An early country-folk-rock classic

Linda's recording career has embraced many different styles of music, including her country rock and pop rock music produced by Peter Asher in the seventies and her Great American Songbook albums produced by Nelson Riddle the mid eighties as well as her two traditional folk country Trio albums with Dolly and Emmylou. People who were taken by surprise at the style of the first Trio album would have been less surprised if they had looked at the early recordings of each of the three ladies. This 1969 album was recorded in Nashville in a folk-country-rock style typical of Linda's very early albums.

Silver threads and golden needles has been recorded by Linda Ronstadt at least twice - she re-recorded it for her seventies album, Don't cry now. Wanda Jackson originally recorded this song in the fifties but it was after Skeeter Davis covered it for her debut album that Dusty Springfield discovered it. It then became a top twenty American hit for the Springfields, with Dusty singing. Linda Ronstadt revived the song and also had success with it, though I will always regard the Springfields version as the definitive one.

There are two Bob Dylan covers here - Baby you've been on my mind and I'll be your baby tonight. The only mama that'll walk the line is a gender-adjusted cover of the Waylon Jennings classic, Only daddy that'll walk the line. Break my mind, written by John D Loudermilk, provided George Hamilton IV with a country hit and was covered by many country singers. There are many other excellent, if obscure, songs on this album

If you enjoy the Trio albums, you will probably enjoy this album and Linda's other early albums including Silk purse. If you didn't enjoy the Trio albums, you may be better looking elsewhere for your musical entertainment. If you haven't heard those albums, I recommend that you try one or both of them first.

Terrific Early Effort By An Emerging Superstar!

While this is not a typical Ronstadt album, nor one recorded when she was really in her prime, it is a very early solo album that shows her potential for cranking out hits as well of those seemingly effortless and sometimes facile interpretations of other people's songs, showing just how original an artist she was. Like the legendary Johnny Rivers, who always seemed to have a magical touch for turning other people's work into brilliant covers and best-selling albums, Ronstadt here does a star turn with other people's songs. She shows here just how versatile and eclectic her approach to some interesting material could be. From a raucous hit song like Buddy Holly's "Break My Mind" to a sweet and soulful interpretation of the classic country tune, "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" or the plaintive "Number And A Name", Linda pulls out all of the stops, and although the album was panned critically, it was also her first album that really showcased her tremendous eclectic abilities.



Her fans knew what they liked, and they sure seemed to like this terrific collection of so many different genres gathered under a single tent. The opening tune, "Baby, You've been On My Mind", is a haunting, powerfully performed song. Then too, the soulful rendition of "Long Way Around" is powerfully interpreted. "Ill Be Your Baby Tonight" and "It's About Time" are sizzling, as is a well-arranged version of "Dolphins". She soars with an interpretation of the traditional "Bet Nobody Ever Hurt So Bad", and a lovely effort at blue-eyed soul with "Give One Heart". My personal favorite here is "We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock and Roll", with its satirical messages about the dynamics of being human. All in all, this is a terrific album and one that is really a showcase for Linda at her early best. Enjoy!