Rip It Up

[Partridge]

I've been perusing many issues of Rip It Up, which was an excremental music publication in New Zealand. Most of the references to Linda Ronstadt I've found there have been snide remarks by amateur journalists. For instance, this review of Jimmy Webb from October 1978. At that point in time, Linda had not recorded any of Webb's songs, although she would go on to record several and to produce an album by him. This makes the writer's closing remark of the review somewhat idiotic looking back from the future. Later I will share this same writer's positive review of Simple Dreams.

[Partridge]

from November 1977 issue of Rip It Up, reviews of latest Ronstadt album and first Blondie album:

[MokyWI]

Oct 12, 2023 1:01:14 GMT -5 Partridge said:

from November 1977 issue of Rip It Up, reviews of latest Ronstadt album and first Blondie album:

Again another critic who would love to pretend HE can’t stand her music but HE also can’t deny it’s damn good at the very least, but HE still had to give it a bad review even though it’s good. Why? Because she truly IS gifted, intelligent and beautiful. Don’t be jealous, it’s not attractive. MEN!

[cymru56]

I must be missing something. As I read it that cannot be considered a bad review. Indeed it's the opposite. He may not be a fan but clearly sees the good in it.

[erik]

Quote by cymru56:

I must be missing something. As I read it that cannot be considered a bad review. Indeed it's the opposite. He may not be a fan but clearly sees the good in it.

Sometimes it's hard to figure out just what certain music critics' intentions are when they write reviews of Linda's music that are as schizoid as those posted here--a mixture of admiration and snide dismissal, sometimes in the exact same review. I know that I don't have an answer for it.

In the end, it all goes back to the fact that what the late, great Memphis discjockey George Klein said about his good friend Elvis (Presley) applies to Linda: "If you're a fan, no explanation is necessary. If you're not, no explanation is possible/"

[cymru56]

If I wasn't a Linda fan how would I have reacted to that review ? I honestly think I would have been intrigued and want to listen to the album.

[RobGNYC]

I’m also not seeing what’s so negative about this review. Maybe a bit condescending (“this Ronstadt girl” in 1977? Come on.) But overall I thought he liked the album.

[Partridge]

I took it as a good review in a magazine that normally did nothing more than an occasional snark about Linda Ronstadt. That is why I was confused/surprised by his idiotic non sequitur insult in the final sentence of his Jimmy Webb review.

[RobGNYC]

Agree, a gratuitous cheap shot at Linda in the Webb review. “Non-sequitur” sums it up. Like he was determined to cram it in there no matter how irrelevant to the rest of the review.