"The New Linda Ronstadt Documentary Proves Just How Underrated She Is"

My wife and I saw her around that time as well, at the Scope in Norfolk, Va. The Eagles were the opening act for here. We actually went to see them firstly, but she was awesome as well. I remember the timing as the Eagles played a "new song" that no one in the audience had heard before, and both my wife and I liked it right off the bat. It was called "One of These Nights".

At this concert, Linda sang "Desperado", not the Eagles.

 

As a Roy Orbison fan, I would whole-heatedly disagree that her version of BLUE BAYOU is definitive. He wasn't much to look at, but his voice was second to none.

 

I love Roy Orbison´s original version of the song, and I don´t have one negatve word to say about that. (I am also a Roy Orbison fan.) I still feel that Linda Ronstadt´s version is my preferred version, though I still play the original on a regular basis. I recently bought a Hong Kong SACD of "ULTIMATE ROY ORBISON", and it sounds wonderful. His version of "BLUE BAYOU" really came alive.

And no, he wasn´t much to look at. Neither am I. But, unlike me, he could sing like few others. I don´t like choosing THE best voice ever, but his is certainly on my shortlist. As is Linda Ronstadt´s. Some have preety voices, some have expressive voices. Both Roy and Linda had both qualities. In spades...

So I did not mean to belittle Roy Orbison´s vocal abilities. I would be stupid even to try such a thing. I remember Robin Gibb singling out Roy Orbison´s voice as one of his major inspirations, and who can blame him?

 

Roy Orbison did say her version of Blue Bayou was the best cover of one of his songs that he had ever heard.

 

I may be the only person alive that doesn't like 'blue bayou' at all.
Love Roy, Love Linda, but the song bores me to tears no matter who does it.
It's sure a popular song, I've had to play behind many 'walk up' artists at shows
trying to hide my frustration for it.
Never quite understood the appeal for the song.

 

Love the song and it really makes her voice shine.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why they needed to take the underrated angle. She sold 100 million albums, had four platinum albums in a row and won numerous Grammys. I always loved her voice but recently I started buying reissues of her albums on vinyl at the request of my wife. I am now a huge fan.

I can't wait to see this, though.​

 

Yeah that would seem to be the exact opposite of "underrated."

 

People aren't talking about millions of sales when they talk of things being underrated.

 

I'm sorry but that's a non sequitur. If people spend money to buy your album, they are "rating" it. If your peers select that album as one of the best of the year, they're also "rating" it.

 

So has anybody seen it yet?

 

CNN will be showing it in the fall.

 

Yes it’s great. Go see in a theater if you can.

 

She was obviously popular in the 1970s but her stock has fallen a lot compared to many of her contemporaries, probably due to the fact that she no longer tours. From her profile nowadays you would never know she was as much a 70s chart mainstay as Fleetwood Mac, McCartney or anybody.

 

Yes, in select theaters now.

 

Joni Mitchell doesn’t tour either but she is still highly regarded. Lack of songwriting holds Linda back a bit. But that’s true of greats like Elvis and Sinatra too.

 

Another minor thing is that the film that should have made her a movie star was stillborn. The studio did an experiment with Pirates of Penzance where they showed it on pay-per-view the same night it was to open in the theaters.

The theater owners retaliated by showing it in their smallest, most out-of-the-way theater, on only one screen for one week in each town.

I know this because I saw it at the Kansas City Watts Mill AMC, the worst "cracker box" style theater in the AMC chain. There was no ad in the newspaper for it other than the single listing of the time.

If the film had had some support, it would have been successful and would have launched a second career for her.

 

Lack of songwriting has held back greats like Elvis and Sinatra?

 

This.
She is a famous artist and she sold millions of records. Because she's not well regarded among the hipster circles doesn't mean she's underrated.
The hipster world isn't the real world outside

 

Not what I meant at all. I consider Elvis and Sinatra "greats" and Linda is in that same category of song interpreters.

 

Great voice. And I don't think that was ever overlooked.

But the peak hit albums were littered with a lot of safe somewhat formulaic covers that haven't aged all that well.

 

She really had no interest in acting though.

 

But she was adorable in it.

My point is her only real attempt was basically smothered in the cradle.

 

Missing her great version of Carmelita.

 

I believe she is David Lindley's cousin...