In 1998 the Society of Singers made a tribute to Rosemary Clooney. Joe Williams did a very complimentary presentation of Linda Ronstadt. Lush Life was the song she sang.
that was off the chain!! one of the best vocals ive ever heard her do, especially of traditional pop and one of the very best versions of this very very difficult song, that ive ever heard and ive heard em all
Ronstadt was the most stunning contemporary singer that I ever saw live. In her prime she was other-worldly with her voice, beauty and charm. The only reason why she is not the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll is because she is weak as a composer. Something that Miss Nicks was prodigiously gifted at.
@@ogdocvato Ronstadt was the very First queen of rock and show the way for all others queens that followed (included Mrs. Nicks). Not having been a singer-songwriter is no reason to deny her reign or to detract her very great merits.
Such a talented singer was Linda. This appearance was about 15 years before she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which affected her throat muscles and stilled her beautiful singing voice. I was not a fan in the '70s, partly due to her association with Brown, but she could certainly sing; I didn't care for the rock, folk, jazzy numbers in the 70s-80s, but she really shined on the ballads. Her voice had great volume and good phrasing. Beautiful.
Why is everyone talking about Linda like she is dead..Oh she does have the greatest voice ever and will be missed as far as new music only we can keep that part of her alive..
A song written by a teenager who was soulful beyond his years, perhaps. I’ve heard him sing it and dozens of others too and few have done it justice, some have been close, like Ms. Ronstadt. Lush Life is almost an inebriated cry of pain for life tinged with so much regret it is heartbreaking, almost not meant to be sung publically, but privately, for yourself. You don’t sing Lush Life, you sigh it, you wail it, the sounds of life itself stepping from gutter to spotlight. I would have loved to have heard Elaine Stritch wring her heart out, wrestling it to the ground. Maybe Shirley Horn in her later years. Filled with innuendo and pathos, whiskey and cigarettes, don’t look for perfection. Feel something akin to a breakdown and maybe you’ll understand it better. It’s not Moon River. IMO
Why do people have to fight like children ? Both Linda Ronstadt and Donna Summer were greats, both ladies admired one another's talents immensely, and now both voices are gone. For different reasons, but they are gone. Donna was pregnant and found it hard to sing when she recorded her version with Quincy Jones in 1982. Linda had the great pleasure of working with Nelson Riddle ( who was also a great friend of Rosemary's) in 1984 when she recorded her version of the song.
greetings from tropico singapore! allow me to give my 2 cents worth ms ronstadt reinterpret donna summer 's version in her own style.she put it out on record shortly after(summer). both are great. sarah vaungh and the rest were not even close.without the pop inflection.
I so agree. She had to go somewhere as by 1984, I guess, the writing was on the wall for her sound. However, I loved her rock Goddess phase - nothing for me will beat that time beteen 1976 and 1980 (Mad Love). Her voice does this sort of thing fairly well but I really don't like it. She does other genres better.
Frank Sinatra didn’t have the chops to complete a successful cut of this song when he was 42 in 1959 [ ua-cam.com/video/O2-MalOvxD4/v-deo.htmlsi=hU5bh0G9Ejgu4-Ja ], despite an excellent arrangement by Nelson Riddle.
Lasse 1964 I hear you. Stevie was a mediocre singer. Benatar was spectacular. Stevie's forte is what has always been the hardest thing to do in music - composition.
Frankly, I am stunned that Linda was breathing in all the wrong places at the start, and that she displayed such lousy microphone technique as you clearly hear her gasps for air.
It had been 16 years since Linda recorded this Grammy award winning arrangement with Nelson Riddle in 1983, and she still sounds unprepared for the challenge in 1998. Overall, Linda sounds clueless singing Billy Strayhorn's lyrics. She presents small, swallowed notes at the low end of her range and exploits her full rich voice on the higher notes. This focusing on her own strengths and weaknesses as a singer ignores the world-weary emotional content of the story.
It was the Parkinsons. She stopped singing in public one year after this performance. She said it was unfair to ask her fans to pay money to hear her sing anymore, she had lost muscular control of her vocal cords.
@@jumpforjoy6 no comparison son, not even close, googoo or anyone else to LInda Rondstadt, Nicolette Larson, Ann Wilson, Grace Slick, Janis, Karen Carpenter, Carly Simon, Crissie Hynde and more. good luck ole boy.
I can't find words for this great performance - maybe except: IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Thank you very much!
I must compliment the piano accompaniment. Wonderful performance by two masters.
Absolutely, astoundingly perfect in every way. Why is this version not better known?
Superb... GOD be with you always... and give you back your heavenly voice... Ms. Linda...
Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you Linda
that was off the chain!!
one of the best vocals ive ever heard her do, especially of traditional pop
and one of the very best versions of this very very difficult song, that ive ever heard
and ive heard em all
Godamed bad things that happen to good people. The world knows we miss her voice & precense behind the microphone.
I can't believe Billy Strayhorn wrote this masterpiece at the age of 17. What a genius he was.
I had heard it was about unrequited love for Duke Ellington, but Billy already has his man at the time he wrote it.
For many of us the finest female voice in American popular music history. Your mileage may vary.
Ronstadt was the most stunning contemporary singer that I ever saw live. In her prime she was other-worldly with her voice, beauty and charm. The only reason why she is not the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll is because she is weak as a composer. Something that Miss Nicks was prodigiously gifted at.
@@ogdocvato Ronstadt was the very First queen of rock and show the way for all others queens that followed (included Mrs. Nicks).
Not having been a singer-songwriter is no reason to deny her reign or to detract her very great merits.
its been a while since ive seen such ignorant comments. Linda is amazing here..as always
Such a talented singer was Linda. This appearance was about 15 years before she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which affected her throat muscles and stilled her beautiful singing voice. I was not a fan in the '70s, partly due to her association with Brown, but she could certainly sing; I didn't care for the rock, folk, jazzy numbers in the 70s-80s, but she really shined on the ballads. Her voice had great volume and good phrasing. Beautiful.
Great song......great singer. Thank you so much for posting this.
Love you Linda.
Wonderful tribute to Rosemary. This is my favorite song from Linda's Standards albums. Love it. Thanks for posting this.
Why is everyone talking about Linda like she is dead..Oh she does have the greatest voice ever and will be missed as far as new music only we can keep that part of her alive..
A tough song. You had to feel pain to sing it. Her voice is light but she can do it. Rosemary loved her.
Not bad for 62yrs old. You can hear the maturity in her voice. She loved this music
She was born in '46, so 52 yrs old here, not 62. She's 4 months older than me and I've been a fan since 1974.
52 years old, Linda was born in 1946. 98-46=52 😅
Ilove Linda. She suffered from poor health after this.
I once saw Donna Summer at a Linda Ronstadt concert. They certainly weren't competitive.
Great compliment to the late great Donna Summer. Not only was she an awesome performer, but she had great taste in music too.
Real singers always appreciate the talent of other real singers.
@Jarred Knox Joker.
Great pitch; a most versatile artist.
Just as enjoyable as Linda's version with Nelson Riddle. ❤
Perfection!
At times, Linda's tone is quite beautiful here. Her phrasing seems even better than on the album.
Letter perfect!
A song written by a teenager who was soulful beyond his years, perhaps. I’ve heard him sing it and dozens of others too and few have done it justice, some have been close, like Ms. Ronstadt. Lush Life is almost an inebriated cry of pain for life tinged with so much regret it is heartbreaking, almost not meant to be sung publically, but privately, for yourself. You don’t sing Lush Life, you sigh it, you wail it, the sounds of life itself stepping from gutter to spotlight. I would have loved to have heard Elaine Stritch wring her heart out, wrestling it to the ground. Maybe Shirley Horn in her later years. Filled with innuendo and pathos, whiskey and cigarettes, don’t look for perfection. Feel something akin to a breakdown and maybe you’ll understand it better. It’s not Moon River. IMO
Until one can do better than MIss Ronstadt, best hush.
i love you Linda.... mmmuuuaaaa
@dannys2222 Right. I was surprised at how well Donna did this song too. Both Linda and Donna have been around for quite some time. Two great singers.
Why do people have to fight like children ? Both Linda Ronstadt and Donna Summer were greats, both ladies admired one another's talents immensely, and now both voices are gone. For different reasons, but they are gone. Donna was pregnant and found it hard to sing when she recorded her version with Quincy Jones in 1982. Linda had the great pleasure of working with Nelson Riddle ( who was also a great friend of Rosemary's) in 1984 when she recorded her version of the song.
I never heard of them being fans of eachother. I thought Linda didn't like dance music. She sang everything, but never made a dance song.
@jimnado1 Donna's version is great. Quincy produced. it on what I thought was her best album.
greetings from tropico singapore!
allow me to give my 2 cents worth
ms ronstadt reinterpret donna summer 's version in her own style.she put it out on record shortly after(summer).
both are great.
sarah vaungh and the rest were not even close.without the pop inflection.
I so agree. She had to go somewhere as by 1984, I guess, the writing was on the wall for her sound. However, I loved her rock Goddess phase - nothing for me will beat that time beteen 1976 and 1980 (Mad Love). Her voice does this sort of thing fairly well but I really don't like it. She does other genres better.
She's amazing. Incredible. Her talent doesn't make this song fit her political agenda.. But she's absolutely wonderful, a star.
What are you talking about?
Written by a 16 year old boy named Billy Strayhorn
Frank Sinatra didn’t have the chops to complete a successful cut of this song when he was 42 in 1959 [ ua-cam.com/video/O2-MalOvxD4/v-deo.htmlsi=hU5bh0G9Ejgu4-Ja ], despite an excellent arrangement by Nelson Riddle.
If Stevie Nicks is the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll then the great Linda Ronstadt and Ann Wilson of Heart would be the Princesses of Rock 'n' Roll.
Oscar Banuelos Stevie nicks shes the best but i prefer pat benatar a little bit more for Queen of Rock.
Lasse 1964
I hear you. Stevie was a mediocre singer. Benatar was spectacular. Stevie's forte is what has always been the hardest thing to do in music - composition.
Ronstadt was considered the "Queen of Rock" in the 70's. There are magazine covers from that era saying that. Not to diminish other female rockers.
Christopher Jones I agree that artistry is not a competitive sport.
Bit strident.
Frankly, I am stunned that Linda was breathing in all the wrong places at the start, and that she displayed such lousy microphone technique as you clearly hear her gasps for air.
Parkinsons perhaps?
I hear what you say but she's not doing too bad.
It had been 16 years since Linda recorded this Grammy award winning arrangement with Nelson Riddle in 1983, and she still sounds unprepared for the challenge in 1998. Overall, Linda sounds clueless singing Billy Strayhorn's lyrics. She presents small, swallowed notes at the low end of her range and exploits her full rich voice on the higher notes. This focusing on her own strengths and weaknesses as a singer ignores the world-weary emotional content of the story.
+ghairraigh lol she sounds great, fuck off
It was the Parkinsons. She stopped singing in public one year after this performance. She said it was unfair to ask her fans to pay money to hear her sing anymore, she had lost muscular control of her vocal cords.
Look at Lady Gaga's version of Lush Life 🤯 vocal genius
Rather not.
what koolaid are you drinking, jump4joy?
@@pmcclaren1 lol imagine it being 2022 and still pretending like gaga isn't an amazing singer . What a loser
@@jumpforjoy6 no comparison son, not even close, googoo or anyone else to LInda Rondstadt, Nicolette Larson, Ann Wilson, Grace Slick, Janis, Karen Carpenter, Carly Simon, Crissie Hynde and more. good luck ole boy.
I understand Linda's appreciation for this type of music, but it is clearly not her forte. Give me Poor Poor Pitiful Me any day.
Literally the worst thing I've ever heard. Sorry I will never have any appreciation for this kind of music.