Linda Ronstadt - CNN Special

[Chillwell]

So... I can't say I've ever been a big fan, really didn't know a ton about her. She was a little before my generation. I mean I knew some of her songs, but she is a long way from someone I'd rank really high in my favorite singers list. I had no idea she was as big as she was at one time.

Anyway, the wife and I, probably for a lack of something to watch, watched the CNN special about her a couple of nights ago. I found it really fascinating...totally got sucked in and really enjoyed it. If you're into those type of things, I'd recommend it.

It is just amazing how many greats she crossed paths with... Don Heanley & Glen Frey, David Geffen, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Aaron Neville, Governor Brown + she did mariachi & broadway, pop/rock/country... pretty amazing career.

 

[The Duke]

Dude. Go watch some classic Star Trek or something.

 

[Been Jammin]

So... I can't say I've ever been a big fan, really didn't know a ton about her. She was a little before my generation. I mean I knew some of her songs, but she is a long way from someone I'd rank really high in my favorite singers list. I had no idea she was as big as she was at one time.

Anyway, the wife and I, probably for a lack of something to watch, watched the CNN special about her a couple of nights ago. I found it really fascinating...totally got sucked in and really enjoyed it. If you're into those type of things, I'd recommend it.

It is just amazing how many greats she crossed paths with... Don Heanley & Glen Frey, David Geffen, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Aaron Neville, Governor Brown + she did mariachi & broadway, pop/rock/country... pretty amazing career.

I’ve always thought she was way under rated. Something of an icon among her peers, while overlooked by the average fan. I will have to tack that CNN bit down. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ostatedchi]

Didn't she pretty much create the Eagles?

 

[Cowguy]

Didn't she pretty much create the Eagles?

Linda was likely the first female musician crush of people my age. Because she did so many covers, I don’t think she’s really gotten the recognition she deserves, but she was an amazing singer and performer.

She really does have some responsibility for the Eagles. Henley went to California to meet her in hopes she’d record some songs of his. She heard him playing drums and asked him if he’d be part of her band. She was involved with JD Souther at the time and he and Glenn were writing together. She knew he could play and asked him to be her guitarist. Frey and Henley knee of each other, but ended up rooming together on the road and discovered they had something unique together.

So yeah ... she had a big hand in the early eagles. Interestingly she wanted Bernie Leadon for guitar initially, but he was tied up with the flying Burrito Brothers. Of course Leadon eventually became one of the founding members of the eagles.

Crazy amount of talent roaming around California in the late 60’s early 70’s.

 

[Been Jammin]

Crazy amount of talent roaming around California in the late 60’s early 70’s.

IIRC (without looking it up), she was pretty closely tied to Jackson Browne and Bob Seger during those days also.

 

[CowboyTanker]

A high school friend of mine from Stillwater was one of her roadies for awhile. We’d be hanging around with him sometimes and he’d get a call from her..

 

[Chillwell]

IIRC (without looking it up), she was pretty closely tied to Jackson Browne and Bob Seger during those days also.

Jackson Browne was mentioned fairly prominently in the show. I don't remember hearing Bob Seger mentioned.

Jackson & Linda toured together, where they would swap back-and-forth who would open. In the interview, Jackson Browne kind of rolled his eyes and said something like... can you imagine having to follow her? ...meant in a very complementary way.

Another funny tibit (and I won't get it exactly right), but she first came to So Cal, from her hometown of Tucson, with a band called The Stone Poneys. She was 18 at the time. They had one hit and did a small tour. Right after the tour, the record company (or maybe the producer) basically told her: You're now a solo act; say goodbye to your bandmates. That was the end of The Stone Poneys.

The hit was "Different Drum" (below), which was written by Michael Nesmith pre-Monkeys fame.

 

[purkey]

she played with everyone it seems. too bad shes a liberal wacko. She was great though. Looks like she is dealing with some kind of a disease...parkinsons. So she's granted a waiver. Getting old is a bitch.

 

[AC_Exotic]

I’ve always thought she was way under rated. Something of an icon among her peers, while overlooked by the average fan. I will have to tack that CNN bit down. Thanks for sharing.

She was a really big deal in the 70s. At least that's my memory as a kid.

 

[Dally1up]

Beautiful lady (all politics aside). I watched it as well and have always enjoyed her stuff.

 

[hollywood]

Willie Nelson: "There's two kinds of men in the world. Those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, and them who never heard of her."

 

[knoblock]

 

[MajorMike_Ret]

Almost all of her big songs were covers - You're no good was Dee Dee Warwick, Blue Bayou was Roy Orbison, When Will I be Loved was Everly Bros, Its So Easy was Buddy Holly, That'll Be The Day was Beatles, Poor Pitiful Me was Warren Zevon, Tumbling Dice was Rolling Stones, Heat Wave was Martha and the Vandellas, I fall to Pieces was Pasty Cline... etc

 

[MajorMike_Ret]

Just to revisit my comment (after 2 days of listening to LR on iTunes).

She may have covered everyone else's songs, but she was an absolute MASTER at translating a work by some other singer/songwriter who had normally written specifically for themselves, and making it fit perfectly into her wheelhouse; enabling it sound like it was written specifically for her.

Not sure if I can think of another artist with that ability on par with hers. Aside from the fact her voice was uncommonly flawless.