Some excellent tracks, but the whole is a disappointment

As much as I love certain tracks on this 1982 Linda Ronstadt offering, it just doesn't work as a unified whole.

The formula that worked so well for her in the 70s with HEART LIKE A WHEEL, PRISONER IN DISGUISE, HASTEN DOWN THE WIND and SIMPLE DREAMS has finally broken down, and the new decade did not sit well for her album work.

She still produces some excellent individual tracks though, especially the stunningly beautiful "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress", the rollicking "Get Closer", the amazing "I Knew You When" and the clever segue from the belting of "Lies" right into the girl-group energy of "Tell Him."

Unfortunately, the rest of the album is missing a certain urgency. Part of it is the tepid production, part of it is Ronstadt's emotional detachment. Her duet with James Taylor on the Ike and Tina Turner "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine", has absolutely no emotion or soul. "Easy For You To Say" is vocally beautiful, but emotionally hollow and even the Dolly Parton cover, "My Blue Tears", seems to be sung by rote.

It's tempting to want to give this album 5 stars, mostly because the good parts are so so good, but unfortunately, it disappoints as a whole.

What's new? Not much...

After getting a taste of Broadway via the hammy operetta "Pirates of Penzance", Ronstadt returned to pop-rock with this woefully uneven and strident collection of quickie tracks. There's actually real, genuine emotion only in a handful of cuts: "Mendocino", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", the thoughtful and sad "Sometimes You Just Can't win", and the spritely James Taylor duet "Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine". The rest is harry-karry, running rampant from '50's Detroit-rock to soul-sister nonsense.

Winning formula works again

I love this album. It came out at a time when new wave was becoming popular and Linda Ronstadt was a great artist of the 70's . She's at her usual versatile best here. One of my favorites is the powerful remake of "I knew you when", which proved that Linda could still belt out a tune with the best of them. One of the greatest performances I've ever heard on an album is the unbelievable "the moon's a harsh mistress". It's simply breath taking. The song is timeless. Easy for you to say is also a great song of heartbreak which linda does as good as anyone. Mr. Radio is haunting and beautiful. The rest of the album is good stuff as well of varying styles of music from country, new wave and rock and roll. Something for everyone.