Hasten Down The Wind

(Asylum)

She may have the best set of what is too commonly called “pipes” in this hemisphere, but that don’t make her best vocalist in the West. Like Rod Stewart she is a great interpreter. Unlike Patti Smith, she has nothing to say, most of the time (she co-wrote two songs here). But then interpreters don’t have to; that is their saving grace. I have cried to Linda Ronstadt’s interpretations of other people’s music before. Big fucking deal. I have also cried at sidewalks and dogs in the past year, cheap sentimental matinees, sunsets and the face that fronts the voice at jack in the Box; in other words, I got floating emotionalism, like most of you, so my joyous torment with Linda Ronstadt don’t mean shit.