Linda Ronstadt (album)

By 1972, Linda Ronstadt had recorded two studio albums as a solo artist: Hand Sown ... Home Grown (1969) and Silk Purse (1970). Both discs were inspired from the country genre. Her 1972 self-titled studio album would further dive into the genre while also embedding more of a country rock sound.^[1] The album was recorded at several studios, beginning with Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. However, the majority of the sessions were held at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama and United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California. Three album tracks were recorded in a live format at The Troubadour, a venue located in Hollywood as well. The album was produced by John Boylan and featured session work from Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Both musicians had joined Ronstadt's band before forming the Eagles.^[6]

Linda Ronstadt consisted of ten tracks.^[3] Its opening track was the Jackson Browne-penned "Rock Me on the Water". Ronstadt's version appeared a few months prior to Browne's own version. Other new recordings included "In My Reply", which was penned by James Taylor's brother. Additional songs that were new releases included "I Won't Be Hangin' Round" and "I Ain't Always Been Faithful".^[6] The album also featured covers of country standards: "Crazy Arms" (first a single for Ray Price), Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" and Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces".^[3][6] The album also included a cover of Fontella Bass' R&B single "Rescue Me" and the folk song "Ramblin' Round".^[3] Eight of the tracks were cut in recording studios, while "Rescue Me", "I Fall to Pieces" and "Birds" were cut live at The Troubadour.^[6]

Linda Ronstadt was originally released on January 17, 1972, by Capitol Records and was her third solo studio album. It was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette. Both LP and cassette formats featured five songs on each side.^[7] It was Ronstadt's second solo studio album to reach the US Billboard 200 all-genre chart. Entering the Billboard 200 in February 1972, the album reached the number 163 position in March 1972.^[8] It was also her first album to reach Japan's Oricon chart, peaking at number 87.^[9] Two singles were released from the album, beginning with her cover of "I Fall to Pieces" in September 1971.^[10] In April 1972, "Rock Me on the Water" was issued as the album's second single.^[11] The latter became her third charting single in the US, peaking at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

The lack of major success with this and preceding albums was one of Ronstadt's reasons for leaving the Capitol label. After signing with Asylum Records and recording her first album with them, however, Ronstadt was required to release her 1974 album, Heart Like a Wheel, on Capitol to fulfil her contract. Ironically, it would become her solo commercial breakthrough.^[13] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic later called Linda Ronstadt "a pivotal record in her career" because it featured compositions from new singer-songwriters along with its "folk rock connections".^[3]

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Linda Ronstadt.^[7]

Technical personnel

• John Boylan – producer
• Al Coury – production coordinator
• Don Blake – engineer
• Larry Hamby – engineer
• Rudy Hill – engineer
• Wally Heider – engineer
• Mike Shields – engineer, mixing, mastering
• Ray Thompson – engineer
• Dean Torrence – design
• John Hoernle – art direction
• Ed Caraeff – photography