[William Chavez]

I do especially like her version of "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress."

I think I prefer it over Joe Cocker's.'

I think Judy Collin's rendition of "Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is tops for me. Here you have a woman of incredible talents. She is probably one of the best interpretive singers in the business. Her voice is stronger than ever. When she decided to start composing songs we saw that she was great at that too. She was the major push behind the documentary on Dr.Antonia Brico "Antonia, Portrait of a Woman" (nominated for an Academy Award-not that this means anything). I have this documentary and the day I played it at my house everybody who walked by became GLUED to the set. Her small acting roles have received great reviews. As a pianist(initially a classical performer) she is rivaled only by Tori Amos and maybe Bruce Hornsby(his playing is more pop/jazz). I think Billy and Elton don't come close in technique, although I don't think Judy is a great improviser. Has anybody really listened to what Tori is doing on that Piano?!?! What about the harpsichord. This is a very difficult instrument to play and just because you are a great pianist does not mean you can play a harpsichord.

Those are my favorites too although I don't have 'Don't Cry Now'. I'd >like to get a hold of 'Silk Purse' but I don't think it's available on >cd. 'Prisoner' and 'Hasten' are particular favorites. Linda's version >of 'I Will Always Love You' puts Whitney to shame imo and she >interprets songs by J D Souther and Karla Bonoff like nobody else.'

Whitney's version is good but Linda's is better. I do hate the fact that Whitney made it into such a BIG hit. It almost takes the sincerity out of it when something is soooo commercialized. I loved that song when it was country musics little secret. Somehow, if Elvis had made this song into another "Love me Tender" it would have still retained its validity. Dolly is one mega rich woman because of Whitney though.

Silk Purse and Home Grown have good song and poor songs on them. I do think both are available on CD but don't expect to see them stocked at the local record store. The song "Long, Long Time" is on Silk Purse and this one is CLASSIC Linda. There is one album that is not easy to find and was released just before Don't Cry Now. It's called 'Linda Ronstadt'. The songs as individuals are very good eventhough the album as a whole is not cohesive. There is a live cut of the Neil Young song "Birds" on this album. This has got to be the DEFINITE RENDITION of this song. Those "not yet famouse" boys that were later to make up the group the EAGLES back her up throughout much of this album.

she(Linda) interprets songs by J D Souther and Karla Bonoff like >nobody else.'

True, I don't think I've ever heard anybody do Souther or Bonoff like Linda. I have a secret desire to hear Stevie Nicks due an album of Souther song in her Bella Donna vein. That will never happen(despite the fact that they use to date).

I started exploring Billie Holiday's music around the time 'What's >New' came out and eventually discovered that a pretty voice does not >necessarily a great interpreter make and a less than pretty voice can >sometimes get to the heart of a song and give it life that you never >suspected was there.

If you ever want to talk about Billie, I'M THERE. She is the prime example for demonstrating that a great voice means little and a voice with character is everything!!!! I think that Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline are the two most important vocalist of our time PERIOD!

Ms. Ross. Diana. What can you say about her? I agree with William >that her vocals were surprisingly good in 'Lady Sings the Blues'. She >did do a pretty decent job of giving an impression of Billie's style. >But the character she played was not Billie Holiday. At least not >from everything I've read about Billie.

I think you used a great word for Diana on Billie. IMPRESSION! She gives the impression of Billie without singing like Billie. That is what makes her renditions of these songs VALID. Her acting on this film (unlike others films that followed), was GOOD. With the exception of Cher(good singer but not a great), most singers turned actresses suck.

I bet you guys are sorry you let me be a part of this forum(Ha Ha). In person, it is difficult to get a word out of me. I guess I'm not really speaking while typing...
Workingwilly






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