Linda Ronstadt was frustrated that her growing profile and critical acclaim wasn’t paired with bigger commercial success, so she decided to leave Capitol Records and sign with Asylum. She was still under contract to Capitol for one more record, though, so she recorded her fifth album knowing it would be released by her old label.
Wouldn’t you know it, that album — 1974’s Heart Like a Wheel — became her first smash hit. It reached #1 on the Billboard albums chart and landed its first single — ‘You’re No Good‘ — at #1 on the Hot 100. Third single ‘When Will I Be Loved’ made it to #2.
Those songs demonstrated her rock bona fides, but another song (a cover of Hank Williams’ ‘I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love with You)’) rocketed to #2 on the country chart. Ultimately, Heart Like a Wheel spent nearly a year on the albums chart and picked up an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys.
English producer Peter Asher took the reins on this album and became one of Ronstadt’s most reliable collaborators. He would produce all of her output for the next decade and a half, the span of her greatest success.
The album certainly sounds great, skipping fluidly between genres and showcasing a laundry list of great California musicians (including Glenn Frey and Don Henley once again, on a cover of James Taylor’s ‘You Can Close Your Eyes’). The Laurel Canyon connection and sound of Ronstadt’s 70s work was one of my happiest surprises doing this Deep Dive.
The other one was, of course, her voice. Strong, soft, powerful, and pretty… there’s nothing it can’t do.
I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
I’ve been put down
I’ve been pushed ’round
When will I be loved?
[Refrain]
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
[Verse 2]
I’ve been made blue
I’ve been lied to
When will I be loved?
[Refrain]
When I find a new man
That I want for mine
He always breaks my heart in two
It happens every time
[Verse 3]
Oh, I’ve been cheated
Been mistreated
When will I be loved?
[Outro]
When will I be loved?
Tell me, when will I be loved?
Meet Me In Montauk 
I just clicked on the link to “You’re No Good” and reread your post from 2022 when Ronstadt was admitted into the Rock Hall. You suggested a deep dive into her catalogue might be warranted and, four years later, here we are!
Love this album. Besides producer Peter Asher, there’s a who’s who of CA talent on it. Andrew Gold arranged most of it and played a collection of instruments including piano, guitar, and drums, not to mention backing vocals. Kenny Edwards played bass and sang backup. Sneaky Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Bros played pedal steel guitar. JD Souther played acoustic guitar and sang harmony. Herb Pedersen played banjo and added backing vocals. Glenn Frey played acoustic guitar and Timothy B. Schmit played bass guitar on the cover of James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes.” Russ Kunkel and Don Henley added drums on a couple of songs. David Lindley played fiddle on a couple tracks. Wendy Waldman, Cissy Houston, Maria Muldaur, and Emmylou Harris (among others) all provided backing vocals. — And I love her cover of Lowell George’s (Little Feat) “Willin'” and Paul Anka’s “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.” Actually, not a bad track on the album. Enjoying this deep dive.