Linda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle

Dear Lew: I'm referring to the album titles for the Ronstadt /Riddle collaborations. I never suggested that Sinatra sang a song called "Lush Life" (Ronstadt/Riddle.) It is an album title however (Ronstadt/Riddle.) And I did shorten the album title "For Sentimental Reasons" (Ronstadt/Riddle.)

As it is, the song is actually called: "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" on the "For Sentimental Reasons" (Ronstadt/Riddle)album. If there is any confusion between that and any Sinatra recording, I'm not aware of it. I don't have much in Sinatra's repertoire.

"For Sentimental Reasons" Linda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle

Elektra Asylum Nonesuch Records Asylum 60474-1-E

OK. I got it. I thought later that you might take my post as a put-down. It was never intended as such, and I do apologize if you felt it was. Lush Life is one of my favorite jazz ballads, if not my absolute favorite. If Sinatra had ever recorded it, I would certainly want to hear that recording, but I had already read about his declining to sing it. Thus I was pleasantly surprised to learn that maybe I was wrong. I was not wrong, sadly, but I did learn in the course of my investigation that there is a "bootleg" tape of Sinatra singing it. I'd love to access that. I can actually see why he may have felt it did not suit him.

Nat King Cole first recorded "I love you for sentimental reasons", I think. It was a hit record for a short while. My basic thought was to remind people that Linda Ronstadt was "covering" tunes that already had a history with some of the greatest jazz and pop singers of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I also read on Wiki that Nelson Riddle passed away during the time that Linda was doing that recording, and his son finished the session as conductor. Anyway, if you like Lush Life, seek out the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane collaboration, on Impulse. It's "classic".

Lew: No offence taken as I'm sure none intended.

Lewm ...

Linda was indeed re-doing the old ballads as you said. I was brought up on this music. My Mom was a huge fan of the big bands of the 40's and I got indoctrinated. I have albums by Jo Stafford, Helen Merrill, June Christy Sinatra, Freddy Martin, Dick Haymes, Margaret Whiting, and a ton of others. I thought Linda Ronstadt brought a fresh voice into the mix ... so I bought them all. Even a box set with French pressings. The French pressings are quieter than the domestic ones, but the domestic ones sound just as good.

A bit off-analog, but I recently discovered that Wolfgang's Vault has a bunch of old live concert recordings of Linda Ronstadt at her peak that can be downloaded for $7 each. Unfortunately they are not on LP, nor even high-rez. But some of the performances are unique!