Ronstadt’s 1977 touring band: (L to R): Dan Dugmore, Andrew Gold, Waddy Wachtel, Ronstadt, Kenny Edwards and Rick Marotta, via waddywachtelinfo.com
So who were the top female classic rockers in the Seventies? Ann and Nancy Wilson for sure. Pat Benatar and Chrissie Hynde just make it since their debut albums arrived in 1979. Patti Smith? You bet. Joan Jett with the Runaways and Debbie Harry of Blondie? Sure. Janis passed away in 1970. Stevie Nicks and Grace Slick? Absolutely. Any list must also include three of the biggest: Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King.
And then there was Linda Ronstadt.
While her output ranged from a variety of musical genres – heck, she had four #1 Country Albums – when she chose to belt out a rock song, she was truly in a class by herself. At various times her band featured Waddy Wachtel, Andrew Gold, the Eagles, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel, among others. And we’ll leave out the part about how damn sexy she was. (Oops…)
This ad appeared in the Feb. 4, 1978 issue of Record World magazine.
Her first hit was with the Stone Poneys with their 1967 single “Different Drum.” (If you knew it was written by a pre-Monkees Michael Nesmith, raise your hand.) Ronstadt, born July 15, 1946, was just 21 years old when the song reached #13 on the Hot 100 in February 1968.
Her first solo album was released in 1969 but it wasn’t until 1973’s Don’t Cry Now (with such covers as “Desperado” and “Sail Away”) that she began to earn chart success. A year later, she delivered Heart Like a Wheel with two back-to-back smash singles: the #1 “You’re No Good” and #2 “When Will I Be Loved.” She was on her way.
Singles like “Heat Wave,” “The Tracks of My Tears” and “That’ll Be the Day” followed. 1977’s Simple Dreams yielded three more hits including the Top 5 singles “Blue Bayou” and “It’s So Easy” plus a cover of Warren Zevon’s “Poor Poor Pitiful Me.”
First, here’s Zevon’s original recording.
Ronstadt’s version debuted at #70 on Jan. 28, 1978, on the U.S. singles chart, ultimately peaking at just #31.
Watch our Classic Video of her performing “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in 1977
Related: Read our rare interviews with Ronstadt, Part 1 about her career, and Part 2 about the Eagles start and the SoCal music scene
Ronstadt’s recordings, including a 2026 release, The Early Years, are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.
8 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationQueen of Rock. Rolling Stone revisionists came close to erasing and marginalizing her Rock ‘n Roll legacy. Woefully underrated by the rock critics but respected in her many other genres. Sold over 100 million records, worth about $120M. Still in the American Top Ten female solo bestselling artists.
Absolutely. She was named the Queen of Rock and Roll by Rolling Stone, Time, People, and other media. Those rags featured scores of articles about her. She sold more records than any woman, and was the first woman to fill stadiums. She was revered by country and rock singers, and asked to sing on dozens of sessions. Several country stars and rock stars wrote songs about her. And yet Rolling Stone hasn’t seen fit to include her in its Top 100 Rock Singers list — because she strayed. She did the American Songbook. Country. And — God forbid — Mexican and other Spanish music. BTW, all of those efforts sold millions of records and garnered Grammys and other awards.
In my humble opinion, it’s a badge of honor if Rolling Stone magazine ignores you they are garbage… Linda Ronstadt is simply 70s rock ‘n’ roll 70s country 70s music. God bless her and we are lucky to still have her.
Saw her live in 77, 78 and 99. Her bands were absolutely incredible every time I saw her. Basically R+R legends, each and every one. Nobody sang like Linda before, or after. Her voice has no peer, period. The greatest singer of her generation and it isn’t close.
I saw her at a 1978 Jerry Brown for President concert in Las Vegas where she opened for the Eagles. It was a stunning performance, especially when, for her encore, she introduced her boyfriend, Jerry B., and did the song “My Boyfriend is Back In Town”. Absolutely outstanding (especially since our seats were only 10 rows back).
Linda Ronstadt is the Queen of Rock n Roll. She had the looks, the voice and the style. She had it all. Her remake of the Stones’ Tumblin Dice kicks Ass! She rocked throughout the 70s.
Amen. No one was even close. She killed it live. Tumbling Dice was her first encore when she headlined the Superdome in Nov. of 1977.
Me and Linda Ronstadt, it was Easter week in 1966 .. a bunch of us headed down to Balboa / Newport Beach for all the parties and happenings they were known for down there …
Bob a good friend of mine, me and a couple of others were riding in the back of Carls 1936 Flat Head V-8 Ford Pick-up Truck cruising on Balboa Island (this was before Linda hit with Different Drum)
Bob spots a couple of blonds walking up the street .. tells Carl to stop and says come on Duck, let’s go say hello .. it was a blond Linda Ronstadt and her blond girlfriend both stone-fox.
So from there it was .. hello what’s new and exciting .. what cha been doing for laughs .. where ya from .. got any plans for later on ? ..
It worked .. she said they were staying in Huntington Beach at the Edgewater Hyatt House in room # something … come on by around 7pm.
Me and Bob showed up on time .. conversation was light and easy .. they were both from Tucson Arizona and Linda was going to Hollywood to become a professional singer (now right there … she either already had a recording date .. or knew she could get one with no problem … she was very confident about it, and it was like she was born knowing that, that was what she was for) .. she said she wanted to call me Johnny .. I said something about just not late for dinner .. or something like that..
Within the first 15 minutes of conversation, Linda asked Bob what his birthday was … Then when she asked me, I said July 15th. .. the silence was stark .. then they both started giggling .. she said Say that again ?! .. (I thought I said something wrong) .. so I said July 15th .. try not to hate me too much .. she immediately said my birthday is July 15th. too and started laughing .. I then said something like “no wonder you’re so smoking hot” .. as I was walking slowing toward her smiling .. we both turned our heads at the same time and started a teenaged make out session.
That went on for a while .. by now Bob and her girlfriend were busy at it too … her girlfriend shortly after that said ..” Linda .. we blew it .. remember those other two older guys are supposed to be here in 15 minutes” .. Linda said .. “Oh Yeah .. that’s right .. I’m sorry .. but here’s my address in Arizona write me a letter so we can stay in touch and maybe hook up later on”.
Just when we were leaving, her girlfriend said I want to kiss Johnny good night too .. so we did 8 to 10 second smooch, said good night and left for the Hull-A-Baloo Night Club in Hollywood
I doubt she will ever remember this, but I’ll never forget it …what a sweet memory .. and yes .. She is a great kisser too.