Linda Ronstadt's album of jazz vocals – recorded with backings from Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra. CD

Cali country rock from the end of the 60s/start of the 70s by Linda Ronstadt – her first couple of Capitol solo records– compiled on a single CD by Raven! Hand Sown. . .Home Grown was Linda's first solo record after the Stone Poneys, released in 1969, and a prime example of Linda's big, boisterous and passionate vocal style, floating over some groovy steel guitar and a more extroverted sound on the best tunes, but with some nice folkier numbers, too. It's surprising mix of moods, with lush strings and groovy organs, plus Linda's huge voice. Titles include "Baby You've Been On My Mind", "Silver Treads And Golden Needles", "Long Way Around", "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight", "The Dolphins" and more. 1970's Silk Purse as just a step or 2 better, thanks to a tighter feel, better songs, and more confidence from Linda, especially on her sassy take on Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues", and other gems. Titles include "Are My Thoughts With You", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Louise", "Menter Revenge", "Life Is Like A Mountain Railway" and more, plus the bonus track "(She's a) Very Lovely Woman". CD

All three of Linda Ronstadt's albums of jazz vocals – with backings from Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra. CD

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Linda Ronstadt got her start in the Stone Poneys, but this third album from the group makes it clear that she's rising as a lead act on her own – and as the "friends" in the title indicates, Ronstadt's also beginning to have quite a reach within the California scene itself too! The album unfortunately doesn't list credits besides songwriting, but we're guessing there's some great talents in the studio – as the mix of solo vocals, group harmonies, and larger instrumental touches is really wonderful – way past simple Capitol 60s pop! The set's overflowing with great tunes – and titles include the cool "Fragments" medley – plus versions of Tim Buckley's "Aren't You The One", "Hobo", and "Wings", a version of Mike Nesmith's "Some Of Shelly's Blues", and a version of Laura Nyro's "Stoney End". CD

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A fantastic and ambitious project that's in the best tradition of the Jazz Composers Orchestra – a set that features music by Carla Bley and words by Paul Haines – in an extended set that mixes avant jazz instrumentation with spoken passages by a surprising lineup of voices – including Bley, Jack Bruce, Don Cherry, Jeanne Lee, and even Linda Ronstadt! Musicians are the cream of the crop of the international avant scene at the time – and include Roswell Rudd on trombone, Gato Barbieri on tenor, Perry Robinson on clarinet, Carla Bley on organ, Don Preston on moog, Michael Mantler on ring modulated piano, Paul Motian on drums, Charlie Haden on bass, John McLaughlin on guitar, and many others – too numerous to mention here! CD

Carla Bley on piano and organ, Steve Swallow on bass with Andy Sheppard, Wolfgang Puschnig, Gato Barbieri, Dewey Redman, Jim Pepper, Jim my Lyons, Roger Janotta, Christof Lauer, Julian Arguelles, Jimmy Giuffre, Perry Robinson, Don Cherry, Lew Soloff, Michael Mantler, Guy Barker, Sharon Freeman, Frank Lacy, Ros well Rudd, Gary Valente, Annie Whitehead, Joe Daley, Bob Stewart, John McLaughlin, Paul Bley, Karen Mantler, Charlie Haden Paul Motian, Buddy Williams, Dennis Mackrel, Victor Lewis, D. Sharpe, Don Alias, Linda Ronstadt and many others CD

A smaller-form piece by Philip Glass, but still an opera of sorts – billed as a "space fiction music drama" – with reeds from Jon Gibson and Jack Kripl, and some vocals from Linda Ronstadt! CD

Features duets with Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Lena Horne, Chrissie Hynde, Patti Labelle, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others! CD