Linda Ronstadt diganosed with Parkinson's

     The devastating news crossed my desk tonight that Linda Ronstadt's career is over. The article found here: http://blog.aarp.org/2013/08/23/linda-ronstadt-discloses-her-battle-with-parkinsons-disease/  discloses that she has known for about eight months, but was having symptoms for several years before. On uneven ground she uses a cane, and travels with the use of a wheelchair.
     For many of us Linda and Stevie Nicks defined 70's LA style rock/pop. As the 70's turned to the 80's however, Ronstadt felt confined by the barriers of pop and spent the last 30 years traveling through the great American songbook, country, Spanish-language songs, children's music, and her last effort, 2006's, "Adieu False Heart" a Cajun flavored collaboration with Ann Savoy. She is easily the true definition of a musical renaissance woman.
     All of us wish to leave our profession on our own terms, but not all of us do. Artists of all kinds however leave a recorded legacy that keep them forever young, forever strong, and forever a part of our musical lexicon. Our thoughts, energy, and prayers go out to her as she continues to fight a much different battle. 
     

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Andrew Gold--Lonely Boy (1977)/Thank You For Being a Friend (1978)

     It's not often that we have a blog that deals with two songs, but thought it was a great example of how two songs take wildly diverting paths to success. "Lonely Boy" was the highest charting song of Gold's career, but one could argue that "Thank You For Being a Friend" is by far the most popular....
     Andrew came from very successful parents. His Mother, Marni Nixon, was a singer who provided the voices for many actresses in the movies, most notably Natalie Wood in "West Side Story" and Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady". His Dad was Ernest Gold who won an Oscar for composing the music to the movie, "Exodus". Not surprisingly, the eldest child Andrew, began writing songs by the time he was a teenager.
     Throughout the 70's Gold became one of the most in demand musicians/songwriters/producers in pop music. He was a major cog in the success of Linda Ronstadt beginning with her breakthrough album, "Heart Like a Wheel" and the rest of her albums that decade as an musician and arranger. His credits reads like a who's who of mid to late 70's pop; 10cc, Art Garfunkel, Eric Carmen, Carly Simon, John Lennon, Maria Muldaur, Karla Bonoff, Stephen Bishop, and many others.
     He began his career as a solo artist in 1975 and recorded four albums in the 70s. His first major hit was, "Lonely Boy", which although containing some autobiographical material, is not about him at all, a fact that had haunted him a bit over the years, and something that he admits wasn't a great idea, but was convenient at the time. It went to number 7 on the Hot 100. But it was his next single, that he probably best remembered for.
     "Thank You For Being A Friend", Gold's ode to friendship was released in 1978 and although not doing as well as "Lonely Boy", charted quite respectively at number 25, and although it was his last top 40 hit, he continued write, record, and work with other musicians. It was 1984, that a new sitcom on NBC called "The Golden Girls" was developed by writer Susan Harris. "Thank You For Being A Friend" was chosen as the theme, and although not sung by Gold on the show, (it was sung by Cynthia Fee), it brought him back into the spotlight once again. Due to the show being a hit for six seasons (it was on a total of seven), it is probably much better known song, even if many don't recognize it's author.
     Gold continued working continually until his death in 2011 at the age of 59.

    

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Glenn Frey--The Heat Is On (1984)

     Glenn Frey was having a solid career as a solo artist by 1984. Perhaps not to the level of The Eagles, his previous group, but three top 40 hits gave promise to a brighter future. From his late teens, the Detroit native had been at first been in a succession of local groups,  even singing backing vocals on the Bob Seger System's, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" in 1968. Thinking that his future was not going to be in his hometown, he went to California and shortly teamed up with J.D. Souther, a fellow Detroit native and soon formed the group, "Longbranch Pennywhistle". Looking back now, the group looked like a potential who's who of great musicians. Doug Kershaw Ry Cooder, James Burton, Larry Knechtel, and Joe Osbourn.
     The group had no promotion at all, but the connections within the band and in their gigging throughout California would serve Frey well, as he would come into contact with Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt. When the band finally folded, Ronstadt contacted him about playing in her backup band to support her nationwide tour in 1971. The band also consisted of Don Henley, Randy Mesiner, and Bernie Leadon. It wasn't long before the four chose to go on their own. It was thought in the music community that Leadon and Mesiner would be the leaders of this group since both had experience with name musicians, however it didn't take long for Henley and Frey to share songwriting duties and take leadership of the band called the Eagles.
     The Eagles is arguably the most popular American band in the 70's. (Fleetwood Mac was 2/5ths American), but as time went on the friction between the members, especially the principal songwriters became too much and they went their separate ways in 1982. Frey's first solo album, "No Fun Allowed" produced two top 40 this, and "The Allnighter" continued the momentum it a song from the movie, "Beverly Hills Cop" to send him into the top 10.
     The song written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, the song was one of five singles off of the soundtrack and contributed to the 80's being considered THE decade for pop hits.

 

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Linda Ronstadt--You're No Good (1974)

     Linda Ronstadt turns 65 today....

     She had a top 30 song in 1970 with 'Long, Long Time', and a country hit in 74' with, 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles'. However the woman with the gorgeous voice couldn't make a connection. on vinyl. She had a cult following due to her previous four albums partially because of her voice, partially because of her killer good looks (and as a young teenager...I did extensive research on this subject). No one doubted her talents, but finding a way to harness it was another thing altogether. She seemed a bit unfocused at first, but with each release became more assured of herself and her ability to choose material that was right for her.

     The key to unlocking everything turned out to be Peter Asher. She had chosen him to be the producer of her fourth album ('Don't Cry Now') on the advice of James Taylor's sister Kate. His biggest contribution was to let Ronstadt take charge of the studio, and to provide stellar arraignments to back her interpretative skills. There was improvement in not only her song selection, but in the arrangements of voice to band.  The next album, "Heart Like a Wheel", was very close to perfect for Linda, for the times, and (in my opinion) the best she has ever done. It began her huge success in America which gave her the financial and creative freedom to follow her muse wherever it took her....and for those who have followed her over the years, you know it has taken her to MANY places. Asher, by the way remained her producer up to the late 80's.

      "You're No Good" was written by Clint Ballard Jr. and was first a hit for Betty Everett in 1963 reaching #51. In 64', the Swinging Blue Jeans had a hit with it in the UK actually reaching the bottom of the charts here in the US as well. But it was Linda's take on the song, and Andrew Gold's prowess on virtually all of the instrumentation that took it to number 1 and the first of 11 to reach the top 20. ...Happy Birthday Linda.

   

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A Short Note About Don Kirshner with clip from Rock Concert (1974)

There were many names that were of importance in the history of rock and pop that had nothing to do with musicianship, but of the business side of things. Don Kirshner was one of those. He became known first as co-owner of Aldon Music, who had under contract at various times, Carole King, Jerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil. He also helped launch the careers of Neil Diamond and Bobby Darin.

He also was the mastermind behind The Monkees and The Archies. This gave him a bit of a bad rep especially with the burgeoning rock crowd, due to the "fakeness" of the groups. (I would like to add here that Michael Nesmith has had quite a solid career, although he was not hired for his ability musically). Time has shown that although the groups were manufactured, Kirshner's ear for what sounded good and what would see was unerring.

For me (and perhaps many of you), he was best known for "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert". The 70's brought three solid rock and/or pop shows to the airwaves. ABC's "In Concert", NBC's "Midnight Special" and "Rock Concert". All three brought different things to the table. For my taste, I preferred Kirshner's show because they would book acts that were usually not on the others.

After it's folding up in 1982, he spent his last years doing consulting work and the like. What we'll finish with
a clip from "Rock Concert" in 1974.

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