I’ve long wanted to dig into the career of Linda Ronstadt, knowing even from afar that it was an extraordinary one. When her 1977 album Simple Dreams crossed my radar as part of that year’s Decades series, I was intrigued enough to finally give her the Deep Dive treatment.
The result was one of my most rewarding explorations of an artist yet. I followed Ronstadt’s trajectory through 41 years and 31 albums, blown away by the depth and breadth of her catalog. From the modest folk of her first band, Stone Poneys, through country, rock, new wave, standards, adult contemporary, Latin, jazz, and even children’s music, she put her stamp on a laundry list of genres and found tremendous success down every detour.
She also racked up an impressive list of collaborators, giving me a chance to further appreciate the work of legends like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Newman, Elvis Costello, and the world’s best mariachi bands.
My Ronstadt Deep Dive touches on each of her studio albums, mostly chronologically but sometimes grouped by theme. Enjoy!
The Stone Poneys; Evergreen, Volume 2; and Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III
Hand Sown…Home Grown and Silk Purse
Linda Ronstadt and Don’t Cry Now
Prisoner in Disguise and Hasten Down the Wind
Living in the USA and Mad Love
What’s New, Lush Life, For Sentimental Reasons, and Hummin’ To Myself
Canciones de Mi Padre, Mas Canciones, and Frenesí
Trio, Trio II, Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions, and Adieu False Heart
Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind; and Winter Light
Dedicated to the One I Love and A Merry Little Christmas
Finally, my Deep Dive wrap-up and list of essential Linda Ronstadt albums. I hope these entries will do justice to an artist who became one of my favorites.
Meet Me In Montauk 