Qustion on Linda Ronstadt

[PolishStevieFan]

Originally Posted by chiliD

I can't recall ever hearing Paul Anka ever doing his own song. If I'm not mistaken Paul wrote it specifically for Buddy Holly. Who NAILED the song!

That's interesting! But I found on You Tube Anka's version of this song and it wasn't that great. Of course I will have to check out Holly's version. Thanks for the tip

[PolishStevieFan]

I bought "Winter Light" cheaply few days ago and have been listening to this album ever since. I didn't know that Linda was collaborating on the title track with Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner Neither did I know that this song was used in Agnieszka Holland's film "The Secret Garden". That makes this song even more beautiful, considering how I loved that movie as a child. The whole album is very strong and there's only one song that I don't care for and it's her rendition of Dionne Warwick's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself". It's the kind of song that only two people in the world can sing: Dionne and Dusty Springfield But the rest is first class, especially her version of "Oh No Not My Baby" (sounds better than Aretha), Spanish language grand ballad "A Donde Voy" and stellar "River of Tears". There's also another Dionne cover-"Anyone Who Had a Heart" and this time she outdid the original There are no country elements of her past but still the album is more than enjoyable. Have anyone of you heard about this album?

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

I bought "Winter Light" cheaply few days ago and have been listening to this album ever since. I didn't know that Linda was collaborating on the title track with Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner Neither did I know that this song was used in Agnieszka Holland's film "The Secret Garden". That makes this song even more beautiful, considering how I loved that movie as a child. The whole album is very strong and there's only one song that I don't care for and it's her rendition of Dionne Warwick's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself". It's the kind of song that only two people in the world can sing: Dionne and Dusty Springfield But the rest is first class, especially her version of "Oh No Not My Baby" (sounds better than Aretha), Spanish language grand ballad "A Donde Voy" and stellar "River of Tears". There's also another Dionne cover-"Anyone Who Had a Heart" and this time she outdid the original There are no country elements of her past but still the album is more than enjoyable. Have anyone of you heard about this album?

Yup. I think Linda regards this album as one of her best. Sure I read that somewhere.

[GoldDustOrphan]

Linda was the top-grossing female touring act of the '70s and she broke all kinds of sales records up until the release of her first Mexiacan folk music record, which is still the top selling non-english language record in the U.S. (2.5 million).
Her three most recent albums failed to crack the top 100 , selling about 75,000 copies each (Soundscan).

[PolishStevieFan]

It's sad, that since the 90's she hasn't been able to convince public to her music. After listening to more than a few albums of hers and from different phases of her career I must admit, that her album "Winter Light" is still the best!

[PolishStevieFan]

Two weeks ago I decided to buy Linda Ronstadt's "Classic Albums Series" compiling her five albums:
a). "Prisoner in Disguise"
b). "Simple Dreams"
c). "Living In The USA"
d). "Mad Love"
e). "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind"

I must say it's just a lot of great music "Prisoner In Disguise" is the weakest but on the other hand it gives a chance to listen to Linda singing "I Will Always Love You". I've always linked this song with Whitney Houston. And no matter how I like Whitney's voice I've never been able to like this song. The emotions were not there... But Linda sings this in a down to earth, classic country style, that made me realize the beauty of this song (I have to check out Dolly Parton's original).

"Simple Dreams"-great album. For the present time, it's my favourite album of the 70's era (of course out of Ronstadt's repertoire). The funny fact is that it was the album that knocked FM's "Rumours" out on number one spot on Billboard Charts! Her rendition of "Carmelita" is brilliant. And then there's "Blue Bayou"

"Living in The USA" is also great but towards the end it kind of lacks in punch. And her version of "Love Me Tender" is less than stellar

"Mad Love"-already got a chance to hear this one. This album rocks in a great way! Love it! Especially "Look Out For My Love" and "I Can't Let Go"...

"Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind" is a nice change of pace, from California Rock to Adult Contemporary teritorry and with great results. Her duets with Aaron Neville are beautiful (especially on a funny 60's inspired song "I Need You"). But the song of the album is "Adios" with Brian Wilson as a background singer.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

Two weeks ago I decided to buy Linda Ronstadt's "Classic Albums Series" compiling her five albums:
a). "Prisoner in Disguise"
b). "Simple Dreams"
c). "Living In The USA"
d). "Mad Love"
e). "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind"

I must say it's just a lot of great music "Prisoner In Disguise" is the weakest but on the other hand it gives a chance to listen to Linda singing "I Will Always Love You". I've always linked this song with Whitney Houston. And no matter how I like Whitney's voice I've never been able to like this song. The emotions were not there... But Linda sings this in a down to earth, classic country style, that made me realize the beauty of this song (I have to check out Dolly Parton's original).

"Simple Dreams"-great album. For the present time, it's my favourite album of the 70's era (of course out of Ronstadt's repertoire). The funny fact is that it was the album that knocked FM's "Rumours" out on number one spot on Billboard Charts! Her rendition of "Carmelita" is brilliant. And then there's "Blue Bayou"

"Living in The USA" is also great but towards the end it kind of lacks in punch. And her version of "Love Me Tender" is less than stellar

"Mad Love"-already got a chance to hear this one. This album rocks in a great way! Love it! Especially "Look Out For My Love" and "I Can't Let Go"...

"Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind" is a nice change of pace, from California Rock to Adult Contemporary teritorry and with great results. Her duets with Aaron Neville are beautiful (especially on a funny 60's inspired song "I Need You"). But the song of the album is "Adios" with Brian Wilson as a background singer.

I really like Prisoner In Disguise - if only for the fantastic You Tell Me That I'm Falling Down. Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox is great too. I agree that it's not the best album towards the end but it's got some very strong songs on it.

You haven't heard Dolly's version of I Will Always Love You?! You must listen to it immediately! It's beautifully understated. I can't stand Whitney's version. It's louyd for the sake of being loud.

This is altogether a random list of "Classic albums" - with no Heart Like A Wheel or Don't Cry Now in the set it seems unusual. It's kind of the only place to get Mad Love though.

[PolishStevieFan]

You are right "You Tell That I'm Falling Down" is first rate song. On "Prisoner in Disguise" there's also "The Sweetest Gift"- a beautiful country song recorded with Emmylou Harris (another artist waiting to be explored). In this "Classic Album Series" there are 5 studio releases and to be honest I'm glad there is no "Heart Like a Wheel" included because I've already owned it I have to discover some of Dolly Parton's music. Her voice is just incredible. I have listened one or two compilations of hers and must say that she's got a lot of great songs. Somehow I've never got to listen to her rendition of "I Will Always Love You". Maybe it's because of Whitney's version which always gets on my nerves

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

You haven't heard Dolly's version of I Will Always Love You?! You must listen to it immediately! It's beautifully understated. I can't stand Whitney's version. It's loud for the sake of being loud.

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

On "Prisoner in Disguise" there's also "The Sweetest Gift"- a beautiful country song recorded with Emmylou Harris (another artist waiting to be explored). I have listened one or two compilations of hers and must say that she's got a lot of great songs. Somehow I've never got to listen to her rendition of "I Will Always Love You". Maybe it's because of Whitney's version which always gets on my nerves

See above for my comments about Dolly vs Whitney for I Will Always Love You. It's also well worth checking out Dolly's Bluegrass material from between 1999-2002 to acccompany any compliations. The albums are - The Grass Is Blue, Little Sparrow and Halos and Horns.

You're just about to discover Emmylou? Wonderful! She is my absolute favourite of the 70s country scene and I have all her material. There's her great work with Gram Parsons on his GP and Grievous Angel albums and then I'd start with her first four solo albums -Pieces Of The Sky, Elite Hotel, Luxury Liner and Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town (my favourite of her earlier albums). These four are essential listening.

There was an earlier solo album, Gliding Bird, but Emmy disowns it and says that Pieces Of The Sky is her real solo debut. Pieces Of The Sky includes an excellent song called Queen Of The Silver Dollar - with Linda on very prominent backing vocals. That album also has Boulder to Birmingham, one of her signature songs.

I'd also highly recommend, especially since you're a Linda fan, their duets album from 1999: Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions.

I've seen Emmy live twice - 2008 and this year - and she's always fantastic. Her most recent album, Hard Bargain, came out this year.

[PolishStevieFan]

I Read splendid review of Emmylou's latest album in one of Polish music magazines. But I'll start with "Pieces of Sky" and there's something that attracts me towards "Song bird" album... Maybe it's a cover... I don't know but I will have to check it out. Thanks for the tips!

[Blueletter18]

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

Two weeks ago I decided to buy Linda Ronstadt's "Classic Albums Series" compiling her five albums:
a). "Prisoner in Disguise"
b). "Simple Dreams"
c). "Living In The USA"
d). "Mad Love"
e). "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind"

I must say it's just a lot of great music "Prisoner In Disguise" is the weakest but on the other hand it gives a chance to listen to Linda singing "I Will Always Love You". I've always linked this song with Whitney Houston. And no matter how I like Whitney's voice I've never been able to like this song. The emotions were not there... But Linda sings this in a down to earth, classic country style, that made me realize the beauty of this song (I have to check out Dolly Parton's original).

"Simple Dreams"-great album. For the present time, it's my favourite album of the 70's era (of course out of Ronstadt's repertoire). The funny fact is that it was the album that knocked FM's "Rumours" out on number one spot on Billboard Charts! Her rendition of "Carmelita" is brilliant. And then there's "Blue Bayou"

"Living in The USA" is also great but towards the end it kind of lacks in punch. And her version of "Love Me Tender" is less than stellar

"Mad Love"-already got a chance to hear this one. This album rocks in a great way! Love it! Especially "Look Out For My Love" and "I Can't Let Go"...

"Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind" is a nice change of pace, from California Rock to Adult Contemporary teritorry and with great results. Her duets with Aaron Neville are beautiful (especially on a funny 60's inspired song "I Need You"). But the song of the album is "Adios" with Brian Wilson as a background singer.

Very interesting! Simple Dreams is definitely an outstanding album- Carmelita, Poor Poor Pitiful Me, Simple Man Simple Dreams, and Tumblin' Dice are just to die for!! However, I think i'll always prefer Prisoner in Disguise for personal reasons. It was the first Ronstadt album I bought- I found it for $5 on vinyl at an antique shop. I was at my cottage with my dad, and we played it for the first time on a record player sitting outside at night looking out at the lake. Neither of us had heard it before, and it was just amazing. The sound quality was so perfect it almost seemed magical.

[PolishStevieFan]

For me it's "Mad Love" that will always hold a special sentimental value (because it was my first ever Linda Ronstadt experience)

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

For me it's "Mad Love" that will always hold a special sentimental value (because it was my first ever Linda Ronstadt experience)

That was my second Ronstadt album.
And I still like it.

[Blueletter18]

I have Mad Love, but I haven't listened to it yet! I need to.

[PolishStevieFan]

I wonder if you like it. It's not a typical Linda Ronstadt album in that it rocks a little more and has fewer country influences than say "Simple Dreams" or "Heart Like a Wheel". I read some reviews where people insisted, that it was a kind of Punk/Rock record, which of course is not. It has New Wave/early 80's influences but that's all, there's no trace of Punk. In most reviews people complain about her approach that she took with this album, but for me it is a natural progress, a development of sorts, something that made her more adaptable in a new musical era. Besides, hits like "Hurt So Bad" or "How Do I Make You" are irrestistibly catchy. Her rendition of "Look Out for My Love" is to kill for, at least for me. Only "Talking In His Sleep" is a bit weaker than the rest of the songs, but it's so short that you will probably not notice