Did Linda ever perform the song 'Rose Garden'?

[JB]

Just wondering if anyone knows whether Linda ever performed the song 'Rose Garden' (written by Joe South; Lynn Anderson's big hit)? If so, is there a recording available anywhere?

I've just been listening to the Martina McBride version and thought that Linda would have undoubtedly been able to sing a fantastic version too.

thanks in advance

JB

[erik]

I don't believe any evidence suggests to say that she ever did. She did do one Joe South-penned song on record ("I Knew You When", on 1982's Get Closer), and she sang "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" with Johnny Cash when she made her second appearance on Johnny's TV show in March 1970.

"I Never Promised You A Rose Garden", however, that one I think we come up empty on.

[PoP80]

This beautiful Karla Bonoff song in which Linda sang back up has a similar title. 

[JB]

Ah, that's a shame, would have loved to have heard that, but at least I can stop Googling now! thanks

'I Knew You When' is definitely another great song - particularly Linda's vocal control and range. Also, mentioning The Johnny Cash Show reminds me of an amusing Johnny, June Carter Cash and Linda anecdote you've probably already seen, but in case others haven't:

americansongwriter.com/the-shocking-backstory-to-this-johnny-cash-performance-will-have-you-in-stitches/

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! JB

[JB]

Nov 9, 2023 10:08:15 GMT -5 PoP80 said:

This beautiful Karla Bonoff song in which Linda sang back up has a similar title. 

Thanks for sharing this - what a lovely song.

[sliderocker]

If Linda ever performed Rose Garden, it would probably have been in one of early concert appearances in the late 60s or early 70s, when Linda didn't have a lot of hits to perform. And most of her album tracks she might have been loathed to have performed live. And although it's highly unlikely, I'm never one to say chances are zero. Unless a lot of Linda's early concerts or maybe Troubador concerts were secretly recorded and start showing up on bootleg, we'll never know.

[RobGNYC]

I always thought “Rose Garden” was a fascinating lyric—it’s basically a string of proverbs/idioms/other well-worn phrases. I can’t think of another song quite like it. Joe South is such a sharp songwriter that you know it’s not because he couldn’t come up with anything else. In addition to “I never promised you a rose garden”:

Along with the sunshine theres gotta be a little rain

When you take you gotta give so live and let live

You don’t find roses growin' on stalks of clover

I would give you the world right now on a silver platter

You better look before you leap, still waters run deep

[Partridge]

Nov 10, 2023 13:55:07 GMT -5 RobGNYC said:

I always thought “Rose Garden” was a fascinating lyric—it’s basically a string of proverbs/idioms/other well-worn phrases.

I bought that album by Joe South, I think it was called Introspect, back when I was a mere lad of 15. You are absolutely right about the song being a collection of cliches, but I never took note of that. Lots of good songs there.

[eddiejinnj]

Welcome to the forum, JB, and for your input. How long have you been a Linda fan? eddiejinnj

[JB]

Nov 11, 2023 5:45:31 GMT -5 eddiejinnj said:

Welcome to the forum, JB, and for your input. How long have you been a Linda fan? eddiejinnj

Thanks! I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I only really found out about Linda a few years ago - was watching the Laurel Canyon documentary out at the time and was totally captivated by Linda and her music - I've since been catching up on as many of her records, performances and collaborations as possible, the Simple Dreams memoir, Sound of My Voice film, plus playing along to some some of her songs on guitar.

Over here in the UK there isn't much exposure to Linda in the media or on the radio, with the notable exception of Bob Harris on BBC Radio, so I'm really pleased to have finally found out about her... although it has also opened up a whole SoCal 60s/70s Country Rock and Singer-Songwriter wormhole which I'm also currently exploring through the works of Gram Parsons, ISB, Byrds, Burritos, Emmylou, Jackson Browne, Neil Young and others.

I just wish I could take a trip in a time machine back to the Troubadour or Palomino to experience Linda singing her songs the first time around! As it is, this forum, www.ronstadt-linda.com and videos shared on YouTube help bring it all to life. Thanks all, JB

[eddiejinnj]

Nothing to be embarrassed about JB. All of Linda's stuff is new to you and I wouldn't mind that newbie fascination. I do have to say that there are still new things I find out about Linda's work including songs I have never heard on occasion (mostly songs she did background on). Have fun and enjoy!! eddiejinnj

PS: Listened to the Karla with Linda background vocals and that would have been a great song for Linda to do. Also, I don't recall ever hearing it before and I have seen that Karla album before. I guess I didn't know that track.

[PoP80]

Hey, Eddie. I'm glad I found something new for you to listen to. Btw, Karla Bonoff is doing a concert on Saturday January 13,2024
at Amaturo Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Are you still in Florida?