The country rock classic Glenn Frey called “an album for all time”
Far more than just a singer-songwriter, Linda Ronstadt is an artist whose influence often goes underappreciated. Not only is she a master of potent melodies and incisive lyricism, but her support for fellow musicians left an indelible mark on the 1970s music scene. Without Ronstadt’s encouragement, the era might have missed out on one of its greatest acts—the Eagles. This often overlooked contribution is something the late guitarist Glenn Frey was keenly aware of, recognising the pivotal role she played in the band’s formation and success.
Ronstadt first came to prominence as a member of the folk trio the Stone Poneys in the mid-late 1960s. After they fell apart in 1968, she became a solo artist. The following year, she released her solo debut, Hand Sown … Home Grown. It was a pioneering move, the first alternative country album by a female artist, and a highlight of a genre that has never been healthier in 2024. It speaks volumes of her era-defying significance.
Moving quickly, Ronstadt built on the foundations of her debut with Silk Purse, which arrived in 1970. Demonstrating the type of relentless self-critiquing that would push her to even greater heights in the coming years, she wasn’t happy with the album. This was despite it producing her first solo hit, ‘Long, Long Time’, earning her first Grammy nomination, and the fact it is a generally great album, produced by the revered folk-rock mastermind Elliot Mazer, on the advice of none other than Janis Joplin.
However, Ronstadt’s stock would rise exponentially due to the record, and during this exciting period, she would converge with the future members of the Eagles. She might not have known it at the time, but her presence in their lives would prove immensely consequential.
In early 1971, Ronstadt and her manager, John Boylan, recruited former Longbranch Pennywhistle member Glenn Frey and Texan drummer/vocalist Don Henley for her backing band. Also joining her supporting group for the summer tour of Silk Purse was Randy Meisner, who had worked with Ricky Nelson’s band, and the most prominent of them all, former Flying Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon. This backing outift would also tour for her in 1971 and play on that year’s Linda Ronstadt.
During this tour, Frey and Henley realised that this nascent country rock was the sort of music they wanted to explore further. They decided to form a band of their own, which Ronstadt fully supported. Frey would also claim that it was she who suggested Leadon join their new outfit and even hired him for her band so the pair could have the opportunity to approach him. As for Meisner, after they pitched their idea, he loved it and joined straight away.
The stories of Ronstadt and the Eagles are so closely interwoven that Frey accepted his old friend’s induction at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony. Not only did he celebrate her role in his and the band’s lives, but he also championed just how excellent her music is. He also dubbed one of her classic records “an album for all time”, reminding everyone of its artistic majesty.
Frey maintained that between 1969 and 1973, Ronstadt released four great solo albums, all effectively laying the groundwork for 1974’s breakthrough, Heart Like a Wheel. A number-one hit, it is widely deemed her masterpiece, regardless of the fact that none of the tracks were originals. The Eagles man claimed 1974 was “the first of many magic years” for Ronstadt.
He said: “She found herself in a place that all artists dream of. When the producer, and the material, the singer and the players all come together, and something otherworldy happens in the recording studio. This was Heart Like a Wheel, an album for all time.”
Whether it be the haunting title track, the piercing rendition of Hank Williams’ ‘I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love with You)’, or the hit cover of Betty Everett’s ‘You’re No Good’, although we might forget it now, Heart Like a Wheel is a classic. It stayed in the charts for 51 weeks and confirmed Ronstadt as one of her era’s greats.
