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musicsaves's review against another edition
3.0
Always been impressed with Linda Ronstadt’s wide range of musical explorations and was looking forward to learning more about her journey. Unfortunately, her memoir is very short on details...or rather, very “spotty.” She does go into detail on some of her various musical choices and I enjoyed those, but the problem is that it’s like reading a book with a LOT of pages missing. Huge jumps in time happen and key aspects of her life are left out or glossed over with just a couple sentences. For example, in the final chapter she mentions the joy she has in raising her two children, but nowhere do we learn how these children suddenly appeared, nor who their father is. And she doesn’t explain what led to her becoming unable to sing any longer. These are only examples from the end of the book. There are plenty of others throughout. It’s a slim 200 pages and for someone with over 30 albums and a 40+ year career, I just expected more. Apparently, I’ve been spoiled by too many other musician memoirs that told the full story!
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
I had watched the first bit of that "History of the Eagles" thing on Not-flix and even though they are a bunch of obnoxious, coked-up bullies and I never did get Jackson Browne still I was thinking I would like to hear and know more of that Southern California 70s fake-country-rock thing. Then I was at my mother-in-law's for the two days that are supposedly about celebrating the birth of the Nazarene but actually are a celebration of capitalism and an outpouring of relief after all the human sacrifice around the aptly named Black Friday... On the nightstand was this book and I basically read all but the last ten pages in those two days.
I am not a huge fan of Ronstadt, but I do love the mariachi albums and Trio. I think her back up vocals on "Heart of Gold" are the best part of that song.
What I appreciated most about this book was its focus on the music. Ronstadt gives little anecdotes that aptly crystallize a cultural period... like roller skating through angel dust victims with Manson family members on the Ventura Beach boardwalk or hanging with Jerry Brown in Malibu as storms wash away the expensive real estate. Most of it though is about why she made the musical decisions she made and why she challenged herself with stuff like La Boheme and Pirates of Penzance. OK, she's not complicated like Joni Mitchell or otherworldly like Emmylou Harris and she's all sober and for some reason still friends with jerks like Don Henley but I'm glad I spent Christmas with her, thinking about music.
I am not a huge fan of Ronstadt, but I do love the mariachi albums and Trio. I think her back up vocals on "Heart of Gold" are the best part of that song.
What I appreciated most about this book was its focus on the music. Ronstadt gives little anecdotes that aptly crystallize a cultural period... like roller skating through angel dust victims with Manson family members on the Ventura Beach boardwalk or hanging with Jerry Brown in Malibu as storms wash away the expensive real estate. Most of it though is about why she made the musical decisions she made and why she challenged herself with stuff like La Boheme and Pirates of Penzance. OK, she's not complicated like Joni Mitchell or otherworldly like Emmylou Harris and she's all sober and for some reason still friends with jerks like Don Henley but I'm glad I spent Christmas with her, thinking about music.
danne789's review
2.0
I didn't really enjoy this book at all. This book was really just a lot of name dropping, and I didn't know many of the names that, I'm sure was actually a big deal. I know it's a musical memoir, but I thought there would be more of Linda Ronstadt. I don't feel like I really got to know her at all.
I gave it 2 stars because she's from Tucson, where I grew up, and so a lot of the Tucson mentions in the book were nostalgic. Also, she spent a random afternoon rollerblading with one of the manson girls when she was out waiting on appeal. I'm a big true crime person, so that little nugget was gold.
I gave it 2 stars because she's from Tucson, where I grew up, and so a lot of the Tucson mentions in the book were nostalgic. Also, she spent a random afternoon rollerblading with one of the manson girls when she was out waiting on appeal. I'm a big true crime person, so that little nugget was gold.
sjgrodsky's review
3.0
Pay attention to the subtitle: “a musical memoir.” So if you’re looking for illuminating stories about Glenn Frey or Jerry Brown or any of the numerous other people Linda Ronstadt knew and worked with, you’ll find very little here. Linda has a habit of breaking off the tale just when things are getting interesting.
For example, she tells of Jerry Brown coming by to go with her to visit another friend. Jerry noticed a bouquet of flowers Linda had received and suggested that they remove the card and take the flowers as a gift.
Linda’s comment is that this illustrates Jerry’s parsimony. Well, yes it does, but if Linda is dating Jerry, from whom is she receiving bouquets of flowers? Jerry deduces that the bouquet is from another admirer, but who was he and then what?
No answers. You have the feeling that a few publicists and lawyers are reviewing each page the poor girl writes, trimming away all the drama.
You will get some understanding of a wonderfully talented singer. Most surprising is that she doesn’t speak or understand Spanish, even though she recorded two albums in that language. It turns out she had a friend help her translate the words into English so she knew what they meant. And she must have rehearsed A LOT.
One of the few stories she does tell is of performing at a charreada, a traditional Mexican rodeo. She was wearing a beautiful long dress, riding sidesaddle, and singing her heart out. Then the sound system started feeding back and it spooked the horse. She was scared nearly to death, and who would not be? Riding sidesaddle is dangerous in and of itself. But on a spooky horse she doesn’t know with feedback, an audience, and the expectation that she would not break character and not stop singing?
Fortunately, she was able to calm the horse and ride him away from the feedback. I give her a lot of credit for horsemanship and showmanship.
She liked the horse so much she offered to buy him and received him as a gift. Unfortunately, the horse was injured and she was never able to ride him again. But — and this is the best thing about Linda I learned — he retired to her ranch and spent the rest of his life cropping grass.
Kudos to Linda for treating him right.
And Linda, in case you’re reading this: your editor made you remove the horse stories. But I would have read every word about your horses. Your dogs too.
And to your editor, if he is reading this: How could you allow deadwood sentences like this one, where Linda describes listening to records that deeply influenced her musicality: “These were bricks that we tried to cement into our musical basements” (page 73).
Isn’t it your job to help a singer express her thoughts in clear prose without resorting to strained metaphors?
For example, she tells of Jerry Brown coming by to go with her to visit another friend. Jerry noticed a bouquet of flowers Linda had received and suggested that they remove the card and take the flowers as a gift.
Linda’s comment is that this illustrates Jerry’s parsimony. Well, yes it does, but if Linda is dating Jerry, from whom is she receiving bouquets of flowers? Jerry deduces that the bouquet is from another admirer, but who was he and then what?
No answers. You have the feeling that a few publicists and lawyers are reviewing each page the poor girl writes, trimming away all the drama.
You will get some understanding of a wonderfully talented singer. Most surprising is that she doesn’t speak or understand Spanish, even though she recorded two albums in that language. It turns out she had a friend help her translate the words into English so she knew what they meant. And she must have rehearsed A LOT.
One of the few stories she does tell is of performing at a charreada, a traditional Mexican rodeo. She was wearing a beautiful long dress, riding sidesaddle, and singing her heart out. Then the sound system started feeding back and it spooked the horse. She was scared nearly to death, and who would not be? Riding sidesaddle is dangerous in and of itself. But on a spooky horse she doesn’t know with feedback, an audience, and the expectation that she would not break character and not stop singing?
Fortunately, she was able to calm the horse and ride him away from the feedback. I give her a lot of credit for horsemanship and showmanship.
She liked the horse so much she offered to buy him and received him as a gift. Unfortunately, the horse was injured and she was never able to ride him again. But — and this is the best thing about Linda I learned — he retired to her ranch and spent the rest of his life cropping grass.
Kudos to Linda for treating him right.
And Linda, in case you’re reading this: your editor made you remove the horse stories. But I would have read every word about your horses. Your dogs too.
And to your editor, if he is reading this: How could you allow deadwood sentences like this one, where Linda describes listening to records that deeply influenced her musicality: “These were bricks that we tried to cement into our musical basements” (page 73).
Isn’t it your job to help a singer express her thoughts in clear prose without resorting to strained metaphors?
rebelbelle13's review
4.0
I have been a fan of Linda Ronstadt since I was a little girl, around the age of 8 or so. Her voice was so different, so full, so emotional- quite different of the pop singers of the time (around the early 90's). I loved her sweeping standards, her duets, even her spanish songs, of which I didn't understand a single word, but got her meaning anyways. I received this book as a gift, and was thrilled to get started learning about the life of one of my favorite singers. Since I didn't know much about her personal life, everything she talked about was new to me. For those who say that she doesn't go in depth enough, I agree. The chapters were too short, and it seemed as though she only talked about the parts of her life that she wanted to. Most of the book is focused on her early life and career, up until about the mid 70's. After that, it feels rushed and glossed over. She went directly from Cry Like a Rainstorm to the present (a gap of more than 25 years). I was looking for her to talk about my favorite album of hers, Winter Light, and she didn't even mention it. She did talk about her collaborations with Nelson Riddle, Aaron Neville (who I can't understand why anyone likes, because his singing voice is so strange and creepy) EmmyLou Harris, Dolly Parton and of course, The Stone Poneys. She also fails to go into depth about her romances. I can understand why, but she hardly mentions being involved with anyone, which I know is a total lie. She also doesn't explain why she lost her voice, and the struggle and heartbreak that went with it- that was a lost opportunity to flesh out the story.
On the whole, it is a fast, informational read, and it does leave you feeling good. Maybe it's because I've always held Linda in such high regard, and she's been a part of my life for so long- but I really wanted a little more.
On the whole, it is a fast, informational read, and it does leave you feeling good. Maybe it's because I've always held Linda in such high regard, and she's been a part of my life for so long- but I really wanted a little more.