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Post by Partridge on Oct 12, 2019 18:15:21 GMT -5
Here is an early opinion piece on Linda Ronstadt from Robert Hilburn, who has been very supportive of her throughout her career. Nonetheless he remains on my list of critics I disdain because of his response to a question from the forum's Erik North where he said he would not support Linda for being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, instead suggesting rocker Emmylou Harris made more sense. What a maroon! This particular article was shown in the current Linda Ronstadt documentary although the camera just passes over it and you can't really read all of it.  Some of his maroonic comments in this article: Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette have sold lots of records but their material and/or nasal voices make them unbearable. Probably the best country album ever by a "girl" is Joan Baez David's Album. It's obvious Hilburn did not appreciate the country music genre with the exception of pop/folk performers so maybe he should have kept his piehole shut here too. |
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Post by erik on Oct 12, 2019 19:03:02 GMT -5
Re. Hillburn's response to my question in 2003 about Linda vis-à-vis the RRHOF (she was still not yet in): Yes, I had a less-than-complimentary view of him after that (though, to be fair, Emmylou probably does warrant consideration for said Hall) until after Linda got in. His appearance in THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, complimenting Linda's abilities, patched over things, at least with me. Now say what you will about what Hillburn said in this review about Joan Baez or the other women; it was what it was at the time. Both Joan and Bobbie made what could be considered as much forerunners of the alt-country/Americana genre as Hand Sown, Home Grown, though that wouldn't demote the status of that album in terms of importance (IMHO)
As to the show in question, the review does point out how Linda's approach to country music was decidedly different from the Nashville model of, say, Tammy or Loretta. This clearly wasn't a woman (23 years old) who was going to do "You're Lookin' At Country" or "Stand By Your Man" because that's not who she ever was. The repertoire that she was doing, while definitely country, seemed to also have a much more rock-ribbed (with maybe the occasional Bakersfield-style shuffle) edge to it, what I've always thought of as the left-of-center approach. I'm not sure that early period of Linda's career is appreciated as much in terms of her own approach to country music as that of Gram Parsons, but those early efforts of hers have had a very long-lasting effect on the way country music would be approached by others from that point forward, both in the mainstream and alt-country/Americana sectors (IMHO).
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Post by Partridge on Oct 12, 2019 19:58:31 GMT -5
I bought David's Album by Joan Baez at the time, and I liked it a lot. I didn't consider it groundbreaking or new territory. It was just a folk singer who decided to do a straight country album. If you remove Joan's vocals, it sounds much like any other Nashville album of that era. More authentic country to my ears than say Nancy Sinatra's Country My Way- her way was to convert country songs to pop. Another successful (artistically at least) folk singer going country in that era was Buffy Sainte-Marie. But again it was a straightforward Nashville session album, with some of her folk songs converted to country. Remove the couple of songs where she uses the mouth-bow and again you have a standard 1960s country album.
But Hand Sown... Home Grown was a revelation to my ears. As a country music fan, I can't think of any other female artist who had anything that sounded like that. It didn't make Linda my favorite singer but it put her on the road.
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Post by rick on Oct 12, 2019 20:16:30 GMT -5
Tony and Erik,
I am not one who believes that Robert Hilburn (one “L”) walks on water. He did, however, write a piece about Linda in 1975-76 period (I believe it’s more likely 1976) when Linda returned to The Troubadour. My recollection is that the album “Hasten Down the Wind” had not yet been released, but she included “Someone To Lay Down Beside Me” in her set and Hilburn wrote that her choice of that song displayed a maturation in her artistry. This is my memory of that writing by him from 43 years ago. I don’t know if you have access to it or the L.A. Times’ archive. Hilburn certainly had his favorites during his tenure at the L.A. Times. It actually surprised me to see him interviewed in “Sound of My Voice.”
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2019 20:26:34 GMT -5
The most glaring thing to me was his sexist attitude. Calling an adult woman a girl seems odd now but I suppose he was a product of his time. There is a lot to like there however.
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Post by erik on Oct 12, 2019 20:35:17 GMT -5
Quote by rick:
I think I saw that article once a long time back while going through the L.A. Times back catalog at the main library in Pasadena on microfilm (remember that?); and Hilburn was right about that. Linda always found ways of maturing as an artist, largely because that's how she saw herself; and during that era, she managed to find a lot of great songs that suited how she felt and that she wanted to sing.
Now what caused Hilburn to be of the opinion, at least in 2003, that Linda's career didn't warrant her being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame probably had to do with him being a part of the RRHOF board, and Jann Wenner still having a burr up his backside about Linda, resulting in Hilburn drinking the Kool-Aid and believing in the Wenner Doxology of the time. But then 2014 came around, and Linda (even if it was only because her singing was stop cold by Parkinson's) got in.
It's only my opinion, but I can only chalk up Hilburn's appearance in the film up to him admitting mea culpa. But whatever the case may be for the change, at least he made it; so I think that paper's over, at least with me.
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Post by Partridge on Oct 12, 2019 20:55:26 GMT -5
I found another Robert Hilburn review- maybe I'll try to locate all his writings about Linda. Los Angeles Times- June 24, 1970  Los Angeles Times- June 25, 1970  |
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Post by rick on Oct 12, 2019 22:03:48 GMT -5
Tony — that would be really great if you could. Thank you in advance.
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Post by Partridge on Oct 13, 2019 2:14:47 GMT -5
A full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times December 28, 1970
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Post by Partridge on Oct 13, 2019 2:46:18 GMT -5
One more Hilburn piece before I turn in:  |
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Post by eddiejinnj on Oct 13, 2019 7:00:05 GMT -5
Calling her a "girl" might have reflected his overall perception of women but really when I think about it, it can (operative word being "can") be no different than calling guys "boys" which I certainly don't mind. I bring this up as it happened yesterday to us. We did a festival yesterday and sold a nice lady a Bohemian cut to clear lamp. She was sooo happy about price and I gave her an item she liked because it had a chip but it displayed well. So about 3 hours later after she had picked up items she came walking by with a man and she said "Hi,boys!!!!! I thought nothing of it. So it is probably the context in which it is said that one might make a determination of sexism or not!!!! Just food for thought. Again, this proposition does not endorse any thoughts by Hilburn. Until recently, I never heard of him. An example might be Girl's and Boy's Night Out. eddiejinnj
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Post by eddiejinnj on Oct 13, 2019 7:03:47 GMT -5
Just noticed. Wow, a different B. Johnson style dress on her in the 1970 ad (thanks for posting, Tony); not the striped one. eddiejinnj
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Post by erik on Oct 13, 2019 12:57:27 GMT -5
A little bit of history regarding The Palomino and Linda:
For the better part of 50 years, from 1945 to its closing in 1995, The Palomino, located at Lankershim and Vanowen in North Hollywood, was arguably the premiere country music nightspot anywhere outside of Nashville or Texas. In the five years before Linda made her debut there, however, it was also seen as a watering hold for the blue-collar, working-class, I guess you could call them "redneck", types that wanted to hear plenty of that stuff. If you had hair that was longer than 1/4 inch and went in there, you were likely to get verbally and even physically harassed. If you were a performer with that kind of look, you were also likely to get heckled (witness how Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers were initially received there in 1969). Linda knew about the Palomino while she was still living in Arizona, and she had wanted to see the place for herself. The only problem is that California laws of the time mandated that no business selling booze could do so to anyone under 21 years of age. Linda likely started patronizing the Palomino as soon as 1969 because of the Burrito Brothers (the clientele got used to that band's covers of Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner after initially being heckled the first few times with epithets such as "GET OFF THE STAGE, GODD***ED QUEERS!"), but, as she said in that article on her 1971 appearance there, she was a fairly "loose" performer compared to the other female country artists of the time. In the end, of course, the blue jeans and the red sweater probably made it much easier to avoid getting harassed. That, and her honest approach to the music, too.
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Post by jhar26 on Oct 13, 2019 14:04:29 GMT -5
The most glaring thing to me was his sexist attitude. Calling an adult woman a girl seems odd now but I suppose he was a product of his time. There is a lot to like there however. Well, I sometimes refer to a woman as a girl. But it's intended as a compliment meaning that she looks younger than she probably is. But it's become increasingly difficult to say "the right thing" in the age of political correctness where everyone seems so eager to be offended. |
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Post by eddiejinnj on Oct 13, 2019 15:00:06 GMT -5
I choose my words very carefully in print and some may notice I have self-edits to most of my posts. I believe in being laxed,logical and don't sweat the small bs around (it becomes white noise to me and no pun intended picking my words carefully). Most don't realize the power of the written word and also the possibility that one's writing may be construed differently by different people. We have seen that in discussion of contradiction in Linda's written quotes from one age to another. In the strictest sense, imo, being called a "redneck" should not be negative but unfortunately to most it is. The history of the word reflecting hard work riding a tractor or working the fields and get a sunburned neck. It should be a term synonymous with hard work but....... Those original workers are very much the kind in the SW that Cesar Chavez advocated for. All these farm workers helped feed the country and produce exports. The SW migrant working now gaining legendary status while the term redneck has gone through so many meanings/ purpose. It still no day in the park to work/own a farm. I admire them all. eddiejinnj
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Post by eddiejinnj on Oct 13, 2019 15:28:55 GMT -5
I saw Joan Jett in the northern "Garden State" and the opening act was booed completely off stage without a chance to watch his performance at all. I was disappointed in the crowd but had a great time. I felt so bad for the guy. So stuff happens everywhere. eddiejinnj
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Post by moon on Oct 13, 2019 17:55:34 GMT -5
The most glaring thing to me was his sexist attitude. Calling an adult woman a girl seems odd now but I suppose he was a product of his time. There is a lot to like there however. No kidding. I realize this was a different era but even for then it’s bad. Ewww he can’t leave her looks out of it. |
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Post by Partridge on Oct 13, 2019 23:49:00 GMT -5
here's a review of Don't Cry Now by R Hilburn. I am posting the entire page... it's mostly about Bette Midler. December 9, 1973  |
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Post by rick on Oct 14, 2019 0:56:06 GMT -5
A little bit of history regarding The Palomino and Linda: For the better part of 50 years, from 1945 to its closing in 1995, The Palomino, located at Lankershim and Vanowen in North Hollywood, was arguably the premiere country music nightspot anywhere outside of Nashville or Texas. In the five years before Linda made her debut there, however, it was also seen as a watering hold for the blue-collar, working-class, I guess you could call them "redneck", types that wanted to hear plenty of that stuff. If you had hair that was longer than 1/4 inch and went in there, you were likely to get verbally and even physically harassed. If you were a performer with that kind of look, you were also likely to get heckled (witness how Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers were initially received there in 1969). Linda knew about the Palomino while she was still living in Arizona, and she had wanted to see the place for herself. The only problem is that California laws of the time mandated that no business selling booze could do so to anyone under 21 years of age. Linda likely started patronizing the Palomino as soon as 1969 because of the Burrito Brothers (the clientele got used to that band's covers of Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner after initially being heckled the first few times with epithets such as "GET OFF THE STAGE, GODD***ED QUEERS!"), but, as she said in that article on her 1971 appearance there, she was a fairly "loose" performer compared to the other female country artists of the time. In the end, of course, the blue jeans and the red sweater probably made it much easier to avoid getting harassed. That, and her honest approach to the music, too. Erik, I don't dispute what you are saying but can only speak to my own experience at The Palomino. In my freshman year of college, so I would have been 18, I was already a big Linda fan and knew that Linda had played at The Palomino. A friend fixed me up on a date with a woman (yes, who also happened to be LDS) and she liked country music. So I asked if she wanted to go to The Palomino to see John Prine. She didn't seem to know what The Palomino was but we went. Of course, being that we were under-age they only served us soft drinks (and she couldn't have either Coke or Mountain Dew). But although my hair was not down my back, it also was not 1/4-inch by any stretch. It was parted in the middle and went down over my shirt collar and covered my ears. No one hassled us. I didn't feel uneasy or threatened by anyone there. My memory of this evening in 1975 was that it was a nice evening out with good music. I only wish that Linda had been on-stage, but John Prine put on a darn good show. Just an anecdote from one non-redneck. |
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Post by erik on Oct 14, 2019 8:46:43 GMT -5
Quote by rick:
I don't doubt your story about going to the Palomino and having a good experience there, because the regular clientele was more accepting of that look by that time than they had been a short five years earlier.
As for Hilburn's less-than-positive review of Don't Cry Now--well, it was what it was. As I have said many times about Linda and the reviews she got for her albums, however, I have always wondered to what extent the bad reviews colored her own view of them. I know that she had her own high standards that she never felt like she lived up to, but it does seem to me that her confidence wasn't exactly helped much either when the reviews were either overtly negative or less-than-positive.
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 14, 2019 10:39:32 GMT -5
Even Linda's worst reviews from back then are better than most of the reviews today's female singers are getting.
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Post by Partridge on Oct 14, 2019 12:36:09 GMT -5
As for Hilburn's less-than-positive review of Don't Cry Now--well, it was what it was. A review is, after all, just one person's opinion. I don't have a problem with Hilburn's reviews. They are fair opinions, not hatchet jobs. |
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Post by rick on Oct 14, 2019 12:54:49 GMT -5
As for Hilburn's less-than-positive review of Don't Cry Now--well, it was what it was. As I have said many times about Linda and the reviews she got for her albums, however, I have always wondered to what extent the bad reviews colored her own view of them. I know that she had her own high standards that she never felt like she lived up to, but it does seem to me that her confidence wasn't exactly helped much either when the reviews were either overtly negative or less-than-positive. I believe it was in the recently posted Rolling Stone podcast that the hosts interviewed Peter Asher by phone. I believe twice he said that he was brought in to help with finishing “Don’t Cry Now.” I think it doesn’t have the cohesiveness sound-wise that “Heart Like a Wheel” does. I like “Don’t Cry Now” but it’s not a go-to album for me. I think, in a way, perhaps because expectations were a bit lowered with the critics by “DCN” that when “Heart Like a Wheel” was released a year later, no one could ignore the brilliance of that album and Linda’s interpretations. |
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