Linda Ronstadt

When I say welcome back, don't think of John Sebastian's awful song, or the equally awful
television show it introduces. Think instead of a gifted singer -- perhaps our most gifted --
who has given us (arguably, I admit) some 40 memorable songs but failed, and miserably so,
to connect with much passion on her last album, Prisoner in Disguise. This is Linda
Ronstadt's tenth album (including the three made with her first group, the Stone... More >

Linda's always wanted to be a Real Country Singer, but RCS put out two or three LPs like this every year. You know--find some good tunes, round up the gang, and apply formula. Like the great RCS she can be, she comes up with some inspired interpretations: the flair of "That'll Be the Day" and "Crazy" do justice to the originals, and her version of the title song almost makes you forget its unfortunate title. But you cover Tracy Nelson's "Down So Low" at your peril even if you believe not one in ten of your fans remembers it, and the three Karla Bonoff lyrics make her (I mean Karla, but Linda too) sound like such a born loser that I never want to hear anyone sing them again. (Grade: B-)