Linda Ronstadt - She's a very lovely woman

Andy Williams' show

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ronstadt
• linda
• she
• very
• lovely
• woman
• andy
• williams

[Zacomonta]

And Linda covering Warren Zevon's songs helped with his career. He had been around since the 60s, getting very little notice from anyone. Jackie DeShannon recorded one of his songs, "500 Miles from Yesterday" in 1967-8 but then the record company never released it. The song remained unreleased until a compilation CD was issued on Jackie in the 90s. It was a little different to what he would write later but still showed the tremendous talent that too many record companies ignored.

[Zacomonta]

Linda definitely had several good songs which should've been singles. I always thought her own composition "Try Me Again" should've been an A-side. She actually wrote the song mostly by herself with Andrew Gold contributing to the song's bridge. It would've been nice if Linda could've written more of her own songs. Even though she dismissed herself as a songwriter, I would still like to have seen her with two or three writing credits per album. She was better than she gave herself credit for.

[puckeylut]

@Zacomonta Definately! I wish so many of her songs were released as singles. I still think Carmelita was the best! Her covers of Warren Zevon songs actually made me discover his music. Which I am very thankful for.

[Zacomonta]

My guess would be the person compiling Linda's discography probably thought VLW was the original flip side in 1969, although the song was recorded in 1970. I'd also guess that someone with a strong country preference tinkered with the discography and flipped the country-oriented material to the A-sides and the rock-oriented material to the B-sides. The A-sides were whichever songs the record company was promoting, tho Linda's torchy version of Crazy was good enough to have been an A-side.

[puckeylut]

@Zacomonta I agree it should have been a hit! The wikipedia page is mislabelled. The reference used states that it charted in 1971. Although it may have been released in 1969 and they forgot to reference the single differently. But Very Lovely Woman is listed under the b-sides, rather awkwardly as Tumbling Dice and Somebody to Lay Down Beside Me are listed as b-sides as well (and Crazy and I Never Will Marry as the A-sides). I guess the contributors argue over which was the true a-side as well.

[Zacomonta]

You're welcome for the info. I just looked at wikipedia and Cashbox. The #70 Billboard pop chart entry (#17 AC) for TLWA occurred in 1969, not 1971. It was an A-side then. VLW's highest chart showing in Cashbox was #94 - no mention of TLWA recharting in '71. VLW had a three week run in Cashbox, don't know about Billboard. But, the listing for Linda's single on wikipedia omit VLW altogether while TLWA is shown as 1969. TLWA likely could've been a bigger hit had Capitol got behind it.

[puckeylut]

@Zacomonta Thanks for the info! I know many of her b-sides charted on other charts but in this case, Billboard and Rolling Stone clearly state they were released as a double a-side when they charted. Which is why I came to see this song. I was excited because after years of seeing it in my book I could finally hear it. I see that Raven Records just reviewed her Australian re-issue with She's a Very Lovely Woman listed as her 2nd hit. I'm ordering it now!

[Zacomonta]

VLW is on the 2-fer HSHG/SP while Living Like a Fool" is on the 2-fer LR/HLAW, both out of Australia, and still available from Amazon. As for TLWA, I was 16 when VLW was released as a single and I remember VLW getting radio airplay but remember none for TLWA. I wonder if it was being promoted on some other chart and Cashbox just listed both? Cashbox rarely credited the B-sides while Billboard stopped crediting Bs on their own and designating them with an F to show the flip was being played.

[puckeylut]

@Zacomonta You should search for it. I found the actual cashbox singles chart on google images and there it was listed as a double a-side. I imagine that "The Long Way Around" was definately the one played though.

And there's a CD of those two songs? Oh I love that you found this! I'm going to go search for it right now. How exciting.

[Zacomonta]

Also, regarding VLW, that song was available on an Australian 2-CD release from about three or four years ago. I don't recall if it was Silk Purse combined with Linda Ronstadt or Hand Sown, Home Grown, but the combo was the only known CD release of VLW as well as "Living Like a Fool." I don't know if the CD is still in print but copies can usually be found on ebay or through Amazon.