Linda Ronstadt has a full house voice. Very few could touch her vocal range and that includes Stevie Nicks, who is a very fine singer in her own right.
But Linda Ronstadt?
She got the real pipes.
Just ask Smokey Robinson.
Linda Ronstadt for me but Stevie Nicks is a close second Â
Linda R's daughter was at my house a couple of weeks ago. Seemed like a nice girl, a friend of my youngest son here in the SF Bay Area unbeknowndest to me. My 24 year old never really got who her "mom" was.
Asshat angle- She is still good friends with Jerry Brown who apparently joins them every Thanksgiving.
And to asshole poster Coach Red whatever- yes it is the steroids from her Parkinson's treatment that has resulted in weight gain.
Then, if you want romance, I think it was Laurie Anderson who married Lou Reed and which couple was the real deal, not based on drama or Hollywood or 20 something's with fame and money...a real couple and mature romance.
What a voice. I liked Stevie's voice until it got racked with cocaine. Landslide was a tremendous vocal. But her solo stuff was just meh, and Linda had a remarkable voice. Not even close.
...being female aside, there wasn't much commonality between the two.
I was a big Ronstadt fan, she had incredible tools - a truly beautiful voice, a tremendously versatile performer - I LOVED the Mad Love album, but despite her accomplishments, in the end she was primarily a cover singer.
Stevie was and is an icon.
If we're just picking out favorite female singer/songwriter performers, Joni is the beginning and end of the conversation, IMO.
Question did not include Bonnie or Deborah Harry. But no doubt, Bonnie is the best guitar player....
Bonnie is an iconic guitarist and performer. Her slide playing is instantly recognizable.
One newer player I love is Annie Clark (St. Vincent) - she's fucking dynamite - a GREAT, innovative player, a truly unique approach, and she's only getting started.
"Oddly enough, Linda Rondstadt is ground zero for a ton of country and pop artists from the 60s and 70s. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 18 in 1964, Ronstadt started jamming with everyone from The Stone Poneys to Jackson Browne and Tom Waits. In 1971 her backing band was made up of none other than Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Don Henley from The Eagles." Link - ( New Window )
"Oddly enough, Linda Rondstadt is ground zero for a ton of country and pop artists from the 60s and 70s. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 18 in 1964, Ronstadt started jamming with everyone from The Stone Poneys to Jackson Browne and Tom Waits. In 1971 her backing band was made up of none other than Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Don Henley from The Eagles." Link - ( New Window )
Waddy Wachtel was her guitarist for some time.
She did some notable work with Neil Young too, she and James Taylor singing backup on "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" - on the Harvest Moon album, both appeared again on "You and Me" (an Old Man tribute of sorts).
A great Young/Ronstadt cut is "Bite the Bullet" - killer track that featured Neil with Crazy Horse plus Young's pedal steel sideman Ben Keith, plus fiddle player Rusty Kershaw - with Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson singing backups.
But love 'em both.
You mean besides the Parkinson's.
Not sure Linda could hang with her in the kink department...
Probably Nick then Ronstadt.....Benatar right in the middle.
Linda Ronstadt has a full house voice. Very few could touch her vocal range and that includes Stevie Nicks, who is a very fine singer in her own right.
But Linda Ronstadt?
She got the real pipes.
Just ask Smokey Robinson.
And I'm not much of a fan of C&W
In my defense... 1975 came up long after my post. Let's fast forward to 1995.
Asshat angle- She is still good friends with Jerry Brown who apparently joins them every Thanksgiving.
And to asshole poster Coach Red whatever- yes it is the steroids from her Parkinson's treatment that has resulted in weight gain.
The other , meh
Then, if you want romance, I think it was Laurie Anderson who married Lou Reed and which couple was the real deal, not based on drama or Hollywood or 20 something's with fame and money...a real couple and mature romance.
Ronstadt young every day of the week. She was smoking hot in the Stone Pony's. Now I'd definitely take Nicks, she has aged well
Voice
Ronstadt - unbelievable voice
Question did not include Bonnie or Deborah Harry. But no doubt, Bonnie is the best guitar player....
And Pat Benatar? Really??
Asshat angle- She is still good friends with Jerry Brown who apparently joins them every Thanksgiving.
Linda dated Jerry Brown back in the day, before moving on to LA Dodger pitcher Rick Rhoden.
I was a big Ronstadt fan, she had incredible tools - a truly beautiful voice, a tremendously versatile performer - I LOVED the Mad Love album, but despite her accomplishments, in the end she was primarily a cover singer.
Stevie was and is an icon.
If we're just picking out favorite female singer/songwriter performers, Joni is the beginning and end of the conversation, IMO.
Quote:
But no votes for Bonnie Raitt!!
Question did not include Bonnie or Deborah Harry. But no doubt, Bonnie is the best guitar player....
One newer player I love is Annie Clark (St. Vincent) - she's fucking dynamite - a GREAT, innovative player, a truly unique approach, and she's only getting started.
Go listen to Gold Dust Women.
I'm partial to Nicks in both voice and looks if we're talking circa 1975.
If we're just picking out favorite female singer/songwriter performers, Joni is the beginning and end of the conversation, IMO.
No argument there.
"Oddly enough, Linda Rondstadt is ground zero for a ton of country and pop artists from the 60s and 70s. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 18 in 1964, Ronstadt started jamming with everyone from The Stone Poneys to Jackson Browne and Tom Waits. In 1971 her backing band was made up of none other than Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Don Henley from The Eagles."
Link - ( New Window )
"Oddly enough, Linda Rondstadt is ground zero for a ton of country and pop artists from the 60s and 70s. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 18 in 1964, Ronstadt started jamming with everyone from The Stone Poneys to Jackson Browne and Tom Waits. In 1971 her backing band was made up of none other than Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Don Henley from The Eagles." Link - ( New Window )
She did some notable work with Neil Young too, she and James Taylor singing backup on "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man" - on the Harvest Moon album, both appeared again on "You and Me" (an Old Man tribute of sorts).
A great Young/Ronstadt cut is "Bite the Bullet" - killer track that featured Neil with Crazy Horse plus Young's pedal steel sideman Ben Keith, plus fiddle player Rusty Kershaw - with Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson singing backups.
Somebody posted a picture of a young Linda above.
They have both been destroyed by age.