Linda Ronstadt: More Than Simple Dreams

Yesterday Linda Ronstadt announced she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Though she has been aware of this for several months, with her memoir coming out, there was no way her illness would not become public before long. It's a terrible disease to have, it's a terrible disease to watch. What makes it even sadder in this case is it means we will never again hear her sing.

Back in the early 70's, I saw Linda Ronstadt sing at the legendary Capitol Theatre in Passaic. The bill was McKendree Spring, Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles. Those were the kind of shows at the Capitol. Double and triple bills of incredible acts. Every week.

It was after her stint with the Stone Poneys but still in her country-rock period, when she looked and acted like a rocker chick fronting a band. Back then, there weren't a lot of them and I took joy every time I saw a woman up on stage holding court.

It's easy to forget all these years later just how big an artist she was. Covers of Time, Newsweek, six times on the cover of Rolling Stone, Eleven Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and thirty studio albums... that kind of says it all. She was the biggest female music act at the time.

Eventually she left the world of rock and recorded Mexican songs, as well as Standards. She did them all wonderfully. Although she did write, she wasn't known as a songwriter, but man could she choose a good one. She interpreted some of the best of the day: Karla Bonoff, Warren Zevon, JD Souther, Andrew Gold, Bob Dylan, Goffin-King and Willie Nelson, to name a few.

Let's have a taste.

First up, a song written by the great, late Lowell George of Little Feat. The ultimate truck driver's anthem.

"Willin"

All attitude and voice, I love everything about this song and video. Written by Clint Ballard Jr., it's off the Heart Like A Wheel album.

"You're No Good"

The first song I heard Linda Ronstadt sing in Spanish was on Hasten Down The Wind, which is probably my favorite album of hers. The song is beautiful and powerful, especially when she throws in a verse in English to set it off.

"Lo Siento Mi Vida"

Usually if you decide to cover a song by Roy Orbison, you will lose every time. There aren't many vocalists able to compete with the velvet sound of Roy Orbison singing.

Then there's Linda Ronstadt taking on "Blue Bayou."

Written by Karla Bonoff and off Hasten Down The Wind, I should have included it in this week's No Strings Attached Twisted  MixTape. Karla did it good on her album, Linda did it better.

"Someone To Lay Down Beside Me"

I could easily list another ten songs... or more. But I will end this with a Warren Zevon tune. While we all know Warren wrote some interesting and wonderful songs like "Werewolves Of London," and "Lawyers, Guns And Money," he could also write a beautiful ballad. As with every other song she has covered, Linda's interpretation is perfect.

"Hasten Down The Wind"

An incredible body of work, an incredible voice. Linda Ronstadt.

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Mixed Tape Tuesday Goes 70s: Part 2

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted on this blog. Right now I have too many irons in the fire, and unfortunately I haven't done a good job of finishing things. Hopefully, I will catch my breath sometime this next week. But today, I  find myself back at Part 2 of the 1970's for Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday over at Jen's place, My Skewed View.

Last week's choices for Part 1 were for the most part pretty mainstream, and this week there are a few hits thrown in as well. And maybe a few that weren't quite hits, but were memorable... at least to me.

One song from the 70's was a constant background theme for my senior year of high school. Don McLean wrote a song so epic, its lyrics are still being debated today. It was one of those great songs where a car full of  HS girls could sing at the top of their lungs, and laugh and enjoy every minute of it.

"American Pie"

In 1970 James Taylor released his second album, and it was the one which would change his career. To this day, how can you not smile when you hear "Goodnight you moonlight ladies, rockabye Sweet Baby James" Between the title song and "Fire and Rain," JT's music was everywhere. It was for me, one of those records that was played everyday. But besides those two great songs, the one which took me to another place began this way...

"Take to the highway won't you lend me your name

Your way and my way seem to be one and the same"

"Country Road"

Ok, this one I'm gonna cheat on. I only did one part of the 60's, so I'll bend the rules a bit for this entry. The song originally came out in the 60's true enough, but there was this film a documentary in fact which spawned an album. See where I'm going? The band was... The Band. The film was The Last Waltz and the song I need to put in is "The Weight" Why... because it deserves the designation of one of the most important songs of a decade. In this case, it could fit into several decades.

"The Weight"

Another one of those songs where you just had to sing along with was one with the strangest subject matter. But then again, that was how Warren Zevon wrote.

"I saw a werewolf drinkin' a pina colada at Trader Vic's

His hair was perfect"

"Werewolves of London"

In 1970 Eric Burdon and War released a song which was a little provocative for the time. A song that was played at every party where the wine was spilled and joints were passed. 

"Spill the Wine"

I'm going over the five song limit again this week. Sue me, I'm a rebel. I didn't get to Motown songs in the 60's and I will not make that mistake in the 70's. Soul and R&B were as much of the soundtrack to my life in those days as anything else. And choosing one artist as a template for the rest has given me a headache, choosing only one of his songs well... it's kind of making me nuts, but I'm having fun going through them.

As someone who musically has run the gamut, Stevie Wonder has shown his brilliance through his songwriting. In the 70's he had Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life, all with charting singles. I could have chosen a dozen, but the one I thought had the most influence for the time was "Living for the City." The equal rights movement had created laws, but it didn't change the hearts and minds of a lot of people. This song addressed inequality, prejudice and the ugliness of all that occurred. Stevie managed to get the point across beautifully.

"A boy is born in hard time Mississippi 

Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty 

His parents give him love and affection 

To keep him strong moving in the right direction 

Living just enough, just enough for the city."

"Living for the City"

I could go on and would love to, but it's time to end the trip through the 70's music scene. Thanks for having me over Jen.