Album Review

Linda Ronstadt is the third solo studio album by Linda Ronstadt, released in early 1972 on the Capitol Records label. The album was a sales failure, prompting Linda's exit from Capitol Records. It peaked at #163 on Billboard's Pop Album Chart and #35 on Billboard's Country Album Chart. It is considered to be a front-runner in the country rock music genre.

Before recording the album, Ronstadt hired guitarist Glenn Frey to assemble a touring band; Frey did so with members of drummer Don Henley's band Shiloh, who were signed to Amos Records at the same time as Frey's previous band, Longbranch Pennywhistle. The touring band, augmented by pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow and producer John Boylan on guitar, accompanied Ronstadt on six of the album's ten tracks, including three that were recorded live at The Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California during March of 1971. The other members of the original Eagles lineup, guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner, appeared on other tracks as session musicians, with Meisner accompanying Ronstadt on backing vocals with the live band on ''Birds'' and ''Rescue Me''. Frey, Henley, Leadon and Meisner formed the Eagles, with Ronstadt's approval, after the album's release. Other notable session musicians on the album include violinist Gib Guilbeau, pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons, and Herb Pedersen on guitar, banjo and backing vocals. [wikipedia.org]