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Walt's Vinyl Albums
Walt's Vinyl Albums is about vinyl albums from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. I have rebranded and changed the name from Vinyl Bound. In it, I explore the creation of some of the most iconic albums ever created. Just like before, I dive deep into the passion behind the music. Welcome.
Walt's Vinyl Albums
Linda Ronstadt's Journey: Musical Legacy, Personal Challenges, and Cultural Impact
Unlock the secrets of musical greatness as we explore the extraordinary journey of Linda Ronstadt. From her humble beginnings in Tucson, Arizona, to becoming a musical powerhouse, this episode promises a deeper understanding of how intuition and passion propelled Linda to iconic status. Experience her transformation from playing with the Stone Ponies to facing the challenges of solo artistry, and discover how her pivotal decision to leave Capitol Records for Asylum Records changed the course of her career. Hear the fascinating tales of her collaboration with producer Peter Asher, which led to the creation of the legendary album "Heart Like a Wheel." You’ll learn about the album's profound impact on both rock and country music, and how Linda's exploration of her Mexican heritage added a rich layer to her musical tapestry.
We celebrate the indelible legacy of Linda Ronstadt, a trailblazer whose remarkable voice and raw talent left an enduring mark on the music industry. Her groundbreaking work not only topped charts but also inspired countless artists to follow their own paths fearlessly. We delve into captivating stories, including the serendipitous moment Linda first heard the title track "Heart Like a Wheel." This episode is a heartfelt tribute to an artist who followed her heart, even as she faced personal challenges such as her retirement and diagnosis with progressive supranuclear palsy. Whether you're revisiting her classic hits or discovering her music for the first time, join us in honoring the remarkable journey of a true musical icon.
It's where we dive deep into the stories behind music legends and their timeless albums. Today, we're shining the spotlight on Linda Ronstadt and her iconic 1974 album Heart Like a Wheel. Heart Like a Wheel was Ronstadt's fifth album and the one that made her a superstar. Ronstadt, who was born and raised in Tucson, arizona, got her musical start in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. It was there that she joined her friends Bobby Kimmel and Kenny Edwards in creating the Stone Ponies, a folk rock trio that experienced commercial success with their 1967 hit Different Drum. Not long after Kimmel and Edwards left the Stone Ponies to explore other opportunities, ronstadt suddenly found herself in the uncharted territory of solo and artistry. In 1969, ronstadt released her first solo record with Capitol Records, called Hand Sewn, homegrown. The album reflected her love for country music, but paid homage to the rock folk roots. Ronstadt was told that she was too country for the rock radio stations and too rock for the country radio stations. Hand Sewn, which Rolling Stone called a distinctive, if not unique, approach to country music, as rock did not receive wild critical acclaim like she thought it would. However, the record was an important step in her journey to figuring out her sound. Now, three years later, ronstadt released Silk Purse, her second solo record and the first one to reach the charts. The album was more successful than Handstone, but it was evident that Ronstadt was still growing into her identity as a solo artist. Ronstadt leaned more into rock with her self-titled 1972 record, while making room for some classic country covers. Linda Ronstadt landed about 163 on the Billboard Hot 200, which isn't bad, if you ask me. While her album did not exactly soar, ronstadt introduced Randy Meisner, bernie Leden, don Henley and Glenn Frey, the four men who would soon to go on to form the Eagles. I wonder how that played out. She probably had a big role in it.
Speaker 1:After her trio of well, I guess you would say disappointing releases, ronstadt decided to leave Capitol Records. She felt her creative freedom was restricted by the label and believed that she explained her lackluster performance well on the charts. She signed with Asylum Records, where she believed she would be relatively unfettered. However, ronstadt was still contractually obligated to release one more record for Capitol. That record happened to be Heart Like a Wheel. That's right Now. As Ronstadt began working on Heart, capitol decided to loosen their reins and give her more control over her creative process. She then partnered with producer Peter Asher, forming the foundation of partnership that spanned 13 subsequent records, all of which were either gold or platinum. How amazing is that? The album itself is made up of about 10 tracks including covers of songs by Hank Williams, paul Kraft, phil Everly, artists including Paul Anka. James Taylor wrote for Heart Like a Wheel, but Ronstadt's personal favorite track, the one that gave the record its name, was written by Anna McGarrigle. Now I hope I'm saying that right, it's M-C-G-A-R-R-I-G-L-E McGarrigle. So we'll see if that works out.
Speaker 1:Ronstadt was in a cab with singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker when she first heard the song. This is her account of that transformative moment. Jerry's face was barely visible in the gray light. Jerry's face was barely visible in the gray light when he turned to me and said I heard these two sisters from Canada sing at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. They wrote a beautiful song you should hear. He bent his head low, closed his eyes and softly sang for me all that he could remember of the song. It felt like a bomb had exploded in my head. Even in those few lines I could tell that the song, both painstakingly and delicate, had a highly original approach to describing well the deadly peril of romantic love. It rearranged my entire musical landscape. She said, the title track is both soft and powerful.
Speaker 1:It laments the destructive power of heartbreak. Well, I guess it's embodied by the declaration that it's only love and it's only love that can wreck a human being and turn him inside out. Throughout the track, ronstadt's voice is smooth and steady, but carries within it a certain heaviness, a deep pain and despair. Heart Like a Wheel is a once deeply haunting and profoundly human song. The album's two singles, you're no Good and when Will I Be Loved, are decidedly less somber in tone. Written by Clint Ballard Jr, you're no Good combines disdain for a no-good ex-lover with the empowering liberation of leaving one in the dust. The song is raw and ragged while still managing to sound triumphant. When Will I Be Loved by Phil Everly is peppy and upbeat, which classes with the song's downtrodden lyrical themes.
Speaker 1:You're no Good topped the Billboard Hot 100, and when Will I Be Loved reached the number two spot. How amazing is that? Heart Like a Wheel represented Ronstadt's first astronomically successful record. It was number one on Billboard and spent 51 weeks on the charts. Heart Like a Wheel was nominated for four Grammys in 1976, including Album of the Year. I can't help If I'm Still in Love with you won the award for female best country vocal performance. Rolling Stone put Ronstadt's album in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and the Library of Congress included Heart Like a Wheel in its national registry, a compendium of sound recordings that are culturally, historically and aesthetically I guess you would call it significant and inform or reflect life in the United States.
Speaker 1:With Heart Like a Wheel, ronstadt cemented her position as a legend in both rock and country spaces. She defined the California rock country sound and became the template of almost all later contemporary country music. Yet Ronstadt did not let genre limit her and connected with her Mexican heritage and identify by diving deep into the world of Latin music and dance. Ronstadt retired in 2011, sadly, and was later diagnosed with progressive supernuclear palsy, a disease that left her unable to sing. In 2014, she was included into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1:Linda Ronstadt is a trailblazer who followed her heart, intuition, passions throughout her storied career. Her remarkable voice and raw talent were there all along. Heart Like a Wheel simply put her on the musical map. It's stories like these that I just fall in love with, and I really appreciate you folks being interested in this. Thank you for joining me today as I explored the story behind Heart Like a Wheel. Don't forget to like, subscribe and hit the notification bell for more deep dives into the legends of music. As always, remember to spin those albums loudly and proudly. We will see you again soon. Have a great day.