Linda Ronstadt (album)

Linda Ronstadt
Studio album by Linda Ronstadt
Released	January, 1972
Genre	Country rock
Label	Capitol
Producer	John Boylan
Linda Ronstadt chronology
Silk Purse (1970) Linda Ronstadt (1972) Don't Cry Now (1973)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B-[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]

Linda Ronstadt is the third solo album by Linda Ronstadt, released in early 1972 on the Capitol Records label. The album was a sales failure, prompting Linda's exit from Capitol Records. It peaked at #163 on Billboard's Pop Album Chart and #35 on Billboard's Country Album Chart. It is considered to be a front-runner in the country rock music genre.^[1]

History

Before recording the album, Ronstadt hired guitarist Glenn Frey to assemble a touring band; Frey did so with members of drummer Don Henley’s band Shiloh, who were signed to Amos Records at the same time as Frey’s previous band, Longbranch Pennywhistle. The touring band, augmented by pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow and producer John Boylan on guitar, accompanied Ronstadt on six of the album’s ten tracks, including three that were recorded live at The Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California during March of 1971. The other members of the original Eagles lineup, guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner, appeared on other tracks as session musicians, with Meisner accompanying Ronstadt on backing vocals with the live band on “Birds” and “Rescue Me”. Frey, Henley, Leadon and Meisner formed the Eagles, with Ronstadt’s approval, after the album’s release. Other notable session musicians on the album include violinist Gib Guilbeau, pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons, and Herb Pedersen on guitar, banjo and backing vocals.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	""Rock Me On the Water"	Jackson Browne	3:40
2.	""Crazy Arms"	Ralph Mooney, Chuck Seals	3:33
3.	""I Won't Be Hangin' Round"	Eric Kaz	3:03
4.	""I Still Miss Someone"	Johnny Cash, Roy Cash Jr.	2:42
5.	""In My Reply"	Livingston Taylor	3:32

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	""I Fall to Pieces" (live performance)	Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard	3:11
2.	""Ramblin' 'Round"	Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, John A. Lomax	3:22
3.	""Birds" (live performance)	Neil Young	3:01
4.	""I Ain't Always Been Faithful"	Eric Andersen	2:51
5.	""Rescue Me" (live performance)	Raynard Miner, Carl Smith	2:47

Personnel

• Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals, tambourine
• Tippy Armstrong – guitar
• Barry Beckett – keyboards
• Michael Botts – drums
• Michael Bowden – bass
• Richard Bowden – guitar
• John Boylan – guitar
• Merry Clayton – background vocals
• Dianne Davidson – background vocals
• Buddy Emmons – pedal steel guitar
• Jimmie Fadden – harmonica
• Glenn Frey – guitar, background vocals
• Gib Guilbeau – fiddle, background vocals
• Roger Hawkins – drums
• Don Henley – drums, background vocals
• David Hood – bass
• Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar
• Bernie Leadon – guitar, background vocals
• Moon Martin – guitar, background vocals
• Randy Meisner – bass, background vocals
• Weldon Myrick – steel guitar
• Herb Pedersen – banjo, guitar, background vocals
• Wesley Pritchett – bass
• Lyle Ritz – bass
• J.D. Souther – lead and harmony vocals
• Dean Webb – mandolin

Production notes:

• John Boylan – producer
• Don Blake – engineer
• Larry Hamby – engineer
• Rudy Hill – engineer
• Wally Heider – engineer
• Mike Shields – engineer
• Ray Thompson – engineer
• Dean Torrence – design
• John Hoernle – art direction
• Ed Caraeff – photography

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Robert Christgau review
3. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 701. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.