Linda Ronstadt - Whats New '1990/2012

Tracks list

Artist: Linda Ronstadt
Title Of Album: Whats New
Year Of Release: 1990/2012
Label: Warner Music Group
Genre: Vocal Jazz, Big Band, Traditional Pop, Easy Listening
Quality: flac lossless / flac 24bits - 192.0kHz
Total Time: 00:37:00
Total Size: 207 / 1284 mb
WebSite: 

Tracklist
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01. Whats New?
02. Ive Got a Crush on You
03. Guess Ill Hang My Tears Out to Dry
04. Crazy He Calls Me
05. Someone to Watch Over Me
06. I Dont Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You
07. Whatll I Do
08. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)
09. Good-Bye


Linda Ronstadt has released more than 30 studio albums and appeared on over 100
albums by other artists, and sold almost 100 million albums worldwide. This
Grammy nominated, Triple Platinum-certified 1983 album entitled Whats New
consists of nine jazz standards recorded with legendary arranger and bandleader
Nelson Riddle. This first of three albums arranged by Nelson for Linda includes
such well known songs as Ive Got a Crush on You, Someone to Watch Over Me, Crazy
He Calls Me and many more. 

Linda Ronstadt with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra’s What’s New was a
very big deal when it was released in 1983. My guess here is that it was much
bigger of a deal than you may remember. Why so you ask? It wasn’t a big
deal so much that it was a Linda Ronstadt album, nor was it a big deal because
it included the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. What made it a big deal was that it was
one of the first times that a genuine rock and roll star tackled the
“Great American Songbook.” 

I’m sure there are more out there, but the only one I could think of
quickly was Ringo Starr’s Sentimental Journey. That album was released in
1970 and while yes, Ringo is a very legitimate rock star, I don’t think
his vocal abilities will ever be compared to those of Ms. Ronstadt. At least in
a positive note they won’t be. 

By the early 80s, the usual crooners, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra etc.,
weren’t the biggest things with the youngsters. Yes, they were indeed
respected and probably loved even, especially Frank, but they weren’t
really selling many units to younger baby boomers. So when What’s New was
released it really opened the eyes to a generation that wasn’t all that
familiar with the works of George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin
(except during the Holidays) but this album changed that. Yes, they were known
to a point, but not like they should have been. 

This really did change all that. It sold three million units in the United
States. It also started a trend (for good or bad) that has continued until
today. As we know, Paul McCartney just did a standards album. Rod Stewart
released a ton of them and the list goes on and on. It’s probably grown
tiresome now, in fact I’m sure it has, but it wasn’t in 1983. 

I loved the rocker Linda Ronstadt and was a little disappointed when I heard of
this albums upcoming release. Then I got a copy of it. No, I didn’t play
it when the gang was over on a Saturday night, but I did end up playing this
very often. I loved it. It was new to me in many ways even though it was very
old. At least the writing was. It was great in the car when you were in a mellow
mood. Yes, I did play this often. 

Linda’s voice was still a strong as could be at this point. She just
nailed these songs. The arrangements were just spectacular. The album was
produced by her longtime producer Peter Asher. Peter (formerly of Peter and
Gordon) also worked with other great acts at the time like James Taylor, Randy
Newman, etc. 

It was also engineered by another master, that being George Massenburg. You may
also know him from producing the great string of Little Feat albums after their
reformation in the late 80s. 

Another unique aspect about this album was that it was the first album created
by the latest mastering technology at the time called: Pure Analog 32-bit 192
Capture! Yes. It is the first highest resolution album with pure analog sound. 

I really only have one thing negative to say about this project and that was
one, maybe two of these albums would have been enough. Unfortunately, Asylum
Records decided after this album’s success that they wanted two more. The
follow up Lush Life wasn’t as good and didn’t sell as well. The
trend continued after that with For Sentimental Reasons. What’s New
peaked at #3, Lush Life at #13 and Sentimental at #46. The public was sending a
clear message at that point. NOTE: What’s New sold enough units that
would have normally made it an easy #1 selling album, however, this was the same
time period as Michael Jackson, Thriller and Lionel Richie, Can’t Slow
Down. 

I’d suggest giving this one a listen. You can hear it all below.
Especially check out “Someone to Watch Over Me”, the title track
“What’s New” and “I’ve Got a Crush On
You.” Brilliance I say! (Larry Carta)

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