New Linda Ronstadt interview from Arizona radio.

[Guest]

Watch "Linda Ronstadt Interview 02-14-2018" on YouTube
    Hope the link works.

[the Scribe]

Listening now. What a great interview! Linda is filling in all the blanks of many of the questions I would have had for her and she is very engaging. As usual she is quick witted and does on occasion do something my mother always accused me of....mumbles lol. You know you are a true fan when you can "almost" answer most of the questions before Linda does Thank you Guest for posting this! Warning, don't start listening to this unless you are prepared to listen to it all in one sitting because it is impossible to pause (from the sheer enjoyment of it all).

[Dianna]

She knows a good tortilla.. ( Sonoran Wheat flour) Great interview really enjoyed it. Linda sounds happy and in good spirits.

[erik]

Having just listened to the interview, I would have to say that her impressions of her hometown, which were very much down (understandably) for a long time because of what she saw as misguided development processes by the powers-that-be, seemed to have improved, though she says that some of those "boxes" meant to resemble architecture still look like Cold War-era East Berlin. I am still a bit perturbed by her seeming dismissal of her 70s stuff (grumble, grumble), although admittedly, playing in arenas wasn't good for the soul; and in any case, she's always been extremely critical of her work, so there's nothing that can be done about that now.

I would be lying if I didn't say that it's fortunate she wrote her memoir when she did, because it seems that Parkinson's is continuing to eat away at her memory; she did have a little bit more trouble remembering some things. She did seem a bit bemused by the idea of her first solo album Hand Sown, Home Grown being deemed "alternative country", while at the same time also seemingly making the case for exactly that by saying how country music as practiced in California back in the late 1960s differed from the way it was done in Nashville (hence the "alt-country" designation).

I have also said before that I can understand how much she loved recording "Heart Like A Wheel" after several years of being told it was way too corny for public consumption, and I still feel that way. I don't know that it would have made a great single, but it was an example of how she could have it both ways, of recording material that was close to her personally and surrounding it with material that "sells" (for lack of a better word), resulting in a lot of great albums.

Hopefully, Linda will give out some more when she returns home at the end of April.

[the Scribe]

While many have compared Linda to Snow White and she herself loves those Disney songs I think a better comparison is Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz. When her house of Pirates crashed down on Rock and Roll she found herself in the land of Oz where black and white turned into color as she discovered her true voice by switching musical genres because her abilities changed. Rock and roll swept the nation like a hurricane and has probably lasted longer than most other musical fads but it wasn't a very good (or fulfilling) vehicle for a Cadillac voice to be powering a pickup truck. While most people would be thrilled to have her success in Rock and even Country it can't have been very satisfying when your talents are stymied. Plus she had to deal with any number of misogynistic situations in the man made and controlled music business. I think the Riddle sessions freed her from that as did the Mexican music because the "suits" had no clue what to do with that music except to let her do her thing and hope it sells. The average lifespan of a rock act is maybe 5 years, 10 if extremely lucky and she extended her career successfully for decades. She seems to like her later rock stuff (late 80's and on) more than her earlier stuff because her voice was stronger and she felt she was a better singer.

I do understand where people are coming from though about her criticism of early stuff. I feel that way about Linda and others dissing her earliest solo albums. I loved those records as much as others don't. My first two Ronstadt albums were the third Stone Poneys album along with Hand Sown. I couldn't wait until Silk Purse came out. I had to take the bus to Patchogue, Long Island every weekend to go to the closest music store to my town to find out Ronstadt news and hoped and prayed Silk Purse would be there. I was in HOG HEAVEN (no pun intended) when it finally came out. I learned to grow with her music, and happily. She has explained herself and her reasons satisfactorily and I was glad to go along.

[erik]

Quote by ronstadtfanaz re. Linda's first two albums:

I do understand where people are coming from though about her criticism of early stuff. I feel that way about Linda and others dissing her earliest solo albums. I loved those records as much as others don't. My first two Ronstadt albums were the third Stone Poneys album along with Hand Sown.

My thing about Hand Sown, in particular "The Only Mama That'll Walk The Line" and "Break My Mind", is the, how shall we say, less-than-polished way she sings, with something of a guttural growl mixed with Southwestern drawl, which is rather fun to listen to, because it seems to presage, by a good 10-20 years or so, what we would hear in future female artists like Maria McKee (she of Lone Justice fame, and a huge admirer of Linda's) and even Lucinda Williams.

I may take the unconventional view here, and it may not necessarily be what some (or even Linda herself) may want to hear, but I don't think the rough quality of these early examples of C&W/rock from Linda should be summarily dismissed out of hand, even compared to some of the "refined roughness" of similar material of much later years like "Heartbreak Kind" (on We Ran) or "He Was Mine" (on Western Wall). I personally feel that there is validity to either approach.

[PoP80]

Aside from being a Linda junkie growing up, she introduced me to some great artists, such as Karla Bonoff, JD Souther, Nicolette Larson, etc. I just looked up Alma Deutscher on YouTube and she's beyond amazing! Linda's wealth of knowledge about music is unprecedented and she's inspiring in so many different ways. I don't think she has a clue about how much she has impacted the lives of others and why she is so admired.

[Deleted]

Very worthwhile listen. Linda seems to have come to terms with her life and her art in a very admirable way. I'm glad she has things to look forward to. I wasn't aware of her knitting hobby, and she sounded particularly sad to lose that. Wishing her well in whatever her future brings...

[moe]

This is the first Linda interview that I came away hungry. Gotta slide down to Tucson and grab one of those hotdogs. Great interview I love how she, despite of her Parkinson's, can nail a 45 minute interview. It's fascinating that she can tell essentially the same story you have heard a dozen times yet mix it up so that it seems fresh and spellbinding. I still believe she should become a full time writer. She can really spin a tale. Get a tape recorder and a stenographer app!

[eddiejinnj]

That is a great idea, moe, for her to get a tape recorder and stenographer app. She should write another book. I think she would even be good at writing children's literature. To me she seemed to do well at replicating the sound of the intro to a radio show they talked about in the beginning of the interview. It did seem to require repetitive sounds. I am no linguistics/singing expert by far but even for her own sake she may be able to do some harmony when say Emmylou calls or visits etc. A new recorded background harmony or vocal would be great but maybe that is just my agenda and mean no disrespect to Linda and her thoughts on her capabilities. I hope those that attend the April show have a great time. I have enjoyed these conversation shows when we have seen them. The last show we had first row seats and she thanked me for reminding her of the name of the "Hummin'" album. She was so cute. eddiejinfl

[MokyWI]

Don't Cry Now will always be one of her best in my opinion. But it was her musical journey that helped keep me interested.

[markm]

Thanks so much for posting that. Great fun. Linda is right that the downtown in Tucson is coming back, slowly but surely. And she's right about those Soviet Bloc buildings at the end of Congress, filled with student housing. They were an inane way to start the gentrification of downtown, but it was a beginning. Still, it's nice to see it filling with life in town: you can actually take people down there now without feeling that you're showing them an abandoned war zone.

Thanks again!
Mark

[Richard W]

Feb 28, 2018 15:32:28 GMT -5 MokyWI said:

Don't Cry Now will always be one of her best in my opinion. But it was her musical journey that helped keep me interested.

I'm with you on that, Mike.

DCN is classic Ronstadt country-rock-soul, with not a clunker on it.

It was also the first album of hers I bought when it came out.

Went through 3 vinyl copies of that album.

[Belle]

Thanks mystery Guest, for posting this interview.

She always says she "found her true voice" with Standards and Mexican music. I love it when he asks "then who was that Linda Ronstadt selling millions of albums in the '70s"? The answer is that was her "true voice" too, and we loved it, too.

The way she describes Tucson then and now, also describes in detail what happened to my hometown. I recall hot summer days riding the bus with friends to the central downtown area, where we'd shop in the various stores, have a drugstore ice cream, go to a movie, etc... And then a "Mall" was built SW of the city so close we could walk to it. Everything was there, or along the way, as builders and other national chains took advantage of the Market Research that was obviously done by said Mall, and that's the direction our town (and it's money) has progressed. Our Downtown became a crime-ridden, rotting ghost town--except for the Courthouses and other City offices. I'm always scared to go there for Jury Duty.

More Words of Linda Wisdom: Practice till you don't suck!

[erik]

One other thing I found just a touch weird (although perhaps I am just projecting more cynicism about her being so self-critical) is how on her early records she really tried to sound "authentically country", which to her mind probably meant trying to put on a Southern accent, and instead it didn't sound either "authentic" or truly herself. At some point she had to have realized that it wouldn't have done any good to try to sound like she came from Hillbilly Central Casting; and as I've said before, the natural Southwestern drawl and the elemental "catch" in her voice was much more authentically who she was, and more authentic to the country music of the Southwest and California.

[Dianna]

Mar 5, 2018 9:41:33 GMT -5 erik said:

One other thing I found just a touch weird (although perhaps I am just projecting more cynicism about her being so self-critical) is how on her early records she really tried to sound "authentically country", which to her mind probably meant trying to put on a Southern accent, and instead it didn't sound either "authentic" or truly herself. At some point she had to have realized that it wouldn't have done any good to try to sound like she came from Hillbilly Central Casting; and as I've said before, the natural Southwestern drawl and the elemental "catch" in her voice was much more authentically who she was, and more authentic to the country music of the Southwest and California.

I like Linda's southern accent when she sings country, at least to me it sounds authentic..Okay, and I must ask what is a Southwestern drawl? I've heard of a Texas drawl. I think Linda sounds like she could be anyone from Arizona, Ca, Oregon/Washington, Nevada, Utah or Colorado...

[rfanaz]

Linda had more of a twang than a drawl.

twang music

To make your voice go high pitched all of a sudden, for a quick moment, then go back to regular sounding. a lot of old western music singers have this wonderful talent.

[MokyWI]

My sister Cris died on Linda's birthday. My sister was diagnosed the same week Linda came out with her condition. At first they said my sis had Parkinson's then they realized it was much worse, MSA, Multiple System Atrophy. MSA islike Parkinson's but much more aggressive and fast moving. My sister had two years after being diagnosed. I hear my sister's voice issues in Linda when she speaks. My sister sounded a lot like Linda does now. I have to say Linda is very sharp. I think she sounded great. I worry about her, and even though I heard my sister's voice issues, I came away feeling better. I have loved Linda Ronstadt since I was eight years old and I'm going to be fifty-three . I think the slurring of the words was either Ronstadt being tired or medication. When my sister got tired she could hardly speak. I am sure Linda takes some sort of medication. Mentally, Parkinson's and the likes makes depression certain. I am sure Linda is taking something to help with depression and mental issues. I hope she is doing all she can to keep her mind sharp and is content. She has touched so many, if she only knew her impact.

[the Scribe]

Mar 5, 2018 17:42:05 GMT -5 rfanaz said:

Linda had more of a twang than a drawl.

twang music

To make your voice go high pitched all of a sudden, for a quick moment, then go back to regular sounding. a lot of old western music singers have this wonderful talent.

Phoenix Sound A History of Twang & Rockabilly Music in Arizona

Linda's brother Pete is a good example of this as is some of Linda's earlier work.



BLAST FROM THE ARIZONA OF PAST: ktkt99.com/