While I was doing my half-assed research on Linda Ronstadt this week, it became quickly apparent that--much like Elvis Costello--her music resume was amply long enough to make me wonder just what the fuck I've done with the last nearly sixty years of my life. Ronstadt doesn't show up on anyone's radar much anymore (more on why later), but in the 70's she was literally the queen of rock and roll. She was the first woman to have three consecutive platinum albums (which eventually reached eight in a row), sold out arenas around the world, was on the cover of Rolling Stone six times, Time three times, and Newsweek once. And just to keep it interesting, she was also the girlfriend of California governor Jerry Brown (yes, the same Jerry Brown who's currently governor of California yet again). She proceeded to follow that up in the 80's and 90'd with a Tony nomination for her performance in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, released three albums of American standards (eat your heart out Rod Stewart), one of which made me a lifelong fan of George and Ira Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me," released an album of Mexican standards, and made an album with country icons Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. Over the course of her career, Ronstadt has released over thirty albums, sold over 100 million records, won eleven Grammy Awards, and been elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She accomplished all of this while remaining fiercely a woman, in a business that was (and still is) exceedingly male dominated. Sadly, Ronstadt retired in 2011 due to health issues; in 2012 she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and in a cruel twist of fate, she said that she "can no longer sing a note."
Fun Fact: In 1971, Ronstadt's backing band for a few months consisted of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon--who together would go on to form a little band called The Eagles....
Released in 1970 on Silk Purse, her second solo album, "Long, Long Time" was the second hit of Ronstadt's career (the first, with her original band, The Stone Poneys, was the also excellent "Different Drum"). It would go on to reach #25 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100, and lead to her first Grammy nomination. It was critically acclaimed, as well, and was the foot in the door that lead to Ronstadt becoming one of the biggest stars of her day.
One of the things that helps in enjoying "Long, Long Time" is if you've ever had an unrequited love (moi? nev...okay, a time or two)--Ronstadt and songwriter Gary White do an excellent job of capturing the pathos and the (sometimes) insanity that goes with realizing that someone has never loved you and is never going to love you and yet still continuing to love that person. The song is sparse--the music is just a plucked guitar and some strings (kind of sappy), the lyrics are relatively simple (and kind of sappy), but what makes the song, and keeps it from being just another overwrought ballad are Ronstadt's vocals, which are nothing short of otherworldly. It's not just the timbre, it's also the inflections she uses that comes close to making the vocals acting as singing (if that makes any sense). In short, every now and again a ballad comes along that's a swift kick to the heart, and "Long, Long Time" is one such song.
Lyric Sheet: "Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine/And I think I'm gonna love you for a long, long time..."
Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee
No comments:
Post a Comment