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.