LINDA RONSTADT - ULTRASONIC STUDIO CD [EMPRESS VALLEY]

A collection of gems released for the first time in the world with digital transfer from the master reel! Unreleased sound source worked at Ultrasonic Studios on April 7, 1990.

Did you know that Warner Music has taken Linda Ronstadt's albums "Get Closer", "Cry Like a Rainstorm (Howl Like the Wind)", "We Run" and "Western Wall" out of circulation? Is not it? The Tucson Sessions". Winter Light was discontinued a year earlier in 2008.

Earlier this year, Japanese bootleg label Mid Valley surprised collectors with the release of Linda Ronstadt's Ultrasonic Studios session. There is a box of 3M tapes on the jacket, which says the producer is Peter Asher and the engineer is George Massenburg. The session took place in New Orleans.

It appears to have been recorded shortly after the success of 1989's Cry Like A Rainstorm, which also included duets with Neville Brothers and Aaron. One of these tracks, 'Close Your Eyes', was later re-recorded with Ronstadt as producer for Aaron Neville's solo album Warm Your Heart. All later releases were either re-recorded elsewhere or had additional work done on them. The Neville album was recorded in California.

By the 90s, Ronstadt was already far removed from California rock and soft rock. Her work with Nelson Riddle made her a mature song stylist, and she provided three albums for World Music. But as her business beckoned, she produced another pop album, Cry Like A Rainstorm, which won two Grammys and sold three million copies on her record label.

This session in New Orleans may have been an attempt to repeat this method. However, with the exception of "Close Your Eyes," a duet with Aaron Neville, the rest of the songs were not released until 1998. Two songs remain unreleased. In between, Ronstadt produced Frenesi, produced his first album with Winter Light, and reused recordings from Trio II to release Feels Like Home.

Two songs from the New Orleans sessions were finally released in 1998 when she ventured into her self-produced sophomore album, We Ran. However, due to her ill health, she turned to producer Glynn Johns, who made We Ran a rock album instead of the originally intended rock and roll album. This album was the last rock album recorded by Ronstadt to date. Here's why.

“It is very important to me that middle age does not become a repeat of youth, and old age does not become a repeat of middle age. Yes, I want genuine blessings".

she said in 1998. Read the full interview here.

Ronstadt, 64, is no recluse. If she's not chasing chart action, it's because she was there and she did it. Traveling and performing in big halls and arenas are no longer her 'hobbies'. She would rather stay at home. But her label has other ideas, and it's a shame they aren't creative. Artists like Ronstadt need to challenge themselves to create something new, not to recreate the glory days.

Any Ronstadt fan would appreciate whoever gave this master reel to Midvalley. It is a masterpiece that can be said to be a must-listen board for Linda fans.