as personalities go, that is one thing she definitely does NOT share with Stevie...Stevie will talk your ear off about her relationships ad nauseum even if it is the canned stuff we hear all the time.

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been a Stevie fan? (Not stoning, just genuinely curious. :) )

Good one!!

Or Brenda Lee

Or Etta James

Or Carla Thomas

Or, Diana Ross (as a Supreme)

Or, if they're THAT myopic, what about JANIS JOPLIN?

I never knew you were such a Linda fan. Do you have Western Wall, the album that her and Emmylou recorded together about six years ago? It's really great. :nod:

Waddy Wachtel and Russ Kunkel also worked in the studio with Linda.

She was joking.

Yes. I think she's from Tucson.

Last time I saw her she sang the entire show sitting down because of her back problems. She was still flawless, though.

I bought that album Mad Love when it was first released. Not very good. Way too much yelling for me.

I love Linda- although her penchant for singing every style of music under the sun leaves one to sift through her catalog for gems. Her early period is uneven and her vocal technique was still developing. I'm not really a huge fan of her 70's popular peak- with a few glimmers of greatness here and there. Too many stinky J.D. Souther songs and nostalgia covers. I love all three of her Nelson Riddle albums.

Linda's best period is probably her late 80's through the 90's efforts. Feels Like Home is probably her best album ever- I think every song on that one is a keeper. Her cover of Petty's "The Waiting" is :blob2: :] :blob1: Trio is awesome. The Western Wall Sessions with Emmylou Harris is fantastic. We Ran isn't too bad. Waddy is all over that record- production, songwriter, the works.

I don't think Linda and Stevie are really comparable. They just happen to be from the same era and have used many of the same session musicians. Other than that, their catalog and their musical composition are pretty much different animals.

Since about 1998 or so.

And it's not that I'm no longer a fan, I'm just not as knocked out by her as I used to be. The fact that it looks like she's not going to do another album, and is content to just rehash her old warhorses for endless concert tours has a lot to do with it.

Plus, artists like Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell have a much larger and more varied body of work than Stevie. I still like Stevie, I just find myself listening to her less and less.

As far as cuteness or beauty goes, it's a real toss up. Personally, I think Stevie has the better smile and facial expressions on stage, but that is just me. For example, that scene at the end of "Red Rocks" where Stevie is holding up a bird, OK the white winged dove, that refuses to fly away...her facial expression was just awesome IMO. I just haven't seen enough of Linda on stage to gauge.