Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Linda Ronstadt - Required Ronstadt (1998)


Promotional CD

Lifted directly from a previous Ronstadt post:
What. A. Voice. About the time Ronstadt was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I received a text from my buddy Jim that read something like "I'll listen to anything sung by Linda Ronstadt." I'll second that. That simple text message led to the purchase of this box set later that day. Over her career, Ronstadt proved to be something of a musical chameleon, moving effortlessly from country to Cajun to rock to Latin to movie soundtracks to jazz standards to comic opera. She did it all and she did it well (and looked fantastic doing it).
In 1977, Rolling Stone magazine called Ronstadt "rock's supreme torch singer" and I can't improve upon that title so I'll leave it at that. Why Elektra thought Ronstadt needed a promo greatest hits CD is beyond me, but record execs aren't known for making good decisions and it got me this sweet chronological compilation, so I'll shut up now and get to the tracks. Speaking of these tracks, this thing must have been remastered because it sounds fantastic.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart but I believe if Elektra had released this to the general public it would have easily peaked in the top 50.

Tracks (with Billboard chart peaks): as you would expect from such a disc from such an artist, this is "all killer, no filler" stuff. Thanks, Linda.

Song Year Hot 100  AC CountryRock
Different Drum196813


Love Has No Pride19735123

Desperado1973



You're No Good1975110

When Will I Be Loved1975231
Heat Wave1975519

Love is a Rose197563
5
Tracks of My Tears197625411
That'll Be The Day1976111627
Blue Bayou1977332
It's So Easy197753781
Tumbling Dice19783230

Back in the USA1978163041
Ooh Baby Baby19797285
How Do I Make You198010


Hurt So Bad1980825

Get Closer198229

34
What's New1983535

Don't Know Much198921

All My Life1989111

Oh No, Not My Baby1993
35

The Waiting1995



Dedicated to the One I Love1996




Songs that peaked in the Top 40 that didn't make the cut for this compilation: Long Long Time (#25, 1970), Poor Poor Pitiful Me (#31, 1978), I Can't Let Go (#31, 1980), I Knew You When (#37, 1983), Somewhere Out There (#2, 1987). And we didn't even cover her journeys into operetta, Spanish language albums, and her Trio albums.

February 28, 1977

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Since Ronstadt provided much of the soundtrack for my youth, there are many. As newlyweds, my wife and I wore out our cassette of Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind (I don't have that album on CD yet, but I just ordered a copy.). We're going on a road trip later this morning and I'm gonna slip this into the CD player in the SUV and give it another listen on the road. Perfect.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Original Album Series (2012)
'Round Midnight (1986)

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