Boomer here and WOW, Linda is my all time favorite singer!! Her original band was the Stone Ponies. I absolutely love "Blue Bayou" but nobody covered Buddy Holly like she did!! All her songs were great with her naturally fabulous voice 😍 ❤️ 🤩. Thanks so much Harri ❣️
WOW❤️... She took an Eagles song to the next level! And with only a piano behind her! . . . . . . . . Now THAT is Talent. Pure Vocal Genius - with no gimicks!!!
As many know, this song was written by Glenn Fry and Don Henley, who recorded and released Desperado, which became an instant hit. Not long thereafter, their good friend Linda Ronstadt recorded the song, and it became even significantly more popular. I have been a huge fan of both the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. Linda Ronstadt's rendition of Desperado is one of her very best performances, and Don Henley gladly agrees. Superb submission and review. Thank you, Debbie and Harri.
Actually, Desperado was never released as a single by The Eagles and the whole album was a commercial disappointment, being the worst charting album they ever released. Henley freely admits Desperado the song only got popular after Ronstadt recorded it and put it on her album Don't Cry Now. That's what pushed it into the spotlight and allowed it to become the classic it's considered now.
Did not desperado become a hit after Linda released the song as the record company thought their style would not work until they heard Linda's version was a hit
Ray, thank you for asking this question. Songwriter and singer Don Henley, not their record company, openly declared with pride that his friend, Linda Ronstadt, "made the song her own." The Eagles released the song Desperado on their second album of that title in 1973. According to an interview with Don Henley, "Desperado" was not a hit for the Eagles until Linda Ronstadt recorded and released the song on her later 1973 album Don't Cry Now. Henley credited Ronstadt for popularizing the song with her early cover of the song and considers her version as the definitive performance. Raya, I hope that this answers your question.@@Ray-dm1xf
She made this song her own! The Eagles' version was PERFECT! She just made it BETTER. The verbratto she emotes has no equal. IMHO, she is the best singer of my generation. From the softness at the beginning of this song and of Blue Bayou to the power of her soulful cry of defiance, "I'm going back someday!" "Long, Long Time" is another master class in the vocal arts!
This cover put the eagles on the map!! Linda had much to do with the eagles becoming the eagles, as far as members getting together. What a pleasure it was to grow up with all the music you react to. Born in 1956, I’m soon to be 68;)
People may not know or remember that this song was made popular by Linda Ronstadt. The Eagles themselves acknowledged this - it was her version that was the hit on the radio back in the day. The Eagles version is great too of course!
The reason the Eagles version never became a hit single was that the record company didn't want to release a third single from the "Desperado" album. The first two singles, "Tequila Sunrise" and "Outlaw Man" weren't big hits, unlike the songs from their debut album. "Tequila Sunrise" peaked at #64 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #26 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. "Outlaw Man" didn't even do that well. Asylum Records, from the start, wasn't really behind this particular album, and really didn't advertise it, with the exception of a giant billboard on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. So, since Eagles version was never released as a single, but Linda's was, hers is the one that got a lot of the radio airplay. When it was learned that Linda's was a cover of an Eagles song, the Eagles version started getting airplay as well.
I was lucky enough to see her many times in person, and this was her de facto encore. It was so powerful and she ended nearly every single concert with it.
Harri, I first heard this from her in person in ‘72 or so. I had the Eagles’ album, but she had not yet released “Don’t Cry Now.” I was about 15 feet away. Oh, my Lord!
Linda Ronstadt understood it is all about serving the song - that's also why that "You'd better let somebody love you" stands out like that (besides it being vocally absolutely mesmerizing)! Too many of todays singers think the songs are there to serve their voices. That's botched...
Linda is one of my all time favorites if not my favorite female singer. Been in love with her the first time I heard her on the radio and saw her on tv. She was and still is a 10+ in looks and talent in my opinion. Love the standing ovation HARRI
Everything that needs to be said about this performance has been said MANY times over the years. But thanks for saying it again, Mr. Harri. (although you kind of spoiled the climax by cutting in just before her resolution. I know, you couldn't help yourself)
I saw Linda in concert once in the 70's & again in the 80's at The Summit (now Joel Olsteen's megachurch) in Houston. The second time i saw her i sat on the 2nd row directly in front of her. She didn't talk much & seemed & looked quite shy but she sang her heart out & never missed a note, just like her albums.
Thanks Harri. I can never get enough of this angelic voice. One of the stories that I have heard is about a time when she was on stage and there was a power outage. Without missing a beat, she continued singing a cappella without even the help of a microphone. She brought the house down. I can believe it! She is just amazing and recently celebrated her 77th birthday! I believe she is possibly the eighth wonder of the world. 🌺✌️
I was very young when i first heard her sing "silver threads & golden needles" & have loved her ever since. Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris & Ricky Skaggs sang backup for her before they became famous.
I saw the Eagles Hotel California tour. The Eagles headlined, warmed up by Linda, warmed up by Dan Fogelberg, with Jackson Browne as special guest - just for the finale. . I can’t swear to this, but for a finale, I do believe everyone came back out on stage to do Tequila Sunrise: the Eagles, Linda, Dan Fogelburg, and Jackson Browne. what a show!
Absolutely beautiful. 💯 Such a perfect Eagle's song for Linda's angelic delivery. Loved her forever, her Spanish language songs are my favourite, even though my Spanish is limited. She steals your heart with this piano accompaniment. ❤ Great reaction Harri 😊 Thanks Harri and Debbie. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I'm sure others have mentioned this, but two founding members of the Eagles were in Linda's backup band before she basically booted them out to form their own band. The Eagles would not exist without her commitment and sacrifice.
Standing ovation for this performance of a great Eagles song. Thanks Harri. Linda was a great friend of the Eagles. I believe they toured together. Correct if I'm wrong.
Harri, Please listen to her version of I will always love you, breathtaking. Also there is a video of her singing Desperado with the Eagles singing backup sooo good!
Thank you for sharing that performance. I remember when I saw/heard her perform live she hit a note that I literally felt in my chest. My friend looked at me and said WOW! Thanks again.
Great selection, Debbie! Linda's always a wonderful listen, of course. This is the same concert where, before she sang Lowell George's "Willin'," she introduced it by telling how she fell in love with Lowell a few years back, only to come face to face with an understandably upset Mrs. George. LOL. What was it about Lowell George? Thanks, Debbie and Harri.
I first heard this song on 8 track tape in my Moms car when it first came out. Loved this song as a child and then hearing it all that years later gives me goosebumps!
She was in stage version of Pirates of Penzance. Don't watch the movie though. Gilbert and Sullivan fall bit flat without a live audience. Kevin Kline costars with her. There is an archival recording done live. The video quality isn't the best but definitely worth sitting through. There is also and original cast album on line. Hearing Linda and Kevin sing light comic opera is such a treat. The time frame is about 1980 give or take.😴🥰🔥💥
Linda has an overlooked talent also. Her vocal abilities are unmatched but her knack for not over singing everything and not doing vocal runs at every opportunity is a lost art.
Great job, Harri!! Another wonderful version of this song is performed by "The Carpenters", in the incomparable voice of Karen Carpenter. It's worth reacting to it, too. Greetings from Brazil!
She became close friends with Dolly Parton and EmmyLou Harris. They often sang backup on each others albums. This led to them recording as a Trio and releasing music albums under that name Some of the best spine tingling female harmonies you will ever hear
Glen Frye said that they (The Eagles) had recorded this song but it just went nowhere. When Linda released it, it was a big hit which then drove their version and, in his words, put The Eagles on the map!
Harri I love your reactions to Linda! I just stumbled on a live concert from November 9,1973 .It may not be best quality but it is young shy Linda belting out 2 tunes and knocking the audience socks off! . I would love your reaction to this.Thanks for your great thoughts on this amazing artist.
Glenn Fry and Don Henley were part of her backup band when she first started. She has an amazing voice. You should listen to something off of the album Lush LIfe. She recorded it with Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. It is old standards and it is amazing.
