Linda Ronstadt produced two dozen albums, never recorded a “live” album. She did perform in front of a live studio audience for her HBO television special. LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD, recorded on April 24, 1980 at Television Center Studios in Hollywood, was produced by John Boylan. The concert footage was recently discovered and Rhino Records remastered the audio version to produce this CD. The concert shows Linda Ronstadt at the top of her game. For LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD, Rhino Records asked Linda Ronstadt to select 12 of her favorite performances from the original concert. The original concert was 80 minutes long so this new CD holds about two-thirds of Ronstadt’s performance which leads me to speculate there may be a followup CD and DVD.
On stage Linda Ronstadt was backed up by guitarists Kenny Edwards and Danny Kortchmar, drummer Russ Kunkel, bassist Bob Glaub, keyboardist Billy Payne (Little Feat), pedal steel guitarist Dan Dugmore, and backing vocalist Wendy Waldman. Peter Asher, Linda Ronstadt’s long-time producer and this concert’s executive producer, played percussion and sang background vocals.
Linda Ronstadt now suffers from Parkinson’s disease and can’t sing anymore. And, like many performers, she somehow went through most of her money. She lives modestly outside San Francisco. I bought LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD both for the love of listening to Ronstadt sing and in hopes that this “found” album will generate some money that can be used toward Ronstadt’s medical expenses. What’s your favorite Linda Ronstadt song? GRADE: A
Track Listings
1. I Can’t Let Go (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:06
2. It’s so Easy (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 2:38
3. Willin’ (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:36
4. Just One Look (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:06
5. Blue Bayou (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 4:18
6. Faithless Love (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:54
7. Hurt so Bad (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:25
8. Poor Poor Pitiful Me (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:53
9. You’re No Good (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 6:12
10. How Do I Make You (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 2:49
11. Back in the U.S.A. (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 2:58
12. Desperado (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 3:44
13. Band Introductions (Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA 4/24/1980) 2:16
I’ve been a fan of lovely Linda since “Different Drum” in 1967. We’ve seen her in concert several times (including once doing standards) , we have several of her albums plus a couple of greatest hits collections, and there are no songs of hers I don’t like. As a matter of fact/coincidence, I just got the Collected Trio 3-CD collection she did with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton in yesterday from Amazon. We haven’t even had a chance to listen to it yet. We used to have the first TRIO album on vinyl.
Favorites? So many. Warren Zevon covers (Poor Poor Pitiful Me), Roy Orbison’s Blue Bayou, some Motown (Ooh Baby Baby and Heat Wave, among others), Buddy Holly (It’s So Easy and That’ll Be the Day). The Everly Brothers’ When Will I Be Loved, duets with Aaron Neville (Don’t Know Much) and others.
OK, just put this in the cart.
Jeff, like you I loved Linda Ronstadt since “Different Drum” with the Stone Poneys. Diane and I went to a sold-out Linda Ronstadt concert at Shea’s Performing Arts Center (great sound!) in the 1980s. Wonderful performance! Sadly, Linda Ronstadt’s present life is a struggle.
Yes, since Different Drum. Liked all the different “Lindas” over the years.
Patti, Linda Ronstadt wasn’t afraid to take risks. Her “Standards” CDs with Nelson Riddle sold well although many critics thought the project would fail.
When Will I Be Loves. I’m hit or miss with her. She has done some poor covers such as Elvis Costello’s Alison which makes little sense when sung by a woman and Warren Zevon’s Poor Poor Pitiful Me which leaves out a key verse. Heart Like a Wheel and Hasten Done the Wind are my favorite albums of hers.
Steve, I wore out a vinyl copy of HEART LIKE A WHEEL. But Linda Ronstadt’s later CDs are solid, too.
Agree on HEART LIKE A WHEEL. That’s the one I play most often.
Jeff, your tastes and mine align once again!
I really couldn’t pull out one specific favorite. I love most of her songs and could listen to almost anything she chose to record. I loved “What’s New” and the other standards she recorded with Nelson Riddle—that was such a innovative thing when she did it: a pop star recording songs from the Great American songbook. I’m sorry she seems to have fallen on hard times—you’d think her gazillionaire ex, George Lucas, could throw a few bucks her way. She probably never made “bank” the way some artists did because she didn’t write her own material and so never got a songwriter’s royalties.
Deb, you are exactly right. Linda Ronstadt didn’t write the songs she sang. She made a lot of songwriters rich. But somehow all the money from touring and recording evaporated. Now, with Parkinson’s, Linda Ronstadt is in a tough situation.
I was living in Tucson when “Different Drum” was released, and it was on the radio a lot. It became my favorite song at the time, and I still love it. Her two American Songbook albums are favorites; I’ve listened to them hundreds of times. I also like her “Blue Bayou” and many of her other hits, though I don’t own any of her albums. I’d rather hear her studio work than live.
Rick, Linda Ronstadt also performed Canciones De Mi Padre z(aka, My Father’s Songs), a CD of Mexican traditional Mariachi music. This “found” collection of live songs sound terrific!
Yes, I’ve heard it, of course.
In 1973 or so she was performing at Chuck’s Cellar, a steakhouse in Palo Alto, California. A friend and I had just eaten dinner upstairs and thought about going to see her, but didn’t want to spend the five dollar cover charge. She wasn’t yet a big name but I’ve always regretted missing her. But, hey, five bucks wasn’t chicken feed to me back then.
One of my favorites is Love Has No Pride, a tough song to sing that she does to a fare thee well.
Bob, I admire Linda Ronstadt’s range in material, from folk to pop to the American Songbook. I would have paid the five bucks to see her.
George – I saw her in late 1976 in Houston and it was an amazing show. She had Andrew Gold as her opening act and he was the leader of her onstage band. I loved most of her albums especially Heart Like a Wheel, Hasten Down the Wind and Mad Love! I still listen to her a lot at work
Scott, and after those early albums her backup band went on to become…The Eagles!