Linda Ronstadt’s Best Song On Each Of Her 1970s Studio Albums

Feature Photo: Asylum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Linda Ronstadt’s Best Song On Each Of Her 1970s Studio Albums started out as an article that was attempting to choose our favorite song on each one of her albums throughout her entire career. However, Linda Ronstadt has released close to thirty studio albums, so we thought there might have been too many to pick in one article. It made more sense to do this decade by decade. Linda Ronstadt has released studio albums over five decades. Starting in the 1960s and ending in the 2000s. Her most significant commercial success was during the mid-70s. However, she has enjoyed hits in pretty much every decade that she has released albums. This list will cover the albums starting with Silk Purse, released in 1970, up until Living in the USA, issued in 1978.

Silk Purse (1970) – “Long, Long Time”

“Long Long Time” was the second single from Linda Ronstadt’s Silk Purse album. It followed the lead single, a great cover of Carole King’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” This one was easily our favorite song from the album. Linda Ronstadt’s vocal performance on this one will leave you breathless.

Linda Ronstadt – “Rock Me On the Water”

“Rock Me On The Water was the opening track on Linda Ronstadt’s 1972 album Linda Ronstadt. The song was originally written and recorded by Jackson Browne for his self-titled debut album in 1972.  “Rock Me On The Water” was the second single released from the album following the classic Patsy Cline song “I Fall to Pieces.”  Ronstadt’s version starts slow, with her tender voice capturing your attention instantly. Within a few measures, it explodes in all its early 1970s glory.

Don’t Cry Now – “Desperado”

It’s hard not to go with this one. Linda Ronstadt’s interpretation of “Desperado” stands as a definitive example of her ability to transform a well-known song into a deeply personal and emotionally resonant experience. Originally written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles for their 1973 album of the same name, “Desperado” is a haunting ballad that Ronstadt made her own, as she always did.

Heart Like a Wheel (1974) – “Faithless Love”

This was the album where Linda Ronstadt’s music exploded all over the world. Heart Like a Wheel, released in 1974, was fueled by two of the biggest hits of her career: “When Will I Be Loved” and “You’re No Good.” These were monster hits that cemented her status as a leading figure in the music industry. However, our favorite song on the record will always be the J.D. Souther-penned “Faithless Love.” This track showcased Ronstadt’s ability to convey deep emotion with her voice, making it a timeless classic on an already legendary album.

Prisoner in Disguise – “Tracks of My Tears”

Linda Ronstadt’s rendition of “Tracks of My Tears” is one of many standout tracks from her 1975 album Prisoner in Disguise. It was tough to pick a favorite because there were just so many. “Tracks of My Tears” was originally performed by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. It was a hit for the Miracles in 1965, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ronstadt came pretty close to that as her version peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. She smokes this one.

Hasten Down the Wind – Tie – “Lose Again” & “Someone To Lay Down Beside Me”

Hasten Down the Wind is my favorite Linda Ronstadt album. The cover is beautiful, and it has a wonderful gatefold. Linda could do no wrong at this point in her career. There were so many great writers on this album. However, it was the couple of songs that bookended the record that, at least for me, were the standout tracks. My two favorites on the record are both “Lose Again” and “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me.” For this one, we have a tie.

Simple Dreams – “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”

“Poor Poor Pitiful Me” is one of two Warren Zevon songs that Linda Ronstadt covers on her Simple Dreams album. She brought such a cool attitude to this awesome song written by Warren Zevon. Once again, the album was filled with hits, including this one. Whether it was a hit single or a deep album track, this was my favorite.

Read More: Top 10 Warren Zevon Songs

Living in the USA –  “Alison”

Elvis Costello’s original version of “Alison” was so good that one would think nobody else could perform a cver better than the original. However, we are talking about Linda Ronstadt here. Once again, it becomes hard to pick a favorite on an album filled with tons of hits. Linda Ronstadt was just unstoppable in the ’70s.

Linda Ronstadt’s Best Song On Each Of Her 1970s Studio Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024