February 19 – Wednesday – Linda Ronstadt – Heart Like a Wheel

You may wonder why, if I didn’t like The Eagles with their California country sound (I like some Eagles), I would like Linda Ronstadt so much. Yeah, me too. But I’ll tell you this, there is not a song on this album that didn’t come flooding back into my memory and out my mouth. Yes, I know, my poor neighbor, who also has to listen to me chant. These are songs that are imbedded in my brain and with just a mere shake of the head come rushing to the forefront. The album starts off with “You’re No Good,” Paul Anka’s “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” and then into “Faithless Love” written by Linda Ronstadt’s one-time boyfriend J.D. Souther, who harmonizes with her so beautifully on the song. And speaking of harmonies, “Heart Like a Wheel” is far from my favorite song on this record, but the harmony with Maria Muldaur on it (remember “Midnight at the Oasis?)  can be rivaled only by the stunning harmony she performs with county great Emmy Lou Harris on Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You.” The Eagles and Poco are even represented on James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes.”

The latter two songs are on the second side of the record, which I started after inserting some Bette Midler in, because it was a slow workout, made even more so with the singing going on. I do have to mention that side two began with The Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Loved,” which was hard to belt out while doing sit-ups and leg lifts, but I tried. Needless to say, I loved this album then, and I love this album now, and you can scoff at me if you want, but Linda Ronstadt was and is a great talent. And what’s even better is that I really wanted to write tonight.