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Post by JasonKlose on Nov 4, 2015 21:52:06 GMT -5
November 4, 1978 - 37 Years Ago Today: Linda Ronstadt went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her album, "Living In The USA." This was Ronstadt's 3rd No. 1 album and was the first album in history to ship double-platinum. This reason for the double-platinum shipment was based on her previous album, "Simple Dreams," which spent 5 weeks at No. 1 and was certified triple-Platinum. "Living In The USA" produced 3 Hot 100 singles including the leadoff single, a cover of Chuck Berry's classic, "Back In The U.S.A." and a cover of The Miracles' hit, "Ooh Baby Baby," which bested the original and became her 13th Top 40 and 6th Top Ten peaking at No. 7. The 3rd and final Hot 100 single, a cover of the Doris Troy hit, "Just One Look," just missed the Top 40 peaking at No. 44. The album contained such highlights as Elvis Costello's "Alison," J.D. Souther's "White Rhythm & Blues," Warren Zevon's "Mohammed's Radio" and a stunning rendition of the Elvis Presley ballad, "Love Me Tender." Linda Ronstadt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
This was my introduction to Linda, so it has very special meaning for me. I was five or six years old when I first heard her beautiful voice coming over the airwaves. I was too young to really take notice to the names of the artists at that age, but I knew the songs. And her voice was very familiar to me........heard it quite a lot back then. I'm not sure what it was, but there was some special quality to her voice that captured my attention and interest. I vaguely remember seeing Linda on The Muppet Show in 1980, so that may have been the first time I actually saw what she looked like. But my first clear memory of seeing her was on MTV with her video for "Get Closer" in 1982. That's when I found out that Linda was just as beautiful as her voice. I drifted away from her music for a time, but in more recent years rediscovered the magic of her music, and for the first time discovered her as a person. I still can't believe that I had the opportunity to talk to Linda personally and interview her. As we get closer to the end of 2015, I can honestly say that talking to Linda was the highlight of my year......to be honest it was the highlight of my life. My only wish now is to someday finally meet her in person. But when I listen to "Living In The USA," it always takes me back to my childhood, when I first experienced the sweet sound of her magnificent voice.
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Post by erik on Nov 4, 2015 21:57:47 GMT -5
It was with that very album that I found out about Linda, as my aunt owned a copy of that album; and I was eight years old at the time. As a result, it is an album that holds a special place in my own personal jukebox/CD player.
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Post by JasonKlose on Nov 4, 2015 22:13:30 GMT -5
It was with that very album that I found out about Linda, as my aunt owned a copy of that album; and I was eight years old at the time. As a result, it is an album that holds a special place in my own personal jukebox/CD player. I have the album on CD but I also have it on vinyl. I bought one on Ebay that was never opened......still wrapped in cellophane, in mint condition. Very rare I thought. It even smelled like a new LP. I still remember buying LPs brand new in the record store in the early '80s. It was a wonderful thing back then to be able to buy your favorite record and feel a certain connection with the artist, to read the lyrics on the record sleeve, the credits for the album. A lost era for sure.......SAD. Besides the music of course, Linda's albums were all done so well. I don't know why some people don't care for the cover of "Living In The USA." I think it's great! What I like even more is the record sleeve with Linda lacing up her roller skates. So cute and sexy too!
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Post by rumba on Nov 5, 2015 1:20:41 GMT -5
Probably my least favorite album by Linda. Really disliked the roller skating motif as well.
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Post by eddiejinnj on Nov 5, 2015 8:01:49 GMT -5
I have the album picture disc. I think a couple of them and also I should have the smaller pic disc with the single "Alison" on it. I remember the Billboard chart was dated Nov. 1, 1978. I kept a newspaper copy of it showing her at number one. eddiejinnj
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Post by erik on Nov 5, 2015 10:19:13 GMT -5
I think a lot of the negativity surrounding this album was the perception that Linda was "spinning her wheels", literally (on the cover), and creatively. I'm not going to hit back at anybody here who doesn't like the album. But I would point out that many in the music press, including Rolling Stone, who gave her a hard time over this album because she was too musically conservative then gave her an even harder time when she released the new-wave Mad Love in February 1980; in fact, many, again especially Rolling Stone, just screamed bloody f***ing murder ("How dare she get outside of her box!").
As she said in Playboy in 1980: "Well, can't worry about what the critics say."
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Post by jhar26 on Nov 5, 2015 12:48:55 GMT -5
I think a lot of the negativity surrounding this album was the perception that Linda was "spinning her wheels", literally (on the cover), and creatively. I'm not going to hit back at anybody here who doesn't like the album. But I would point out that many in the music press, including Rolling Stone, who gave her a hard time over this album because she was too musically conservative then gave her an even harder time when she released the new-wave Mad Love in February 1980; in fact, many, again especially Rolling Stone, just screamed bloody f***ing murder ("How dare she get outside of her box!"). As she said in Playboy in 1980: "Well, can't worry about what the critics say." I think that the main problem the critics, and even some of Linda's fans had with Living in the USA was that it seemed to be a random group of songs whereas earlier albums had a character that was uniquely their own.
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Post by rumba on Nov 5, 2015 12:51:20 GMT -5
I think a lot of the negativity surrounding this album was the perception that Linda was "spinning her wheels", literally (on the cover), and creatively. I'm not going to hit back at anybody here who doesn't like the album. But I would point out that many in the music press, including Rolling Stone, who gave her a hard time over this album because she was too musically conservative then gave her an even harder time when she released the new-wave Mad Love in February 1980; in fact, many, again especially Rolling Stone, just screamed bloody f***ing murder ("How dare she get outside of her box!"). As she said in Playboy in 1980: "Well, can't worry about what the critics say." Mad Love is a much better album for me. It feels fresher and reenergized.
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Post by vikingfan on Nov 5, 2015 14:29:47 GMT -5
I love a couple of the songs off this album...Back in the USA, All That You Dream, Ooh Baby Baby and Alison...but the rest of it kind of meanders. It's probably the album of hers I replay the least. Still, it was pretty cool that it was the very first album to ship double platinum.
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Post by eddiejinnj on Nov 5, 2015 17:14:19 GMT -5
One of the criticisms of the album was that the vocals are toooo perfect. Well excuuuuuusssee Linda. eddiejinnj
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Post by A great album on Nov 5, 2015 18:29:50 GMT -5
My favorite tracks on the album are When I Grow To Old, Just One Look and Blowing Away. These songs demonstrate and epitomize to me the control and sheer power of her instrument/gift. Her interpreting skills certainly shine through in Allison, WRB, MR and OBB. I think it is an album that has something for everyone. A great way for her to end the 70's.
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Post by erik on Nov 5, 2015 19:07:46 GMT -5
Just as a side note: Living In The USA was one of several of Linda's albums to be in the Top 10 on both the overall Top 200 album chart and the C&W album chart at the same time (it hit a peak of #3 on the C&W album chart).
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Post by vikingfan on Nov 5, 2015 21:41:09 GMT -5
Just as a side note: Living In The USA was one of several of Linda's albums to be in the Top 10 on both the overall Top 200 album chart and the C&W album chart at the same time (it hit a peak of #3 on the C&W album chart). Odd considering this was her first album I can think of where there is barely any country influence in the music.
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Post by erik on Nov 5, 2015 22:08:47 GMT -5
Quote by vikingfan:
Well, during this time, there was nobody from outside the country music world that had had such a profound effect on country music. Her crossover popularity and her integrity were so high that even staunch country music fans could accept her without foaming at the mouth like rabid redneck dogs, or doing what Charlie Rich did at the 1975 CMA Awards, namely lighting the envelope that had John Denver's name as that year's Entertainer of the Year on fire. The fact that the presence of occasional splashings of pedal steel guitar is the only actual trace of C&W on Living In The USA doesn't take away from the fact that country fans still found her honesty appealing.
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Post by Goldie on Nov 5, 2015 22:45:41 GMT -5
Imagine someone doing that to Linda had she won.
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Post by Frank on Nov 6, 2015 2:17:08 GMT -5
Hello All, Years ago I had a Cd by Ms. Ronstat that I am pretty sure had her cover of Lenord Cohen's "like a bird on a wire" am I right and if so where can I find this song
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Post by Goldie on Nov 6, 2015 2:51:24 GMT -5
I think you are thinking of Jennifer Warnes:
Honest mistake. I am sure Linda never recorded that song.
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Post by rick on Nov 6, 2015 4:57:07 GMT -5
Am wondering if you might be thinking of Linda's version of Leonard Cohen's "Sisters of Mercy" from "Western Wall," her album with Emmylou Harris.
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Post by jay15206 on Nov 7, 2015 6:43:18 GMT -5
Since LITU shipped double-platinum, wasn't it #1 from the day of its release, September 29, 1978?
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Post by eddiejinnj on Nov 7, 2015 8:00:06 GMT -5
I don't remember what it debuted at but it got to number one quickly by nov. 1. eddiejinnj
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Post by erik on Nov 7, 2015 12:16:14 GMT -5
Living In The USA entered the Top 200 Album Chart on October 7, 1978, which means that either it debuted very high on the chart already or it zoomed up the chart awfully fast from where it started. In any case, it only took five weeks for it to reach #1.
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Post by sliderocker on Nov 7, 2015 12:47:34 GMT -5
Quote by vikingfan: Well, during this time, there was nobody from outside the country music world that had had such a profound effect on country music. Her crossover popularity and her integrity were so high that even staunch country music fans could accept her without foaming at the mouth like rabid redneck dogs, or doing what Charlie Rich did at the 1975 CMA Awards, namely lighting the envelope that had John Denver's name as that year's Entertainer of the Year on fire. Or doing what Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton did with a group of others, which was to get up and walk out of the awards show when Olivia Newton-John won some major country award at the CMA. I don't remember whether it was best female artist or best album or what have you, but the Nashville established artists felt the award should go to one of their own, and not to some damned foreigner. I think Parton had no choice in the matter with Wagoner as her singing partner and manager but it was hypocritical of those that walked out and what Charlie Rich did regarding John Denver. Country artists wanted to appeal and expand beyond its fan base but such hypocritical acts were only more damaging to the artists that did them. It's surprising Charlie Rich did what he did as he, like Conway Twitty, initially started out as a pop, rock and soul singer, and not a country singer. John Denver was a lot closer to being a country act from the beginning than what Rich ever was. As for Parton, the walking out on Olivia (who wasn't there) was at the end of her professional association with Wagoner. She wanted to spread her musical wings in other directions and Wagoner wanted her to stay in his rut. He needed her more than she needed him. When her later musical efforts proved very successful, Wagoner, who had been dead set against it, demanded part of the financial reward from the success as he still had her under contract and was still (in writing) her manager. She settled out of court with him, from what I recall, but I wouldn't have given him the first dime. He shouldn't have expected to have profited from something he didn't want her to do. He probably took advantage of her as much as Col. Parker took advantage of Elvis. At least, Parton took her leave of Wagoner.
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Post by sliderocker on Nov 7, 2015 13:01:37 GMT -5
Since LITU shipped double-platinum, wasn't it #1 from the day of its release, September 29, 1978? Not really. Shipping double platinum meant Asylum had received orders from the record retailers across the US for the album, but it didn't actually mean the album had already sold two million. The album charts were based on sales and until the albums get in the stores, it shouldn't be considered a number one album. That said, I have seen Billboard make an album a number one album, just based on shipping so many (Elton John's "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy") but it's a questionable practice to do that at best.
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Post by Goldie on Nov 7, 2015 16:01:06 GMT -5
Olivia is another artist that doesn't get enough credit. She was mostly a singles artist but her beauty may have hindered her being taken seriously. The woman can sing and I do mean sing if you ever had the luck to see her in concert. She is another like Linda was that sounds better in concert. John Denver seemed to be a leader in the country rock movement who also never got credit possibly because it seemed like he was outside the clique of the usual suspects. The 1970's was such a dynamic time in music.
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Post by sliderocker on Nov 7, 2015 16:48:01 GMT -5
Olivia is another artist that doesn't get enough credit. She was mostly a singles artist but her beauty may have hindered her being taken seriously. The woman can sing and I do mean sing if you ever had the luck to see her in concert. She is another like Linda was that sounds better in concert. John Denver seemed to be a leader in the country rock movement who also never got credit possibly because it seemed like he was outside the clique of the usual suspects. The 1970's was such a dynamic time in music. I've seen Olivia in concert in Oklahoma City, in 2004, around her birthday, and yes, she was totally amazing in concert. Her voice still crystal clear and beautiful. It's said that she has perfect pitch and from what I remember of that concert, she hit no wrong notes. The only negative about the concert was that it was too short, just barely an hour. She did some longer concerts in other cities, including a concert in Tokyo, which I heard was three hours long. To do that kind of concert takes a certain amount of energy, and that concert was after the one I attended. And of Olivia's concert, I remember one fan presented her with a concert review of the last time she had made an appearance here, which was 1975. She didn't remember ever being here (Oklahoma City makes that kind of impression on people), but other fans presented her with the usual roses. She asked for the audience to sing along on "Summer Nights," her closer (which I didn't understand as it should've been "Magic" or "Physical," which were her biggest hits) and chided when very few were singing along. I thought about yelling "Nobody knows the words!" and hoping she'd get a laugh from that but then thought no, she might be insulted. It was quite a night and one that would've been hard to top, although I always hoped to see Linda in concert. My luck was never that good!
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Post by fabtastique on Nov 8, 2015 3:37:50 GMT -5
LITU is a good album, great song choices but live versions of most of them blow the recorded tunes away ..... When I Grow Too Old to Dream (with Muppets) is a prime example. but its a good, solid album that I still enjoy
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Post by Goldie on Nov 8, 2015 5:37:22 GMT -5
It may be one of the best traditional rock albums by any female to be sure. Linda has so many great albums each with its own personality.
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Post by erik on Nov 8, 2015 14:04:21 GMT -5
Quote by Goldie:
And as I've said a lot of times, it is from an era when it was possible to have such an extreme amount of diversity on Top 40 radio, which we do not get today (IMHO).
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Post by jay15206 on Nov 22, 2015 12:56:48 GMT -5
She is another like Linda was that sounds better in concert. I don't agree with you at all that Linda "sounds better in concert." Each is wonderful, but the recordings are what I've lived with since 1976.
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Post by eddiejinnj on Nov 22, 2015 18:27:18 GMT -5
Speaking of 1976 Jay. I listened to Linda's boston music hall concert on youtube from dec. 6, 1976. the entire concert is posted. unbelievable concert. I encourage others to listen. the last encore was the first time they did "tumbling dice" live. she said they rehearsed that afternoon after mick encouragement us die hard fans know about. she said "I hope I remember all the words." was well done. great rock vocal. eddiejinnj
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