Feels Like Home: Linda Ronstadt’s Musical Journey
Putumayo, 2022
10/10
Listen to Feels Like Home: Linda Ronstadt’s Musical Journey
The musical companion to Linda Ronstadt’s new book, Feels Like Home: A Song For The Sonoran Borderlands, the 10 tunes here were influential during Ronstadt’s childhood and career, and also includes her interpretations of classic Mexican songs.
Ry Cooder and the legendary Chicano artist Lalo Guerrero start the listen with the heartfelt and poetic “Barrio Viejo”, and the trio presence of “El Sueno” follows with Ronstadt’s brothers, Peter and Mike, joining her for the glowing vocal harmonies and pair of acoustic guitars.
“Across The Border”, which pairs Ronstadt with Emmylou Harris, lands in the middle and features Neil Young on harmonica for the timeless love song, while Jackson Brown and Los Cenzontles come together for the English and Spanish sung “The Dreamer”, which helps make the Mexican folk song the album stand out.
Approaching the end, Ronstadt is accompanied by Dolly Parton for the powerful and somber Appalachian folk song “I Never Will Marry”, and “Voy Caminando”, performed by Los Cenzontles and featuring David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) on violin and Taj Mahal on banjo, exits the listen with no lack of rhythm in the radiant and cultured finish.
A truly exceptional collection of music, the diversity present does a great job of illustrating how Ronstadt become the icon she is, and the album download card and very thorough liner notes only enhance this stirring and enlightening listening experience.
Travels well with: Putumayo Presents: Afro-Cubano; Putumayo Presents World Chill