A powerful figure in the California rock scene, Linda Ronstadt’s first solo backing band, Swampwater, later landed a record deal, and her second band became the Eagles.
By the time her fifth solo album, Heart Like a Wheel, hit stores in November of 1974, Ronstadt had established herself as one of the best female voices across folk, rock, and the burgeoning genre of alternative country. Heart Like a Wheel rolled to the top spot on the Billboard 200, giving Ronstadt her first No. 1 album.
Thirty-four musicians and background vocalists are credited across the 10 tracks, but they all serve at the command of Ronstadt’s golden voice. Her absolutely absurd ability to master any genre with emotional intensity was on full display on the record, notably on three key songs:
“You’re No Good” had been recorded by other artists since its 1963 debut, but Ronstadt made it her own. The sheer vocal muscle behind the choruses lifted the tune to another level, and the public responded by taking it to No. 1 on the Hot 100 the following February.
Her version of Hank Williams’s “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love with You)” went to No. 2 on the Country charts and earned her a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
Her rockin’ take on “When Will I Be Loved” landed her a Hot 100 No. 2.
This album, and really her whole catalogue, deserve a fresh listen.
Uploaded to YouTube by Linda Ronstadt
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Comments
An excellent look back at one of Linda Ronstadt’s best albums, ‘Heart Like A Wheel’. This title song (thank you for including it here) has gotten overlooked by both “When Will I Be Loved” and “You’re No Good”. The last one certainly makes the argument that sometimes a remake can surpass the original.
Early 1974 had 2 great examples of this with Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘The Loco-Motion’ and Anne Murray’s ‘You Won’t See Me’ far superior to Beatles version of a decade earlier. The early 1975 version of “Please Mr. Postman” by The Carpenters with the sexy saxophone was light years ahead of the Marvelettes or Beatles versions, not to knock those.
What’s more unusual is for a remake to be comparable to the original, even if it’s drastically different. “Shop Around” is a great example of this. I love the 1960 version by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and the 1976 remake by The Captain & Tennille equally. I think that’s the only song I can say that about. The videos on both are incredible too.
Linda Ronstadt’s musical styles also changed with the times. For example her 1980 album “Mad Love” is another favorite, especially the single ‘I Can’t Let Go’ also overlooked. There wouldn’t have been The Eagles without her. Speaking of the ’80s, The Eagles ’79 album ‘The Long Run’ had an ’80s sound on several songs like ‘Those Shoes’, ‘Teenage Jail’ and ‘The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks’ which was like nothing they’d ever done before. They were smart enough to have “Heartache Tonight” on there which was more traditional. Their solo albums were totally ’80s, fortunately.