US only remastered 2008 reissue pressed on a gold disc! The 1975 album's support material is just as strong, ranging from a banjo-strumming version of Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose" to a plaintive pop reading of Jimmy Cliff... more »'s reggae classic "Many Rivers to Cross." There's also a simple but lovely cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" that predates Whitney Houston's glass-shattering take on it (for the movie The Bodyguard) by more than a decade and a half. One thing about Ronstadt and producer-manager Peter Asher. 11 tracks.« less
US only remastered 2008 reissue pressed on a gold disc! The 1975 album's support material is just as strong, ranging from a banjo-strumming version of Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose" to a plaintive pop reading of Jimmy Cliff's reggae classic "Many Rivers to Cross." There's also a simple but lovely cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" that predates Whitney Houston's glass-shattering take on it (for the movie The Bodyguard) by more than a decade and a half. One thing about Ronstadt and producer-manager Peter Asher. 11 tracks.
"I used to have this on vinyl. When my mother was dying of cancer, she asked me to make sure they played 'The Sweetest Gift' at her funeral. It a duet with the great Emmy Lou Harris. Over 10 years has passed and the whole CD means more to me than you can imagine. I was fortune enough to see Linda Ronstadt in her 'Living In The USA' tour. To me she will always be a legend as well as an angel."
MFSL is a Worthy Upgrade
D. Allen | McKinney Texas | 01/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is my favorite Ronstadt album, and it contains what is probably my favorite Ronstadt song: "You Tell Me That I'm Falling Down". I own the original vinyl and CD, and I've been keenly interested in the MFSL version but was leery of the fact that there were no reviews of it here. Apparently, no one was underwhelmed or overwhelmed enough by it to feel compelled to write about it. I think, to some degree, I understand.
The original CD, which is still sold today, is a muddy/muffled mess, so I was hoping the MFSL version would improve that situation significantly. On the first song, "Love is a Rose", I was feeling a little disappointed, but when "Hey Mister" began, I noticed I was hearing things I didn't recall hearing before, and there was more clarity. I immediately pulled out the old version and started A-B'ing back and forth through the entire album. I discovered that about half the veils that had previously smothered "Prisoner" had been lifted, allowing it to breathe a little - and making it a much more enjoyable listen. Progress, not perfection.
I'd have to say I'm quite pleased with this purchase. My timing might have been pretty good too since this has been out a few years now and it's probably about time for MFSL to drop the curtain on this one. If you're on the fence, the point of no return is quickly approaching. It might be time to climb down.
"
One of Linda's best!
SewerLabGuy | 12/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought the LP (that's a vinyl record to you kids) back in the late '70s. This is the only album that I've bought twice! She sounds even better on CD!"
The definitive version of "I Will Always Love You"
Jeffrey Fulton | Roanoke VA | 04/09/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, I found something in WikiPedia but have never seen the validity of this statement, but:
In 1992, singer Whitney Houston recorded the song for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, her film debut. Houston was originally to record Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" as the lead single from The Bodyguard. However, when it was discovered the song was to be used for Fried Green Tomatoes, Houston requested a different song and her co-star Kevin Costner brought her Linda Ronstadt's 1975 version of "I Will Always Love You" from her album Prisoner in Disguise. Houston and producer David Foster re-arranged the song as a soul ballad.
At any rate, I wish the media would mention the fact that Linda's version exists from time to time.
I've read in the past that Dolly liked Linda's version the best. (Naturally, Linda states the opposite I'm sure, with Emmylou Harris' version close behind.)
Whether the validity of the above is true or not, if Linda had released this as a single in 1975, I believe it would probably have been a huge hit. The wild thing is that the rock album oriented FM stations at the time played it to death here."