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Linda was my first album cover crush, then hearing her voice just made me fall in love with her even more. Just as she was hitting it big with her solo career, some of her backing band decided they wanted to out on their own, so they asked Linda if they could, and she gave them her permission. Later, they became a little band called The Eagles.
There were better singers in their lane so to speak. But none were better vocalist. To date She's number one on the female vocalist list and it's not even close. Because she could do more than 1 thing. Where someone who was a great singer Ann Wilson what only great at one thing and couldn't hold a candle to Linda as an all-round vocalist.
I was in the military when the Stone Ponies began appearing on National TV. I immediately fell for Linda Ronstadt, just like all the other lonesome mopes. Saw her in concert twice, from the front row. Saw her again on Broadway in NYC! What a talent … her vocals never get old! I still love her.
Linda Ronstadt is the person who made me fall in love with the human voice. I used to hear Different Drum on the radio when I was three or four and how awed and opened I felt by her soaring vocal is one of my earliest memories. Long Long Time is one of my favourites of hers, also love Lose Again.
I've followed Linda since 1967 she never sings a bad note and this is good but it's been abbreviated presumably for the live TV performance the best lines are missing Life's full of loss Who knows the cost Living in the memory Of a love that never was. All about unrequited love and then the really powerful ending to the song with that strong lamentful belting showing how strong her voice is.
the fact that it was used as the title of Episode 3 of Last Of Us as well as playing over the end credits has certainly given the song a real resurgence...but it's a song I've loved for a long long time (pun intended)
“Your musical soul is like facets of a jewel, and you stick out one facet at a time. I tend to work real hard on whatever it is I do, to get it up to speed, up to a professional level. I tend to bury myself in one thing for years at a time.” ~ Linda Ronstadt
BTW, she isn't lip syncing the song, she's singing it live. I can tell because, I have listened to this song countless times, and have memorized every nuance of her voice and every instrument, plus the second verse is missing and so is the harpsichord.
In addition to the vocal quality, Linda Ronstadt's acting in this video is superb. You can see the pain and longing in her facial expressions and body language.
Beautiful song, beautiful woman, beautiful voice, beautiful performance. I dont think Linda thought about it so deeply as you. She felt what she felt, and sang as she sang.
Saw her in concert numerous times through the 70's and 80's, I'm not sure anyone could convey so many different emotions so beautifully as Linda. She always made any song she sang her own. She could have sung the phone book for all I care.
THE most beautiful song about unrequited love that has ever been made. If you get the chance, listen to the full studio version; the interludes are beautiful, and the zither gets me every time.
It is great. But for a fair comparison you should check out Bonnie Raitt's cover of "I can't make you love me" live with Bruce Hornsby. It'll be a tough call. And of course there's Gary Moore's "Still got the blues for you" - pretty much any version but I'd go for one of the live ones.
It’s your expressiveness and willingness to share your emotional as well as technical reactions to the pieces that is so special. It opens my heart and I fall in love with the music and with you. Beautiful! ❤ 🙏☺️
Great reaction, Beth! As a young man, I was one of the many who fell in love with her voice as soon as I heard her sing. It happened to me when she sang Different Drum with the Stone Ponies. She is an amazing talent.
Way back (late '60's), TV sound was broadcast in mono. So not even stereo - let alone surround. Radio had SOME stations broadcasting in stereo. In the Sn Francisco Bay Area, there was a rock station called KFOG. They partnered with a local TV station occasionally to do what they called a "simulcast". The tv station would broadcast a live music event and KFOD would air the audio in stereo. I think it was in black and white as color tv was still not easy for a live event. The first simulcast I remember was a group called The Stone Ponies. Thats when I fell in love with Linda's voice.
She’s said in interviews that she grew up in a very musical family. They would sing at the dinner table at a very young age. Also they sang in English and Ranchero. She never knew what else to do-all she knew was music! Plus her ear is just phenomenal-she’s responsible for getting the Eagles together. Please listen to a live version of Blue Bayou. It’s so pretty.
Beth - Thank you so much for featuring Linda Ronstadt. It's great younger people are getting to know her. I've loved her since 1967. I saw her in 1977 on the same tour as the live version of Desperado that you reviewed. Yes, it was that good. Please keep it up. It's truly sad about Linda's losing her voice. But I want to comment on something. You did one reaction to Eva Cassidy a year or so ago. I've gone back and forth on this for the last 25 years. Linda and Eva are my top 2, no doubt. Linda's voice is phenominal. But Eva's voice is the only voice I've ever heard that cut right through me. Like Linda, Eva could sing absolutely anything she attempted. Unfortunately, Eva lost her life to cancer before she started to get the recognition she deserved. I really wish you would revisit her. She didn't leave behind anything near the catalog we have of Linda's in quantity. And the few videos that we have are grainy, black & white. But please go back and take a listen to what she did leave. You won't ever regret it.
I've had the pleasure of seeing Linda live from about 1978 up into the 90's. She never once disappointed. Never off key or forgot lyrics. Sounded as good or better live than her studio work. Amazing! ♥
This is so beautifully performed by Linda, it's easy to overlook the genius of the song itself, written by Gary White. Simple but musically interesting, a bit unconventional in that it starts on the sub-dominant. Touching lyrics as well, on the classic theme of unrequited love. Gorgeous.
Yeah, I hate that this is the "go to" video for reactions, since it's incomplete. Less of Linda's voice and my favorite line, "Living in the memory of a love that never was." 😢
@@jeffevans9853 I do love this video but point out that about the line. There may be a live one where she sings all the verses. I think it may be from the Johnny Cash show. Most shows only allowed a certain amount of time back then. I think Johnny was a bit of a rebel about those kind of things.
Can't imagine the stress the sound guy is going through for this song. The transitions between super soft whispers and these unbelievably powerful belted notes that probably didn't even need a mic to be heard. She shifts between them so suddenly! May God damn whoever hurt this woman to sing with this much hurt.
In her autobiography, Linda said she never learned to really sing until 1980, when she took vocal lessons for the Pirates of Penzance. She was insanely famous by that point.
Beth, thanks for another great reaction and analysis! It's not often I am compelled to use the comments section when watching reactions. There's another live performance of this song on YT, from the Johnny Cash Show, that was done during the same era. Video quality is much better as is her performance, IMO. She seems much more confident and does a better job with the higher notes at the end of the song. I sense that she was just a bit nervous here. That might explain a bit of that tightness you spoke of later in the song. Still, she delivers a memorable performance. She shows a great interpretation, great voice combined with emotion and an understanding of exactly what she's singing. I love that it's a very honest performance, done way before the ubiquitous use of pitch correction, which sucks the soul and honesty out of the song every time. That honesty, I believe, is Linda's 'secret sauce'. You spoke of the 'cry' in her voice. Reminded me of another (formerly) very popular American singer, Connie Francis, who predates Linda by about ten years, or so, and used the 'cry' to great effect. Maybe there's an 'influence' here? Ah...prolly not. :)
This song added incredible poignancy to an instant classic episode of ‘the last of us.’ In addition to beautifully elevating that episode it also introduced a new generation to this incredible artist.
In my humble opinion…the Greatest female vocal artist of all time…and man the crush I had on her, when we were both much younger! Like every guy had in the 70’s! I love her mariachi music! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This version leaves out what to me is the saddest verse: Wait for the day You'll go away Knowing that you warned me Of the price I'd have to pay And life's full of flaws Who knows the cause? Living in the memory Of a love that never was "Living in the memory of a love that never was." That hurts.
Long Long Time 1970 was Linda Ronstadts first solo single after the Stone Pony's disband. Song was written by Gary White it's just about my favorite Linda Ronstaft song.
And to think, her voice got better after the training she did for "Pirates of Penzance". This is where she said she learned the difference of singing into a mic, and sing to an audience without a mic. But, one of the most underrated songs is one Karla Bonoff penned for her. "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" the live version in 1977, Atlanta. It has a beautiful piano intro by the late Don Groinick and little guitar solo by Waddy Wachtel. Beautiful, no dancers, no autotune, just her beautiful voice, and talented musicians around her.
I absolutely adore the 2 albums of old standards she did with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, you would love them. Bewitched, Bothered, & Bewildered, When You Wish Upon A Star, and Lush Life are just to die for. Some of my favorite versions of those old songs.
Long Long Time, my #1 L.R. song, out of many favorites. I first saw Linda in Orlando Fl in1972 when Niel Young had her as an opening act. I was third row dead center, right under the microphone. I feel in love.
As always, another great reaction and analysis. Linda has been my favorite vocalist since she first arrived on the scene in 1967. It’s wonderful that you have (re)discovered her as she is too exceptional a talent to be forgotten. Another emotionally charged song from her early years is “Love Has No Pride”. Don’t miss her rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” and, afterwards, you may be interested in an analysis of Linda’s vocal accuracy in performing this same song live as demonstrated by the gent at Wings of Pegasus on RU-vid. In 50 plus years, I’ve never heard her miss a note.
OMG! I loved this reaction by you! Beyond Linda being my all time most favorite and highly rated vocalist, your explanations were absolutely unique, in depth and spot on! And hilarious ("Hamburger???" Lol!). Thank you for this one!
Johnny Cash brought a young Linda Ronstadt to sing inside of the Tennessee State Prison - for prisoners. And she sang so well that the men eventually stopped looking at her legs and listened to her voice. That was remarkable.
If you’re already down the Linda Ronstadt rabbit hole, please watch her duet with Aaron Neville or just react to Aaron Neville-a truly unique male voice.
I'm not exactly sure when this particular performance is from, but this is quite early in her career. She kept on getting better for years and years. If you want to dig into her catalog, 1989's album "Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind" has some great work.
This is a shortened version of this beautiful song. Television spots, at that time, did not allow for complete songs if they exceeded time limits. I’ve only found one live version of this that includes the entire song. I highly recommend her live performance of “Down So Low” from Germany. It will leave you speechless. 🌺✌️
From what I understand, at the time she did this song was recorded and filmed, she was singing mostly from instinct and from the singing experience that she had to that date. The video itself was from a live broadcast She performed the song on both the Johnny Cash Show and the Glen Campbell Good Time Hour
Great analysis as always, Beth. My year was made while working on Labyrinth and she and George Lucas past me and both said, “Good morning Mak”. Yeeha! ❤😊