Turntable Talk #36 – One More For The Road

I want to thank Dave from A Sound Day once again for the invitation to participate in Turntable Talk. He continues to come up with great monthly topics for this feature. This round brings us to the three year mark for this feature. It continues to be one of the features that I love to write for.

This time around, Dave found inspiration for our topic from the reunion tour that Oasis announced recently. Our instructions were to “pick an inactive act, solo or group, that you’d like to see back. Tell us who, why and what…one last tour? New album? Both?” There were some limitations – you could not resurrect someone who passed away for example. I wanted a bit more clarification and asked it health issues would rule out a choice. In other words, if an artist is not active because of some health problem, are they available? He said that would be ok.

That was important to my choice, as they currently are unable to sing. However, I would love for her to be able to do one more thing. I am talking about Linda Ronstadt.

It was 2011 when Linda announced her retirement. Two year’s later, she announced that she had Parkinson’s and could “no longer sing a note.” According to the Washington Post, her diagnosis was subsequently re-evaluated as progressive supranuclear palsy. The illness brought about the end of her singing career.

Linda was one of those artists who could do almost any genre. She made her mark in rock, country, Latin, pop, adult contemporary, and even opera! Her music is not limited to a specific genre and she has had great success with all of them.

She has won eleven Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, an ALMA Award and an Emmy Award. In 2014, Linda was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, she she was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities. She also won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

So to answer Dave’s question, I would love to hear another new album from her. At 78, I doubt a tour would be feasible. If I am allowed to ignore her voice issues and allow her the ability to sing again, I think an album that is a combination of all of her different styles would be an amazing send off.

The album could contain cover songs or originals. There have been some amazing songs that I could easily hear her singing. She could record some sweet ballads or songs with a little country flavor. I would love to hear a couple more from the Great American Songbook or a nice jazz piece. And if her voice is up to it, a few pop/rock songs.

If you have a problem with me healing her voice, I still think an album would be possible. She’s recorded over 30 albums. There has got to be some songs that she recorded that didn’t make the cut for them. I can only imagine the songs that are locked away in a vault somewhere just itching to be heard. The album could be like the one they did of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “vault” music after he passed away.

When I listen to Linda’s recordings, I find myself getting lost in that voice. It could be angelic, sultry, fun, seductive, gentle, hypnotic and mellow. That voice remains one that forever captivates me. It saddens me that her voice has been silenced and I would love to hear just one more album from her.

Thanks again, Dave, for asking me to participate. I look forward to reading the other writer’s contributions. Until next month, I will quote Linda from her Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind Album – “Adios.”