Search - Linda Ronstadt :: Hasten Down the Wind

Unsurpassed reproduction ? Audiophiles beware.

Roderick Keech | Australia | 07/16/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This, as most would agree, is one of Linda Ronstadt's best albums, filled with a great selection of songs, and well produced by long-time associate Peter Asher.



It is Mobile Fidelity's claim that this 24-karat gold CD and their Gain 2 System produces unsurpassed quality that I take issue with.



Certainly it is better than the original 1990 CD issue that had no enhancement, but listening to this disc, some of the lead vocals sounds muddy, and there is a general lack of brightness to the album.



Having heard 'Lo siento mi vida' on 'Jardin Azul / Las Canciones Favoritas'Mi Jardin Azul: Las Canciones Favoritas, you can compare the difference in sound clarity. Strangely, there wasn't one track from "Hasten down the wind" on "The very best of Linda Ronstadt The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt so no comparisons are available there.



I have to say that I am generally unimpressed with Mobile Fidelity's releases, but in this case, unlike the albums remastered from her Capitol days The Best of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years there is no alternative to the original.



5 stars for the content

4 stars for the packaging

3 stars for the remastering"

Fact: There were no platinum albums prior to 1976

Jonathan D. Wallach | New York, NY United States | 08/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While this is just a quibble, this was not Ronstadt's first album to sell over a million copies. That honor goes to Heart Like A Wheel in 1975 which probably outsold this one by a lot. Only gold certifications existed prior to this album's release so to state it was her first platinum album is confusing at best and moronic at worst."

ANOTHER ONE OF HER ALL-TIME CLASSICS: BUY IT!

M.C | Richmond VA USA | 08/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another example of Linda's incredible string of outstanding 70's recording, combining a breezy nostalgic feel with a sophisticated emotional kick thrown in. I think she, as many artists do, wanted to expand and try what SHE wanted after her 70's parade of classic albums, including this one. Like Joni Mitchell, it didn't always keep fans listening, but it was a brave and largely successful effort to keep her work fresh. What shines on her 70's albums, above all else, is her souring, haunting voice, which seems capable of anything. I love how she can be heartbreakingly beautiful one second, and then lay it all out on the table with belted tourch songs a second later (Down so Low for example). To me, this is one of Ronstadt's all time classics, and while it isn't as perfect as "Heart Like a Wheel," it has several incredible cuts, included a few she wrote herself. I particularly LOVE: "Lose Again," "The Tattler," "If he's ever near," "Down so Low," and "Someone to Lay down Beside Me." As I said, she can really connect with her voice, because it is so authentic, and I think that is the greatest of her many gifts."