Love it, Elvis Costello song done in Dave Edmunds style with a female voice as lovely as Lindas - great result and a nice refreshing change. Don't go comparing this with Dave or Elvis versions though, just accept it as another great cover. I do rather like those 'Everly Brothers' guitar licks in Dave's version though and think they were a stroke of musical genius that made the song 'belong' to Dave.
What I particularly like about Dave Edmunds version is the tribute in two of the guitar licks to an Everly Brothers record - listen to the chords in 'Problems' by the Everly Brothers.
Elvis wrote this as a give away and naturally his version is the most avant garde performance. Dave Edmunds KILLS this song. Linda does better with Party Girl than this reading of Big E. material
I was into Elvis Costello at the point that this album came out. I had never heard that Elvis has a problem with her using his songs, however it is strange that she used Girls Talk, Alison and Party Girl all on the same album - all by Elvis. I can see how that might upset him. Having said that, I really like the album and the other songs like Justine, and Mad Love. BTW, Elvis was really drunk when he made the comments about Ray Charles and it was done just to tick off Bonnie Bramlett.
I only ever heard the Rockpile version - until just now - was about 14 when it came out. what a band. the stiff records connection with Costello-never knew Costello wrote it. This is fluff..waste of time
Never having heard the Costello or Edmunds versions of this song until recently, I always thought that it was written for a woman to sing. I suppose this just shows how wonderfully Linda can take something written by another person and turn it into her own or put her own twist on it. This said, I cannot listen to the other two versions without thinking that this one is superior. (Not that they are bad at all but simply that Linda owns this song.)
When this fantastic version came out I read Elvis called it fluff, crap and trash. As much as I love his music, I think he was still in his angry young man stage and would probably look at it totally different now. This is a great song by a great singer and interpreter of other people's songs.
@christoJihad2 YES he had an attitude problem at that time and also said something terrible about Ray Charles I recall. Maybe he was trying to make amends with the album track 'Mouth Almighty'?
@curefreak Think about it for a sec; Linda has always bucked tradition, and recorded songs that were supposed to be sung in the male voice--and, as usual, she OWNS it!
@adcan45 I thought about for 3'21": it sounds to me like she owns it with a poorly-phrased - and generally breathless & gasping - interpretation of the Dave Edmunds' version!
I have this album, on vinyl of course, and my record has a much more 'punchier' sound to it. Perhaps it was released here in Oz with a slightly heavier mix. Love Linda, always have, always will !!!
Oh Yeah, Thank you for posting, Whenever there is a discussion of Woman who rock , Linda is always somehow overlooked. But, I remember before There was Stevei, Chrissie, or Madonna , Linda ruled!
I told him "Then why don't you give her back the money she made you to buy your London House! I'm not crazy about her version but ya know bite the hand that feeds you!
@highschoolmusical841 no i do not mean to express that i am annoyed at all. and my library is all "real" singers, i have rosetta, and odetta, nina, aretha, ronstadt, streisand, ella as well as chet baker and kiri te kanawa and alsion krauss and solomon burke and so on and so forth. the only pop artists i listen to are beyonce and Mariah, and its because of their singing gift, which is extraordinary, even if the material isnt especially. if someone opens their heart and sings i dont feel polluted
@highschoolmusical841 i must admit that what i find to be abusive and perverse is your reaction. there is a lot more going on than sexual exploitation. britney is a stripper. beyonce is a woman. and the inequitable and fallacious distribution of wealth is a problem across the board. its simply a shame that you are cutting yourself off of the good that can be found. the truth is that nothing is categorically negative, only perception. choose to find beauty and you wont be able to avoid it
@highschoolmusical841 im sorry for you that you are unable to fliter the difference between liberation and exploitation. and that you are unable to allow yourself to feel the love and insight that is expressed in this music. i agree, some of it is crap, i dont need video phone or bootylicious. but if you can not feel the beauty of Halo or Thats WHy Youre Beautiful, you are cheating yourself. and her singing is stellar, indisputable. Gaga is a comment on culture, someone who understands it
@highschoolmusical841 Lady G is a pop genius, a very smart person who has genuine talent and depth of understanding. Beyonce is a freaking phenomenal vocalist who can do anything with her voice, and has beautiful energy. its the rest that are just mess, Rihanna Kesha Britney Swift Bieber.
now i dont listen to pop much, im on my linda, aretha, ella and quality music, and its pretty to easy to paint all pop artists with the trash-brush, but Beyonce and Gaga are actually culturally important
True Free energy devices exist,But the big oil corporations don't want that technology revealed,Find this technology at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,Join the revolution!
I like some other tunes on this album better; this was okay...a bit "too produced". Though Costello wrote it, Dave Edmonds is the one who owns it. He has a rockabilly hook mixed into his version that just stays with you. It's a great tune in general.
I like some other tunes on this album better; this was okay...a bit "too produced". Though Costello wrote it, Dave Edmonds is the one who owns it. He has a rockabilly hook tmixed into his version that just stays with you. It's a great tune in general.
Here's the deal: Linda, then Dave, then Elvis. LR will always be a superior vocalist, however the other versions tend to be punchier, which I like. But why argue, these are all great versions, done by accomplished, rather brilliant musicians... they're so close it boils down to personal preference.
@gyroplanefdk Thank you for proving my point that a racist, like you, has no idea what CLASS means; BTW- I bet you consider youself a "Christian" right?
I liked linda's and dave's versions but I hadn't heard the original but when I did I was blown away. How could they make a hit out of this song when the original was way better. The attractions have great bass, drums, keyboards and backup vocals and the arrangement packed all this pop brilliance into 2 minutes. Costello's version is a masterpiece.
This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
I don't think EC ever directly criticized LR's Girls Talk - he did criticize her Alison and Party Girl - which were 1st rate, "serious" songs. Girls Talk and Talking in the Dark were b-sides that EC actually sent LR to record.
I think her Alison is good, Party Girl good but a bit too sentimental, Girls Talk good, Talking/Dark, fun oomph!
This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
I don't think EC ever directly criticized LR's Girls Talk - he did criticize her Alison and Party Girl - which were 1st rate, "serious" songs. Girls Talk and Talking in the Dark were b-sides that EC actually sent LR to record.
I think her Alison is good, Party Girl good but a bit too sentimental, Girls Talk good, Talking/Dark, fun oomph!
@ppaulmorris Supposedly, EC hated this version of the song. I'm not sure why; there's nothing wrong with it. It's a bit of a letdown if you've already heard DE's version, but so was EC's (from "Taking Liberties"). DE was on a musical roll during this time, but the US barely noticed him until his forgettable "Slipping Away" single came out in '83. She probably came off as a poser, but this album was a huge improvement over the ear-splitting covers she was doing a few years earlier.
@lrd9999 ....i don't give two fucks about DE or EC version of this song....me and my girlfriends rocked..rolled, and got naked to the LR version....and her whole album for that matter.....YAY 1980 !!
@lrd9999 I do remember the feeling that she was a "poser" doing these punk rock/new wave songs, and as a big Linda fan it felt that way to me, getting on the bandwagon it seemed she was - but I loved "Mad Love" anyway and hearing them again makes me want to revisit the whole album 30 years hence.
Some of Linda's best vocals are on this album IMHO. It didn't get the fanfare of previous ones, but it is still a classic non-the-less. Thanks for posting.
She sounds great on this album. She sings three Elivs Costello songs (Talking in the Dark, Girl's Talk, Party Girl) along with two from Mark Gondenberg "Cost of Love" and "Justine" which she really nails. Great album all the way through.
What was overlooked at the time was that her "Mad Love" album simply reflected what was going in musically at the end of the 1970's and beginning of the 1980s. LR had been moving slowing to a more "modern rock/new wave" feel on her '78 "Living in the USA" LP. There are only 2 or 3 tracks that are vaguely "new wave-ish". Rest are modern rock.
"Mad Love" is simply a modern(for 1980) pop-rock album. It's not terrific or outstanding but it's a good, enjoyable, passionate pop-rock album.
Costello recorded Girls Talk & Talking in the Dark, somewhere in '79 as well. EC's version of Girls Talk is very, very sparse, almost has a "demo" sound to it. It's good but probably should have been "fleshed out" more, which Edmunds/Rockpile and Ronstadt both did.
Here's the story, if I'm not mistaken... EC wrote Girls Talk at the end of '78 or very early '79. Played it for Edmunds and Nick Lowe (Rockpile), they recorded it in early '79, Ronstadt recorded at end of '79. Furthermore, LR wrote to EC in summer '79 to request any songs "laying around" and he sent her a few possible choices. Girls Talk & Talking in the Dark were among them.
That's a good point, calling the album "Girls Talk" - never thought of that! Also, I think the Mad Love album is seriously in need of being remastered. Funny I really like the album when listening in headphones on my laptop but when I listen to the cd in my car, I think it has too much bass, not enough treble, etc.
That's a good point, calling the album "Girls Talk" - never thought of that! Also, I think the Mad Love album is seriously in need of being remastered. Funny I really like the album when listening in headphones on my laptop but when I listen to the cd in my car, I think it has too much bass, not enough treble, etc.
@BETWyan I'll bet it sounded better on vinyl. A lot of the CDs that were issued from vinyl-intended masters had messed up equalization. Also, they might have used a tape that had been sitting around for a few years.
@lrd9999 This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
Mad Love (the album), seriously needs to be remastered.
I too think her vocal is a little "off" on this one but it's not bad. Still a fun version.
Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe's version (Rockpile) is a little more "r & r combo sound", which is probably the best version but Linda's version is not bad at all. Has personality in it.
I love this song! The three Elvis Costello songs that Linda covered are awesome, and have completely different meanings depending upon the gender of the singer.
@HughFurst Thanks, man! Since I wrote that question last night, I found on another page that there was actually a 4th one -- "Talking in the Dark". Thought I'd let you know. I had never heard of either of these tunes before last night at all, but was able to find and listen to them.
@HughFurst I pretty much like everything she ever sang. I have to say, I don't really like this song or the other one that I'd never heard of before. I can sort of understand why I never heard them before. I wonder why Linda decided to cover these two kind of quirky songs instead of more of ECs better known tunes. She DOES do a great job with them, though.
It was during the 'new wave' period, and she was experimenting. Elvis does such a great job with lyrics, and I think these were chosen mostly because Linda could put a female spin on them and make them and change them fundamentally by dong so, whereas many others would be her just singing the same song he had sung, with no change other than the sound of the voice.
@HughFurst I wish she was still recording and didn't gain all that weight. She was so beautiful. The last time I heard anything about her was a long time ago already when she did the Trio albums with Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris. Is she doing something lately that's just not getting a lot of attention or is she retired?
I think I read that she did Las Vegas last year. I feel like seeing her now would be like seeing an ex from too many years ago. I met her in Central Park when she was dong 'Penzance', and that's how I'll always remember her.
@centuryrox - I remember when this first came out the album rockers and 'rock/top-40' stations would play this regularly. If Asylum had any brains, they would've released this as a single then! I picked this album up at a rummage sale for a song not long ago.
I don't know what Elvis Costello's view of this song was, as I haven't read anything about that. As far as I know, he never recorded this song himself, but I could very well be wrong.
Elvis recorded the definitive version of Girls Talk (for me anyway) as a B-side to "I can't stand up for falling down," later issued on the LP "Taking Liberties."
@centuryrox There's one (not good recording quality) of him doing it live in Toronto in 78 that you can find on the elvis costello wiki as a download, also links to some versions recorded by him and rereleased on Rhino.
@centuryrox Elvis Costello has recorded his own version - look for it on his album "Rock And Roll Music". It's okay, but not a patch on the Dave Edmunds version. This is the first time I've heard Linda Ronstadt's version, and it's excellent - thank you for posting!
@centuryrox Costello has said the song was making fun of people like Linda Ronstadt. It was pretty mean thing said at a time when he said a lot of mean things. I'm sure he still cashed the royalty checks.
@izzonj Well, Elvis Costello, let us say, was (perhaps IS) more than a bit hypocritical. He was involved in "Rock Against Racism", yet he referred to Ray Charles as a "blind, ignorant nigger". While I suppose ANYONE can mis-speak ONCE, he then went on to call James Brown a "jive ass nigger". Nice, Declan...
@shmuli9 Elvis was drunk off his ass when he made those comments about James Brown and Ray Charles and says he was just trying to be as offensive as possible to get people to leave him alone. He apologized right after it happened. Ray Charles said, "drunken words aren't supposed to get printed in the newspaper."
Elvis even wrote a few songs about his drunken out of control days and getting into trouble with it. "I wish I'd never opened my Mouth Almighty" on Punch the Clock.
@izzonj If he said similar things TWICE "when he was drunk", that pretty much shows exactly what he really thinks. As they say, "in vino veritas"... I'm sure Ray Charles was quite gracious, and I'm sure inside he was REALLY annoyed.
@centuryrox I remember Elvis commenting that the whole album was a waste of vinyl. He's definitely entitled to his own opinion, but I love Linda and Mad Love.
Costello said that if he had known it was going to be such a big hit for Dave Edmunds that he would never have let him have it, and would have recorded it first himself. Ronstadt's version closely mimics Edmunds', but without the rock n roll punch.
(Search YouTube for "Dave Edmunds Girls Talk New Years Eve '08)
Love it, Elvis Costello song done in Dave Edmunds style with a female voice as lovely as Lindas - great result and a nice refreshing change. Don't go comparing this with Dave or Elvis versions though, just accept it as another great cover. I do rather like those 'Everly Brothers' guitar licks in Dave's version though and think they were a stroke of musical genius that made the song 'belong' to Dave.
robininspain29 1 month ago
Nice, but Dave Edmunds 'owns' this tune.
rrvfr800rr 1 month ago
What I particularly like about Dave Edmunds version is the tribute in two of the guitar licks to an Everly Brothers record - listen to the chords in 'Problems' by the Everly Brothers.
robininspain29 2 months ago
Based on the Dave Edmunds version more or less
horowizard 2 months ago
Linda Ronstadt is one of the greatest when it comes to interpreting others' songs. This is a fine version. She does Neil Young well, too.
JDourg 4 months ago 3
Great tune, nicely homogenized...
LowBid86 4 months ago
@LowBid86 A bit TOO homogenized, and "whitebread" for my tastes.
ukesruletheydo 3 weeks ago
Elvis wrote this as a give away and naturally his version is the most avant garde performance. Dave Edmunds KILLS this song. Linda does better with Party Girl than this reading of Big E. material
LanceHelmut 5 months ago
This must have been THE song of '79 to '80...Elvis Costello wrote it and recorded it, Dave Edmunds...and Linda Ronstadt
MarkSentMe 5 months ago
anytime.
pennyfritz 5 months ago
there are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder
vinice0 5 months ago
I was into Elvis Costello at the point that this album came out. I had never heard that Elvis has a problem with her using his songs, however it is strange that she used Girls Talk, Alison and Party Girl all on the same album - all by Elvis. I can see how that might upset him. Having said that, I really like the album and the other songs like Justine, and Mad Love. BTW, Elvis was really drunk when he made the comments about Ray Charles and it was done just to tick off Bonnie Bramlett.
wpollock1 6 months ago
@wpollock1 I don't have this album, so I don't know what's on it, but Alison was on Living In The USA.
BlackMonk66 5 months ago
I only ever heard the Rockpile version - until just now - was about 14 when it came out. what a band. the stiff records connection with Costello-never knew Costello wrote it. This is fluff..waste of time
raindogred 6 months ago
Never having heard the Costello or Edmunds versions of this song until recently, I always thought that it was written for a woman to sing. I suppose this just shows how wonderfully Linda can take something written by another person and turn it into her own or put her own twist on it. This said, I cannot listen to the other two versions without thinking that this one is superior. (Not that they are bad at all but simply that Linda owns this song.)
zeta71 7 months ago 2
@centuryrox You should put the lyrics in the info section. They're excellent lyrics.
christoJihad2 8 months ago in playlist Linda Ronstadt super
@christoJihad2 The lyrics are in the info section. Just click on the "Show more" tab.
centuryrox 8 months ago
@centuryrox I actually didn't know that, and I consider myself rather enlightened. I feel sooo Homer Simpson right now... Doh~!
CaptainJohn252525 2 months ago
When this fantastic version came out I read Elvis called it fluff, crap and trash. As much as I love his music, I think he was still in his angry young man stage and would probably look at it totally different now. This is a great song by a great singer and interpreter of other people's songs.
christoJihad2 8 months ago
@christoJihad2 YES he had an attitude problem at that time and also said something terrible about Ray Charles I recall. Maybe he was trying to make amends with the album track 'Mouth Almighty'?
MarkB1ngham 8 months ago
How 'bout "Justine" from the same LP? Another great track. All crafted with much help from producer Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon fame.
lowspark68 8 months ago
Linda did a great job with this.
camtinley 8 months ago
i love Linda but i really don't think the lyrics really work well for a woman to sing.
curefreak 9 months ago
@curefreak Think about it for a sec; Linda has always bucked tradition, and recorded songs that were supposed to be sung in the male voice--and, as usual, she OWNS it!
adcan45 9 months ago 2
@adcan45 I thought about for 3'21": it sounds to me like she owns it with a poorly-phrased - and generally breathless & gasping - interpretation of the Dave Edmunds' version!
HARSHREALITYSLAP 9 months ago
@HARSHREALITYSLAP Everybody's a purist today...
adcan45 9 months ago
One of my favorite covers.
ftsjr 9 months ago
I have this album, on vinyl of course, and my record has a much more 'punchier' sound to it. Perhaps it was released here in Oz with a slightly heavier mix. Love Linda, always have, always will !!!
AussiePegasus01 9 months ago 2
Do you think Belinda Carlisle listened to this? I do.
pennyfritz 9 months ago
@pennyfritz Yes. Thanks for the illuminating observation.
misterbill999 5 months ago
This beat made my head move back and forth.
1f5sda 10 months ago
I love "new-wave" Linda back in the day...
LBjim 10 months ago 11
Wow. I haven't heard this song in ages!! I love it ! Thanks for putting it up.
Tundra56 10 months ago 3
Oh Yeah, Thank you for posting, Whenever there is a discussion of Woman who rock , Linda is always somehow overlooked. But, I remember before There was Stevei, Chrissie, or Madonna , Linda ruled!
chasjohn57 11 months ago 2
@chasjohn57 True Dat!
adcan45 10 months ago
I told him "Then why don't you give her back the money she made you to buy your London House! I'm not crazy about her version but ya know bite the hand that feeds you!
genevievesbroome 1 year ago
my feeling is that the clip i showed you contains truth, you cant sing that beautifully if you dont feel it, the crazy pop tart stuff is the front
theblueangel28 1 year ago
@highschoolmusical841 no i do not mean to express that i am annoyed at all. and my library is all "real" singers, i have rosetta, and odetta, nina, aretha, ronstadt, streisand, ella as well as chet baker and kiri te kanawa and alsion krauss and solomon burke and so on and so forth. the only pop artists i listen to are beyonce and Mariah, and its because of their singing gift, which is extraordinary, even if the material isnt especially. if someone opens their heart and sings i dont feel polluted
theblueangel28 1 year ago
@highschoolmusical841 i must admit that what i find to be abusive and perverse is your reaction. there is a lot more going on than sexual exploitation. britney is a stripper. beyonce is a woman. and the inequitable and fallacious distribution of wealth is a problem across the board. its simply a shame that you are cutting yourself off of the good that can be found. the truth is that nothing is categorically negative, only perception. choose to find beauty and you wont be able to avoid it
theblueangel28 1 year ago
@highschoolmusical841 im sorry for you that you are unable to fliter the difference between liberation and exploitation. and that you are unable to allow yourself to feel the love and insight that is expressed in this music. i agree, some of it is crap, i dont need video phone or bootylicious. but if you can not feel the beauty of Halo or Thats WHy Youre Beautiful, you are cheating yourself. and her singing is stellar, indisputable. Gaga is a comment on culture, someone who understands it
theblueangel28 1 year ago
@highschoolmusical841 Lady G is a pop genius, a very smart person who has genuine talent and depth of understanding. Beyonce is a freaking phenomenal vocalist who can do anything with her voice, and has beautiful energy. its the rest that are just mess, Rihanna Kesha Britney Swift Bieber.
now i dont listen to pop much, im on my linda, aretha, ella and quality music, and its pretty to easy to paint all pop artists with the trash-brush, but Beyonce and Gaga are actually culturally important
theblueangel28 1 year ago
Can anybody find the studio version of the album's title track (Mad Love)???
brewcity59 1 year ago
@brewcity59 I just uploaded the studio version for ya. You can watch at the link below:
watch?v=ifS7Lsz8mh0
centuryrox 1 year ago
Very interesting version. I like it!
shmuli9 1 year ago
this cant compare to dave edmunds classic version
poptopia1 1 year ago
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slanderousndgs 1 year ago
I like some other tunes on this album better; this was okay...a bit "too produced". Though Costello wrote it, Dave Edmonds is the one who owns it. He has a rockabilly hook mixed into his version that just stays with you. It's a great tune in general.
tsrla 1 year ago
I like some other tunes on this album better; this was okay...a bit "too produced". Though Costello wrote it, Dave Edmonds is the one who owns it. He has a rockabilly hook tmixed into his version that just stays with you. It's a great tune in general.
tsrla 1 year ago
I had this song in my head for the past three days... wierd.. just had to hear it again!
Thanks for putting up Linda's version... this IS the BEST version!!! (to date at least!)
bbuggabugga 1 year ago
elvis costello is king
myfishingchannel 1 year ago
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violafinishda 1 year ago
i played this song about 35 times in greenacres/ portmadoch, when it came out. happy happy daysThis is a brilliant version
hedcam 1 year ago
Here's the deal: Linda, then Dave, then Elvis. LR will always be a superior vocalist, however the other versions tend to be punchier, which I like. But why argue, these are all great versions, done by accomplished, rather brilliant musicians... they're so close it boils down to personal preference.
almostavgjoe 1 year ago 12
Yes..agreed.
ppaulmorris 1 year ago
Not as good as Dave Edmunds
ppaulmorris 1 year ago
Not as good as Dave Edmuds
ppaulmorris 1 year ago
not a bad version at all. elvis costello was wrong.
pbrick6301 1 year ago
She went all Mexican on us.. these were her good years
gyroplanefdk 1 year ago
@gyroplanefdk Viva Linda! Her "good years" came when she "went all Mexican"! I guess racist people will never understand what CLASS is all about...
adcan45 1 year ago
@adcan45 Well it certainly isn't Mexican
gyroplanefdk 1 year ago
@gyroplanefdk Thank you for proving my point that a racist, like you, has no idea what CLASS means; BTW- I bet you consider youself a "Christian" right?
adcan45 1 year ago
@adcan45 No I do not, and thanks for proving my point that the mental deficient find others with tastes different than their own, racists.
gyroplanefdk 1 year ago
@gyroplanefdk "mental deficient", huh? Then please clarify what you meant by "she went all Mexican on us"...
adcan45 1 year ago
I liked linda's and dave's versions but I hadn't heard the original but when I did I was blown away. How could they make a hit out of this song when the original was way better. The attractions have great bass, drums, keyboards and backup vocals and the arrangement packed all this pop brilliance into 2 minutes. Costello's version is a masterpiece.
nilochtims 1 year ago
Great audio!
1kevindf 1 year ago
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This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
I don't think EC ever directly criticized LR's Girls Talk - he did criticize her Alison and Party Girl - which were 1st rate, "serious" songs. Girls Talk and Talking in the Dark were b-sides that EC actually sent LR to record.
I think her Alison is good, Party Girl good but a bit too sentimental, Girls Talk good, Talking/Dark, fun oomph!
BETWyan 1 year ago
This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
I don't think EC ever directly criticized LR's Girls Talk - he did criticize her Alison and Party Girl - which were 1st rate, "serious" songs. Girls Talk and Talking in the Dark were b-sides that EC actually sent LR to record.
I think her Alison is good, Party Girl good but a bit too sentimental, Girls Talk good, Talking/Dark, fun oomph!
BETWyan 1 year ago
Dave Edmunds will never be beaten.
ppaulmorris 1 year ago
@ppaulmorris Supposedly, EC hated this version of the song. I'm not sure why; there's nothing wrong with it. It's a bit of a letdown if you've already heard DE's version, but so was EC's (from "Taking Liberties"). DE was on a musical roll during this time, but the US barely noticed him until his forgettable "Slipping Away" single came out in '83. She probably came off as a poser, but this album was a huge improvement over the ear-splitting covers she was doing a few years earlier.
lrd9999 1 year ago
@lrd9999 ....i don't give two fucks about DE or EC version of this song....me and my girlfriends rocked..rolled, and got naked to the LR version....and her whole album for that matter.....YAY 1980 !!
mydadsarobot 1 year ago
@lrd9999 I do remember the feeling that she was a "poser" doing these punk rock/new wave songs, and as a big Linda fan it felt that way to me, getting on the bandwagon it seemed she was - but I loved "Mad Love" anyway and hearing them again makes me want to revisit the whole album 30 years hence.
RawUmbers1 1 year ago
Some of Linda's best vocals are on this album IMHO. It didn't get the fanfare of previous ones, but it is still a classic non-the-less. Thanks for posting.
musichead1956 1 year ago
She has always been one of my idols. She has so, so many great songs.
carleighful 1 year ago
She sounds great on this album. She sings three Elivs Costello songs (Talking in the Dark, Girl's Talk, Party Girl) along with two from Mark Gondenberg "Cost of Love" and "Justine" which she really nails. Great album all the way through.
wpollock1 2 years ago 3
This was a fun tune. Had the 8 track *snort!*
AJAXKID123 2 years ago
What was overlooked at the time was that her "Mad Love" album simply reflected what was going in musically at the end of the 1970's and beginning of the 1980s. LR had been moving slowing to a more "modern rock/new wave" feel on her '78 "Living in the USA" LP. There are only 2 or 3 tracks that are vaguely "new wave-ish". Rest are modern rock.
"Mad Love" is simply a modern(for 1980) pop-rock album. It's not terrific or outstanding but it's a good, enjoyable, passionate pop-rock album.
BETWyan 2 years ago
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Costello recorded Girls Talk & Talking in the Dark, somewhere in '79 as well. EC's version of Girls Talk is very, very sparse, almost has a "demo" sound to it. It's good but probably should have been "fleshed out" more, which Edmunds/Rockpile and Ronstadt both did.
BETWyan 2 years ago
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Here's the story, if I'm not mistaken... EC wrote Girls Talk at the end of '78 or very early '79. Played it for Edmunds and Nick Lowe (Rockpile), they recorded it in early '79, Ronstadt recorded at end of '79. Furthermore, LR wrote to EC in summer '79 to request any songs "laying around" and he sent her a few possible choices. Girls Talk & Talking in the Dark were among them.
BETWyan 2 years ago
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That's a good point, calling the album "Girls Talk" - never thought of that! Also, I think the Mad Love album is seriously in need of being remastered. Funny I really like the album when listening in headphones on my laptop but when I listen to the cd in my car, I think it has too much bass, not enough treble, etc.
BETWyan 2 years ago
Linda blew it with naming this album,,it should have been called Girls Talk,,with her talking on the phone on the album cover. OH well.
Brianeddie666 2 years ago 3
That's a good point, calling the album "Girls Talk" - never thought of that! Also, I think the Mad Love album is seriously in need of being remastered. Funny I really like the album when listening in headphones on my laptop but when I listen to the cd in my car, I think it has too much bass, not enough treble, etc.
BETWyan 2 years ago
@BETWyan I'll bet it sounded better on vinyl. A lot of the CDs that were issued from vinyl-intended masters had messed up equalization. Also, they might have used a tape that had been sitting around for a few years.
lrd9999 1 year ago
@lrd9999 This is a fine version, not spot-on but fine. What makes a song great is the perfect fusion of the vocal, the lyrics and of course, the music.
Mad Love (the album), seriously needs to be remastered.
BETWyan 1 year ago
I too think her vocal is a little "off" on this one but it's not bad. Still a fun version.
Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe's version (Rockpile) is a little more "r & r combo sound", which is probably the best version but Linda's version is not bad at all. Has personality in it.
Nessus07 2 years ago 2
most underrated song by her... this one and a long long time..... love them both!!!
manluvsthe60s 2 years ago 2
This song and the entire Mad Love album is in serious need of a remastering. Volume is too low for starters.
The CD (especially this song) sounds much better in my headphones than through my car's speakers.
BETWyan 2 years ago
I don't think it's her best vocal performance but it's still pretty good and fun.
BETWyan 2 years ago
I love this song! The three Elvis Costello songs that Linda covered are awesome, and have completely different meanings depending upon the gender of the singer.
HughFurst 2 years ago 2
@HughFurst What was the 3rd one after Allison?
edscerbo 2 years ago
"Party Girl". It's first person as done by Linda, and there are some amazing vocals!
HughFurst 2 years ago
@HughFurst Thanks, man! Since I wrote that question last night, I found on another page that there was actually a 4th one -- "Talking in the Dark". Thought I'd let you know. I had never heard of either of these tunes before last night at all, but was able to find and listen to them.
edscerbo 2 years ago
I forgot that one! Thanks! Isn't her vocal on "Party Girl" awesome?
HughFurst 2 years ago
@HughFurst I pretty much like everything she ever sang. I have to say, I don't really like this song or the other one that I'd never heard of before. I can sort of understand why I never heard them before. I wonder why Linda decided to cover these two kind of quirky songs instead of more of ECs better known tunes. She DOES do a great job with them, though.
edscerbo 2 years ago
It was during the 'new wave' period, and she was experimenting. Elvis does such a great job with lyrics, and I think these were chosen mostly because Linda could put a female spin on them and make them and change them fundamentally by dong so, whereas many others would be her just singing the same song he had sung, with no change other than the sound of the voice.
HughFurst 2 years ago
@HughFurst I wish she was still recording and didn't gain all that weight. She was so beautiful. The last time I heard anything about her was a long time ago already when she did the Trio albums with Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris. Is she doing something lately that's just not getting a lot of attention or is she retired?
edscerbo 2 years ago
I think I read that she did Las Vegas last year. I feel like seeing her now would be like seeing an ex from too many years ago. I met her in Central Park when she was dong 'Penzance', and that's how I'll always remember her.
HughFurst 2 years ago
I've always loved this version. The lyrics just seem to mean something(s) totally different when sung by a woman...
topcover2000 2 years ago
Her version is good, not great but good no question. I enjoy it.
This YouTube posting sounds better than the song on my Mad Love cd. The sound of that cd is lousy IMHO. Needs to be remastered.
BETWyan 2 years ago
Thanks for putting this up & sharing..... Very, very underrated version of this classic song........
Camel22221 2 years ago 5
I totally agree. Very very underrated song, and one that you practically never hear anymore (or even since 1980!)
centuryrox 2 years ago 4
@centuryrox - I remember when this first came out the album rockers and 'rock/top-40' stations would play this regularly. If Asylum had any brains, they would've released this as a single then! I picked this album up at a rummage sale for a song not long ago.
thespeez 8 months ago
I agree I love this version but I have read that it was not favored buy its composer Elvis Cost.?
duaneburnett 2 years ago
I don't know what Elvis Costello's view of this song was, as I haven't read anything about that. As far as I know, he never recorded this song himself, but I could very well be wrong.
centuryrox 2 years ago
Elvis recorded the definitive version of Girls Talk (for me anyway) as a B-side to "I can't stand up for falling down," later issued on the LP "Taking Liberties."
guarachon63 2 years ago
@centuryrox There's one (not good recording quality) of him doing it live in Toronto in 78 that you can find on the elvis costello wiki as a download, also links to some versions recorded by him and rereleased on Rhino.
ripporter 1 year ago
@centuryrox Elvis Costello has recorded his own version - look for it on his album "Rock And Roll Music". It's okay, but not a patch on the Dave Edmunds version. This is the first time I've heard Linda Ronstadt's version, and it's excellent - thank you for posting!
JimShadyUK 1 year ago
@centuryrox Costello has said the song was making fun of people like Linda Ronstadt. It was pretty mean thing said at a time when he said a lot of mean things. I'm sure he still cashed the royalty checks.
izzonj 1 year ago
@izzonj Well, Elvis Costello, let us say, was (perhaps IS) more than a bit hypocritical. He was involved in "Rock Against Racism", yet he referred to Ray Charles as a "blind, ignorant nigger". While I suppose ANYONE can mis-speak ONCE, he then went on to call James Brown a "jive ass nigger". Nice, Declan...
shmuli9 1 year ago
@shmuli9 Elvis was drunk off his ass when he made those comments about James Brown and Ray Charles and says he was just trying to be as offensive as possible to get people to leave him alone. He apologized right after it happened. Ray Charles said, "drunken words aren't supposed to get printed in the newspaper."
Elvis even wrote a few songs about his drunken out of control days and getting into trouble with it. "I wish I'd never opened my Mouth Almighty" on Punch the Clock.
izzonj 1 year ago
@izzonj If he said similar things TWICE "when he was drunk", that pretty much shows exactly what he really thinks. As they say, "in vino veritas"... I'm sure Ray Charles was quite gracious, and I'm sure inside he was REALLY annoyed.
shmuli9 1 year ago
@shmuli9 Actually, he said them both on the same occasion.
izzonj 1 year ago
@centuryrox
Elvis Costello did record this song on the album 'get happy!'
gunnie32 1 year ago
@centuryrox I remember Elvis commenting that the whole album was a waste of vinyl. He's definitely entitled to his own opinion, but I love Linda and Mad Love.
PHX99 1 year ago
@centuryrox
You are.
griffinz 1 year ago
@duaneburnett
Costello said that if he had known it was going to be such a big hit for Dave Edmunds that he would never have let him have it, and would have recorded it first himself. Ronstadt's version closely mimics Edmunds', but without the rock n roll punch.
(Search YouTube for "Dave Edmunds Girls Talk New Years Eve '08)
nicmart 9 months ago
Elvis Costello's pen, Russ Kunkel's drums, Linda Ronstadt's multi-octave voice . . .I dig this tune! Thanks for posting it.
Westphalia47 2 years ago 2