Live In Hollywood is a live album by Linda Ronstadt. It was recorded at Television Center Studios in Hollywood, California on April 24, 1980, for broadcast as a special on HBO. All tracks from this recording except "Blue Bayou" and "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" are previously unreleased. This is the first live album released by Ronstadt. The master tapes, thought to be lost, were discovered through a chance encounter with a Warner Brothers engineer leading to their recovery. The backing band for this recording includes some of the musicians who collaborated with Ronstadt many times over the years: Kenny Edwards of the Stone Poneys, Danny Kortchmar, Dan Dugmore, Bill Payne of Little Feat, Wendy Waldman, Bob Glaub, Peter Asher and Russ Kunkel. A then fifteen-year-old Wendy Waldman describes meeting Linda Ronstadt for the first time in 1965 and how she later toured with her and came to be on this album. "Desperado" was written by former backing band members Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who went on to form the Eagles. Some songs performed at the concert, like "Heatwave" are not on the CD. You can hear them on the video.
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic writes in his interview, "These 12 tracks casually illustrate her facility with both soft rock and old-time rock & roll, and if the set list leans heavily on oldies, the combination of guts and polish makes her renditions memorable." Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter remarks that "she’s in terrific voice throughout with a few standout performances like the closing “Desperado” — a knockout, dramatic vocal accompanied only by Payne’s piano — and a powerful take on Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” " Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times writes, "What audiences today hear on "Live in Hollywood" is exactly what Ronstadt sang into her microphone." Matt Wardlaw of Ultimate Classic Rock begins his interview with Ronstadt about the album with, "Most artists stick with a repetitively upbeat message when promoting a new project, but the always-honest Linda Ronstadt isn't most artists. In fact, she's expressing doubts about a new concert recording called Live in Hollywood, taken from a performance orchestrated for broadcast by HBO in 1980." Stephen L. Betts of Rolling Stone writes, "Although the famously self-critical Ronstadt has never liked listening to her own records, she’s thankful the resurgence of vinyl LPs means record buyers have the chance to hear more of the details and nuance labored over by the singer, her band, producers and engineers." Michael Fremer of Analog Planet writes, "This is the soundtrack to a generation on both the originals and Ronstadt's well-known covers brought back to life for one more go round." Jim Harrington of Mercury News writes, "Her vocals are strong, clear and convincing as she moves through such winners as “It’s So Easy,” “Just One Look” and “Poor Poor Pitiful Me." And the stunning version of “Blue Bayou”? Wow. That’s one for the time capsule." Audiophile Audition gives the album 4½ our of 5 stars and has this to say about it in their review. "Linda Ronstadt was a trailblazer. She was a dominant rock and roll singer in a male-dominated genre and stood tall." and "It is a treat to have a recording of this unique talent. The integrity of the audio quality is captured with finesse and verve. The primary instrument, this dazzling voice, is rendered with warmth and subtlety during quieter moments. The muscular fidelity is also on display with tonal vitality." Coachella Valley Weekly's Eleni P. Austin reviews the album and notes, "The best tracks here display Linda’s seemingly effortless vocal dexterity. The heartbreak of “Blue Bayou” has never felt so palpable. Roy Orbison’s South of the Border charmer unfurls slowly, lush electric piano, in-the-pocket percussion lachrymose pedal steel and filigreed guitar notes, underscore her yearning tone. She sings the final verse in Spanish, and the results are positively thrilling." Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe says of the album, "It’s an officially sanctioned, painstakingly mastered keepsake from Ronstadt’s Mad Love tour in 1980, which was broadcast on HBO when it was still a brand new cable channel." Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald states, "fans will relish finally having live renditions of "How Do I Make You," Little Feat's "Willin'" and the Eagles' "Desperado." They won't get Elvis Costello's "Party Girl," the Cretones' "Mad Love" or her 1969 country-rock staple, "Silver Threads and Golden Needles," which had figured on that cooking concert stage." Phil Bausch concludes his On The Records review with, "It’s important that recordings like Live In Hollywood exist to remind the world Linda Ronstadt once possessed one of the greatest Rock and Pop voices of all time."
