Karla Bonoff, Libby Titus, Valerie Carter debut albums

[Partridge]

I've been going through my shelves, trying to physically touch each book and magazine. I found this article from The Los Angeles Times (CALENDAR) of September 25, 1977. This article was sent to me decades ago by RobGNYC. I have all three of these albums and still listen to parts of them from time to time.

[RobGNYC]

Excellent, thanks Tony, I'd forgotten that I sent it. For people who weren't around 50 years ago (and for some of us who were), it may be hard to appreciate Linda's influence on so many singers--this Karla-Valerie-Libby article is one example. Linda herself seemed somewhat amazed by it in the Playboy interview (April 1980):

PLAYBOY: Do you think you've made an impact as an original artist?

RONSTADT: I remember not long ago standing in the dressing room at the Universal Amphitheater, talking to some Warner Bros. record guy who said he was looking for a girl singer like me. It made me feel so funny. I had become a trend, like when the English were a trend. I was this female who could sell records, and suddenly, female artists became cool. I hear girls singing with the same kind of inflections that I do. I remember so many times sitting down with a record when I was young, trying to copy every tiny inflection of a girl singer. But there are better girl singers than me - Bonnie Raitt, for example. I don't think I've made the kind of impact that changes the face of music like, say, The Rolling Stones or the Beatles. And not in terms of writing the book on singing style. At some point, all girl singers have to curtsy to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. I brought together a lot of kinds of straight threads of music and put them in a little fabric that has an interesting design. I had commercial success and opened the door for girl singers.
   

[erik]

Quote by RobGNYC friom Playboy interview of Linda (April 1980):

I don't think I've made the kind of impact that changes the face of music like, say, The Rolling Stones or the Beatles. And not in terms of writing the book on singing style. At some point, all girl singers have to curtsy to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. I brought together a lot of kinds of straight threads of music and put them in a little fabric that has an interesting design. I had commercial success and opened the door for girl singers.

Then I think Linda would probably be shocked beyond words over just how much her influence on other female singers has grown in the previous 43 years--from the Usual Suspects (Trisha Yearwood; Martina McBride) to up-and-coming young singers, even on TV voice competition shows she herself would normally not have any use for.