‘For Sentimental Reasons’: The Linda Ronstadt album her label called her crazy for
Linda Ronstadt is undoubtedly one of the most influential and versatile voices of modern music history. Throughout her five decade career, Ronstadt has famously rubbed shoulders with a string of huge contemporaries, sharpening her own unique soulful style. Her career spanned rock, country, folk and Latin music, earning her multiple Grammy awards and selling over 100million records globally.
Beyond her mainstream success, Ronstadt today holds the title of trailblazer for female artists, breaking boundaries across genres, business practices, and creative vision in general. From the likes of ‘Blue Bayou’, the 1970s icon spanned more than just timeless classics, but also showcased her range with later works like all-Spanish record, Canciones de Mi Padre.
Today, her legacy stems not just from her commercial success, but the inspiration she gave – and still gives – to the artists of today. However, her expansive versatility wasn’t always praised by the people around her. Surely, this creative friction lavishes her with even greater kudos.
Her standards album, For Sentimental Reasons, was released in 1986. After releasing rock chart-toppers ‘You’re No Good’ and ‘When Will I Be Loved’, this decision was initially met with stern criticism from her label. What was a hip rock star riding the high of their latest moment doing releasing a standards album?
This suggestion came closely after her stint in The Pirates of Penzance in 1983. The involvement in the film was widely dismissed by the label as Ronstadt taking a break to mess about. However, to Ronstadt herself, the project revealed a whole new side of creative possibility. It was through the project that Ronstadt discovered another artistic voice, liberating her into the musical unknown.
Ronstadt’s friend and Eagles’ frontman Glenn Frey notes Ronstadt’s remarkable ability to turn “a scary situation into something satisfying”. He noted her fearlessness in taking radical chances with her music, which was incredibly uncommon at the time for someone with as much fame and success as Ronstadt.
It was in her nature to do so. Despite her ongoing success, Ronstadt embarked on artistic ventures that anyone in her position might be deemed insane to take. However, it was her creative curiosity that came before any glittering status as a rockstar. What was soon to follow was For Sentimental Reasons, a flawless 11-track standards album. Despite the label’s initial protests, Ronstadt proved them wrong when the record peaked in the top 50 on the Billboard 200.
Recorded alongside arranger and composer Nelson Riddle, For Sentimental Reasons presented the final collaborative instalment to come from the duo. Riddle passed away during the conception of this record, making the record all the more meaningful to the artist herself. Indeed, the lush jazz-infused arrangements perfectly showcased Ronstadt’s ability to seamlessly interpret classic American standards.
Gliding over orchestral arrangements with a soothing warmth and precision, the record blends familiar nostalgia with fresh intimacy. Beyond demonstrating her versatility as a singer, For Sentimental Reasons called into practice Ronstadt’s ability to make any genre definitively her.
Shortly to follow was Ronstadt’s iconic trio album in 1987, joining forces with fellow female music icons Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. Returning here to her country and folk-leaning roots, Ronstadt had gone beyond proving her unique ability to make quality records in any genre. Her next project, released that very same year, was Canciones de mi Padre, an all-Spanish record. This record went on to become the biggest non-English album in the recording business at the time.
The range of Ronstadt’s musical capabilities not only showcased her seamless versatility, but demonstrated a deep emotional connection to what was at the heart of it all – music itself. Her identity as a genre-bending musician has since pushed aspiring artists to think outside the box, and her legacy as a trailblazing female artist makes this all the more powerful.
