Linda Ronstadt - Prisoner in Disguise
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Free Music Notes for Prisoner in Disguise
Free Music Review: Ronstadt Finds Her Niche
Hit: 4 Stars
One either loves or hates the soft Southern California rock sound of the mid-seventies. On this outing, with the likes of James Taylor, Andrew Gold, Peter Asher, Dan Dugmore, Kenny Edwards and J. D. Souther, expect to hear the same musicians (and style) who provided backup for Jackson Browne. Linda Ronstadt has always impressed me most as a romantic balladeer who finished on the wrong side of love: a torch singer. She faithfully embodies the pains of love on "Hey Mister, That's Me Up On the Jukebox," "Prisoner in Disguise" and "I Will Always Love You." Linda's powerful voice and range are most evident on the latter.
The surprise (albeit pleasant) is the inclusion of the rhythm and blues numbers. "The Tracks of My Tears" is well suited to Linda's romantic style, and she and the band rock steady on "Heat Wave." A special note should be made of Linda's affinity for such gifted composers as the McGarrigle sisters (You Tell Me That I'm Falling Down).
I'd rate "Prisoner in Disguise" as an outstanding album had it not been for the work of J. D. Souther ("Prisoner in Disguise" and "Silver Blue"). Sorry, but Souther is the weakest composer featured. Still, "Prisoner in Disguise" is from a brief period in a long career where Linda Ronstadt finds her niche.
Free Music Review: Cover-song crooner?
Hit: 3 Stars
With all the talent she can muster, Linda Ronstadt pours her heart into...covers of '60's radio hits? There must have been no shortage to the songs delivered Ronstadt's way when this album was recorded, so why choose such sub-standard material? Her "Tracks of my Tears" is a fine version, but "Heat Wave" plays tough-girl without putting off much steam. The title track, "Many Rivers To Cross", Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" and "Silver Blue" are all mundane. Nowhere nearly as good as "Heart Like a Wheel". Thank goodness "Greatest Hits" came along, it culls the best tracks from this album(including the spritely "Love is a Rose"), making "Prisoner" irrelevent.Free Music Review: Linda Covers Great Artists
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great Linda Ronstadt CD, and one that I think appeals most to those of us Linda fans who prefer when she sings Pop-Rock with a West Coast feel. There isn't a bad track on this album, but my favorites are "Love Is A Rose", "Many Rivers To Cross", "Prisoner in Disguise" and of course her lovely and simple cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."I particularly like the sound of her strong belt on "Heat Wave" although rythmically something is missing. But any glitches are totally redeemed by her performance on the stunning "Silver Blue".
Although occasionally Linda seems unable to connect emotionally to her material, tracks like "Silver Blue" and "Many Rivers To Cross" prove she has the ability to inject feeling into her amazingly strong vocals when needed, she just uses them sparingly on this album.
Not as emotionally winning, but still a respectable follow up to HEART LIKE A WHEEL.
Free Music Review: Excellent Follow Up
Hit: 5 Stars
Back in the 70's Linda Ronstadt was cranking out the hits. This album came after her hugely successful HEART LIKE A WHEEL album. If anything this album proves that Linda Ronstadt is a master at interpreting other people's songs. She handles quite a few here, and makes them her own. She handles James Taylor's "Hey Mister, That's Me On The Jukebox", a wonderful version of Neil Young's "Love is a Rose", Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" in a soaring rendition, a heartfelt rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You", a powerful rendition of "Heat Wave" and more. Other highlights include the powerful title track, "Silver Blue" and "Roll Em Easy". You can't lose with this one from Linda. Enjoy it!Free Music Review: Linda Ronstadt Rolling High And Easy.....
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a classic Ronstadt album, recorded when she was really in her prime, busy cranking out the volume of hits and 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.The title tune, written by friend and collaborator JD Souther, "Prisoner In Disguise" is a haunting, powerfully performed song. Then too, James Taylor's "Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox," is powerfully interpreted. "Heat Wave" and "Tracks of My Tears" are sizzling, as is a banjo-strumming version of Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose". She soars with an interpretation of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross," and a lovely effort at blue-eyed soul with Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You". I personally preferred this version of the song, which is quite beautiful without the vocal histrionics of the Whitney Houston recording, which I think ruin the song as a vehicle. All in all, this is a terrific album and one that is really a showcase for Linda at her very best. Enjoy!