Classic!

I bought this album brand new years ago when I was a teenager and I bought the cd now as an adult just because it's so good. Some artists are simply out of time and Linda is one of them, good in any decade. "Someone to lay down beside me" and "Crazy" are just a few of the classic tunes. I also really enjoy the beach cover photo, flash photography outdoors, the white gauze dress, she's just one of those people that has been a part of my life musically for just about all of my life, she is a true legend.

In the foundation of any music collection

"Hasten" is, as many people now believe, Ronstadt's best work. It's in my the very top cut of my CD playing cycle, in an honored position right before Carole King's "Tapestry" and just after Joe Cocker's "Luxury You Can Afford." Things you should listen to often enough to appreciate, but not so often you tune them out.

Hasten is one of those magical albums that comes along once in a while, just as an artist's voice is at its very best, combined with material which is not only superbly written and performed, but shows their talent better than any other work.

There isn't a dud track here, and if you look back at the contemporary reviews, you'll find they were equally enthralled.

Personally, I believe Ronstadt's rendition of "Crazy" here is the best that's ever been done or could be done; the backup is understated and tight, but it's her voice that knocks your socks off. Evidence: I used "Crazy" (with all its audible recording flaws) to demo a new CD player (looking for something with SACD but that will also make regular CDs sound decent), and the listening room filled up with people who seemed to come out of nowhere. And everybody, even the salesman, kept their yaps shut through the whole song. So if "crowd stopper" doesn't do it for you, move on.

Now, if only they'd release it on SACD ...

No #1

This album spawned only one Top 20 hit,THAT'LL BE THE DAY,made famous by the late great Buddy Holly. Amazingly,Linda Ronstadt collaborates with her fellow Asylum Records labelmates such as the Eagles,Warren Zevon and Andrew Gold. This album never topped the pop charts like HEART LIKE A WHEEL. An OK album,though.