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Post by erik on Apr 29, 2015 8:38:33 GMT -5
Not that it matters; but as of this posting, she has slipped down to #19.
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Post by Richard W on Apr 29, 2015 8:40:34 GMT -5
these things are always more of a popularity contest rather than actual talent.... many of these people should not be in 50!  Oh, I know. But if there's a list and I get to vote...how can I resist? It's all meaningless, of course. I mean, sitting here now I don't even know who is sponsoring the poll. It only seems "important" because it's happening now. When it's over, I will forget about it immediately. Unlike the Rolling Stone ranking of the 100 Best Singers in the Rock & Roll Era several years ago, where Linda did NOT make it, not even at #100. That still burns me. Mainly because it was so obviously a political stonewalling by the arbiters of music criticism at RS. Of course, I realize one is a public poll and the other is a private ranking, so not quite the same thing. |
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Post by Pete on Apr 29, 2015 12:27:32 GMT -5
eddiejinnj - I think I've mentioned in another thread that I like to listen and learn an album like the back of my hand before moving onto the next one. I have a lot of albums by other artists I'm working through too, I did say to myself at Christmas time that when I start listening to Linda in the New Year that I'd spend this whole year going from one of her albums straight to the next without having any long gap, this is simply because she has so many albums. I work my way through two or three albums at a time and usually I've learned them all thoroughly within a month.
I am looking forward to her Holiday album and also the Jazz albums, but I won't cheat and will listen to them in order (well, I may cheat with the Holiday album and listen to it this Christmas). I looked at the track listing's for her Jazz albums and I'm familiar with quite a few songs as I listen to four Jazz singers that are probably unknown to most people. As Linda's voice basically has set the standard I know for people who have been fans of her for years not many other singers will impress them. I'll still mention them anyway just in case there are people who are fans of Jazz artists. They are Halie Loren (American), Diana Panton (Canadian), Woong San (South Korean) and Lizz Wright (American) - their voices and styles are very different from each other but I enjoy listening to them all.
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Post by Richard W on Apr 29, 2015 13:45:08 GMT -5
When you get to the standards albums, Damien, also listen to Riddles arrangements. Subsequent listenings will reveal many gorgeous passages. For a long time I didn't listen to "Goodbye." Never caught my fancy. Then one time I heard that tripping, descending bass line that bridges the opening with the main part of the song. That led me into the song and now I love it.
I'll have to check out some of the people you mentioned, and you're right, I never heard of them. But I like that.
Have fun listening!
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Post by Pete on Apr 29, 2015 14:43:05 GMT -5
Please let me know whether you like (or don't like) any of them. I like hearing all kinds of feedback.
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Post by eddiejinnj on May 3, 2015 10:38:24 GMT -5
well, let's go see where she is on the list today!!!!! number 19. eddiejinnj
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Post by Tony on May 3, 2015 13:10:50 GMT -5
Please let me know whether you like (or don't like) any of them. I like hearing all kinds of feedback. I'd like to hear your critiques of each album, as a listener who is exposed to them for the first time, and removed from the era when they were released.
Most of us had the experience of living with each album a year or so and getting to know it and love or hate it before the next one came out.
And you have said you were a Mariah Carey fan. It's hard for me to see a Mariah Carey fan enjoying an album like Hand Sown... Home Grown, although I don't know why, because I listen to a lot of different music styles.
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Post by jay15206 on May 5, 2015 17:43:15 GMT -5
I voted. Linda's #19 now. I was happy to downvote Barbra, Aretha, Celine, Pariah, etc.
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Post by Pete on May 6, 2015 15:16:04 GMT -5
I'll try and get around to talking about each album.
In Linda's book she says how she didn't wear the title of Queen Of Rock well as she didn't want to be defined under one genre. I guess I'm like that with the music I listen to. I listen to over 60 different artists/bands and they're all a mix of different genres. I don't listen to music in general, only the artists I like (so the radio very rarely gets played).
'Vanishing, 'All I've Ever Wanted' and 'Lead The Way' by Mariah Carey are three of her best vocal performances I've heard. It doesn't mean I don't like the hits, Mariah hasn't recorded a song I haven't enjoyed. I guess I just feel that some of the best work by an artist goes unnoticed. Some people may say they're a fan of an artist/band and only own a Greatest Hits/Best Of type album. I've thoroughly enjoyed each album I've listened to by Linda and cannot say enough positive things about her and her voice.
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Post by Dianna on May 6, 2015 15:52:49 GMT -5
rt and I think it is cool like I said before that you are going through and listening to linda as if new. you will find her a very special person and voice. she is a unique star where artistry comes first and she is very kind in sharing her talents with other artists most notably ones many never heard of. she is very modest and complimentary to other artists. eddiejinnj Very true Eddie.. I will also add to anyone who has recently discovered Linda. they might find from her interviews that she is one of the most knowledgeable/ intelligent artists ever. In a profession where egos or lack of humility make up for actual talent. this isn't the case for Linda. don't let the modesty fool you. she really knows her stuff. lol |
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Post by PoP80 on May 6, 2015 16:08:41 GMT -5
I agree with the others that discovering Linda is a wonderful eye-opening experience. Enjoy the musical journey. I do think Mariah Carey has a good voice, but personally I don't care for most of her material. It also turns me off that she dresses like a hooker (sorry, Damien). Linda has impeccable taste in music and is a real class act, so I wouldn't put the two of them in the same category. No offense, just my 2 cents.
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Post by Pete on May 6, 2015 17:48:26 GMT -5
I have watched most of the interviews on YouTube I could find. I particularly enjoyed the interviews with Don Lane and the interview she did at her home not long after the book came out. She's a lovely person and I'm also about three quarters of the way through her book which has actually been my favourite autobiography I have read. (I enjoyed reading autobiographies by Tori Amos, Tina Arena, Faith Evans, Shania Twain and Chely Wright).
Mariah Carey doesn't get the recognition she deserves despite her album/single sales and record of 18 US #1's. Unless she's doing a cover, she writes her own material too which a lot of people don't know. I know that doesn't make anyone more or less credible, I'm just pointing out that unless you're an artist playing an instrument some people don't realise you actually write your own songs.
The only similarity between Linda Ronstadt and Mariah Carey in my opinion are that they both have exceptionally brilliant voices. Tina Arena, Sarah Brightman, Deborah Cox, Jennifer Hudson and Jessica Simpson all have excellent voices too but they're all very different from each other. I can't say specifically what it is about their voices I like so much because other artists such as Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston or Barbra Streisand don't interest me in the slightest.
I also find Linda's dress style much more elegant than Mariah Carey's but Mariah is an elegant lady too. I guess these days her priority tends to be toward the image more than the vocals. She has nodules and won't get surgery so vocal rest seems to be the only option for her.
I cannot fault anything about Linda.
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Post by erik on May 6, 2015 21:46:11 GMT -5
Quote by Damien:
I think it also helps to remember that Linda and Mariah are both of totally different eras, both fashion-wise and music-wise. Much of Linda's dress wear during the early 1970s was very much of the C&W/rock music style she was pioneering, which often involved blue jeans, cut-off shirts, and tank tops. More or less, in my opinion, her look was kind of a cross between a California hippie and an Arizona cowgirl.
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Post by Dianna on May 6, 2015 22:11:28 GMT -5
Damien, you mentioned you have seen most all of the youtube interviews for Linda. One of my favorite youtube concerts, where IMO she is at her peak, is the 1980 Mad Love concert. Amazing vocals and set list.. very versatile. She doesn't talk much on stage but I think that concert I'm referring to was for a radio show or something and time was limited. I've been a fan since Simple Dreams. I like many other singer too and from different backgrounds, but Linda is and always will be my absolute favorite singer. THAT VOICE!
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Post by Pete on May 8, 2015 17:08:46 GMT -5
Thanks Dianna. I'll have to check this out. I'm enjoying anything and everything about Linda Ronstadt and I'm just glad I discovered her. Better late than never.
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Post by PoP80 on May 8, 2015 17:37:49 GMT -5
I wonder what the common denominator is amongst all of us, that we love Linda so much. I like many other singers also, but nobody else comes close. It's an interesting phenomenon to ponder, beyond the obvious.
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Post by eddiejinnj on May 9, 2015 5:51:18 GMT -5
I can't say I like other singers especially female. it is weird but I am an extremely loyal person and always thought of linda as an underdog. that doesn't mean that I don't listen to other singers on the radio or get cds at yard sales etc but I really mostly like Linda. I used to buy every neil young cd and also rush. I have been to many concerts Linda and non-Linda including Live Aid. there are a few artists/groups out now that are interesting but like pop says nobody comes close. eddiejinnj
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daveb
A Number and a Name
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Post by daveb on May 9, 2015 19:57:49 GMT -5
Yes, true. But the greats are rising to the top  The one remaining huge error is that Annie Lennox appears on this list....and above Linda?  Annie Lennox was popular for a time yes, but she's no singer. Dave |
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Post by Annie Lennox fan on May 9, 2015 21:59:23 GMT -5
Yes, true. But the greats are rising to the top The one remaining huge error is that Annie Lennox appears on this list....and above Linda? Annie Lennox was popular for a time yes, but she's no singer. Dave Yet in an interview Linda singled out Annie Lennox as a current singer she admired.
When Rolling Stone asked Annie Lennox what Ronstadt songs she liked, she said something to the effect of-- I'm British, not familiar with Linda Ronstadt.
Annie Lennox has a current album out, her take on an album of standards.
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Post by Dianna on May 9, 2015 23:12:05 GMT -5
I sort of agree with daveb. I never got Lennoxs' tone or thought her voice was that spectacular. Her song "Why," I always thought it sounded like an older stage actress speaking in a transatlantic accent ."
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daveb
A Number and a Name
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Post by daveb on May 10, 2015 6:32:33 GMT -5
>>I sort of agree with daveb. I never got Lennoxs' tone <<
I think of that style as a time of anti-music when melody was out. Her droning voice was perfect for it.
Dave
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 9:22:42 GMT -5
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Post by Pete on May 10, 2015 9:22:56 GMT -5
Being English and living in England you see Annie Lennox on the TV here often. I've never been a fan myself, I did her her being interviewed a couple of weeks ago talking about her new album of Jazz standards and all I could think of was how Linda Ronstadt is almost unknown here.
Mariah Carey's last big hit here was 'Touch My Body' and her last few albums haven't sold well either. Singers who I like such as Tina Arena, Deborah Cox and Jessica Simpson are all almost unknown here too. In this country Greatest Hits/Best Of albums tend to do very well, it's as though in the UK people don't like following an artist or bands work, they just want to hear the hits.
I'm running out of good things to say about Linda. Maybe I'll just keep repeating myself with the positive things I have been saying! Ha ha.
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Post by Tony on May 10, 2015 11:50:48 GMT -5
Being English and living in England you see Annie Lennox on the TV here often. I've never been a fan myself, I did her her being interviewed a couple of weeks ago talking about her new album of Jazz standards and all I could think of was how Linda Ronstadt is almost unknown here. Linda never tried very hard to promote her music outside of the US. You might say she did very little to promote her music in the US. Did she even tour outside the US since the early '80s?
I do recall early in her career one of the top British critics (I call him the British David Marsh) pondered why Linda was so popular when she had such a very average voice.
A friend of mine spent a week in Ireland in 1975-- he said that he heard When Will I Be Loved several times on the radio there. I don't think Linda had a chart hit in England since her duet with Aaron Neville, and that's practically true here in the US.
In conclusion, I suppose Linda Ronstadt is almost unknown here too. To keep her name on our lips, I suppose she should have done a reality show about a former rock star trying to raise two children in a normal environment (with a lot of contrived drama and humour). Now that's a wacky show I would have watched.
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Post by erik on May 10, 2015 12:03:27 GMT -5
Quote by Tony:
I think the Brit who made that snarky "average voice" remark was not a critic, but instead was Mike Oldfield (as quoted by John Rockwell in his look at Living In The USA in the book Stranded), whose one big American hit was "Tubular Bells", whose popularity was as a result of its being used in the 1973 horror film classic THE EXORCIST. But the truth of the matter is that Linda was not nearly as respected in England at any time in her career as she was in America, partly because she didn't tour much overseas and partly because the British press, and musicians like Oldfield and Elvis Costello, just seemed to have had such a snide attitude towards her. I would say that the countries where she was the most popular over the course of her career, besides here, were Canada, Japan, Australia, and Mexico (the latter because of the all-Spanish recordings she made).
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Post by jay15206 on May 11, 2015 8:51:36 GMT -5
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Post by Sloan on May 11, 2015 13:32:37 GMT -5
Damien, you mentioned you have seen most all of the youtube interviews for Linda. One of my favorite youtube concerts, where IMO she is at her peak, is the 1980 Mad Love concert. Amazing vocals and set list.. very versatile. She doesn't talk much on stage but I think that concert I'm referring to was for a radio show or something and time was limited. I've been a fan since Simple Dreams. I like many other singer too and from different backgrounds, but Linda is and always will be my absolute favorite singer. THAT VOICE! A great concert indeed. And with her short hair too, she looked amazing as well as sounding excellent. Love your avatar. That is one hell of a great picture! |
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The one remaining huge error is that Annie Lennox appears on this list....and above Linda?
Annie Lennox was popular for a time yes, but she's no singer.