Tag Archives: Hasten Down The Wind

Music Monday: July 20, 2026

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Multi genre music royalty Linda Ronstadt turned 80 years young last week. The incomprable singer was born July 15, 1946 in Arizona and raised on a 10 acre farm. Her father’s ancestry would later inspire her Mexican recordings. She started her career as part of the folk trio, The Stone Poneys, who had a Top 20 hit in 1967 with a song written by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees. Ronstadt released her first solo album in 1969.

This is from my post on Day 486 of my Lockdown Countdown:

“Ronstadt has sung nearly every genre of music in her career from pop to country to big band to Mexican to jazz and more. On her 34th birthday in 1980, she expanded her repertoire when she appeared in Joseph Papp’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance in Central Park in NYC. But I still love the song that started her career and introduced us all to her unbelievably fabulous voice. Here’s to 100 more birthdays for this legendary artist“.

Linda Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt circa 1999. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year also marks the golden anniversary of Ronstadt’s seventh studio album, Hasten Down the Wind. It was released 50 years ago by Capitol on August 9, 1976. A month later, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, giving her the third platinum album of her career.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The man who wrote the title track to Ronstadt’s 1976 album-Warren Zevon-released his own self titled album 50 years ago in May 1976. His original take on the song strikes me as even more heartbreaking than hers, probably because it is amplified by the gorgeous harmony vocals by Phil Everly. In the 1970’s Zevon worked as the band leader, musical coordinator and keyboard player for The Everly Brothers and later worked with both Phil and Don Everly on their solo tours. Another of Zevon’s friends-fellow singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne-produced Zevon’s 1976 album and contributed guitar & harmony vocals to four of the eleven tracks. JD Souther, Lindsey Buckingham, Bonnie Raitt and many other artists also contributed to Zevon’s record.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon (L) and Phil Everly (R) circa 1971. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Zevon (L) and Jackson Browne (R) circa 1976. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Blues, rock & country singer-songwriter & musician Delbert McClinton had a Top Ten hit in February 1981 with a song that peaked at #8. That technically makes the singer-who turned 85 last November-a one-hit wonder. However, he had a hit duet with country superstar Tanya Tucker-“Tell Me About It”-which reached #4 on the country chart in July 1993.

McClinton is also a four-time Grammy winner with awards in 1992 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the song, ” Good Man, Good Woman” with Bonnie Raitt; in 2002 & 2006 for Best Contemporary Blues Album – or Contemporary Blues Recording for Nothing Personal (2002) and Cost Of Living (2006) and for Best Traditional Blues Album for Tall, Dark, & Handsome in 2020. Not bad for a one-hit wonder.

Delbert McClinton circa 1981. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bonnie Bramlett (L) of Delaney & Bonnie provided the backing vocals for McClinton’s 1981 hit. They are pictured here together circa 1978. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The pilot episode of “Six Feet Under” premiered 25 years ago on Sunday, June 3, 2001. The Fishers-Nathaniel, Ruth, Nate, David & Clare-helped us explore death in their family-owned funeral home along with their life challenges, romances, neurosis and their own struggles living in the same place where the reality of death is ever present. The IMDb tagline for the show-“When death is your business, what is your life?”-tells you all you need to know.

To closeout the Christmas episode in S2 (E8 which oddly enough aired in April 2002) one of the main characters, Nate-the oldest son who reluctantly inherits half of the family business he wanted nothing to do with after his father’s sudden death-takes a moment of freedom from his new reality by escaping it via a motorcycle ride. But perhaps as a reminder to Nate’s profession and how near the end may be for any one of us, the song underscoring Nate’s temporary escape is none other than the Blue Oyster Cult classic released 50 years ago in May 1976 from the album, Agents Of Fortune. Or perhaps it was a direct message to all of us to literally not fear the moment we are all headed towards by not letting it stop us from living. Ten years ago in 2016, that song was covered as a beautiful slow mournful ballad, giving it new life & a new audience.

The cast of “Six Feet Under” L-R: Rachel Griffiths, Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Mathew St. Patrick, Freddy Rodriguez, Lauren Ambrose (seated) and Frances Conroy. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Stone Poneys: “Different Drum” (1967, written by Mike Nesmith).

Linda Ronstadt: “Love Has No Pride” (1973, written by Eric Kaz and Libby Titus).

Linda Ronstadt: “You’re No Good” (1974, written by Clint Ballard Jr.).

Linda Ronstadt: “Lose Again” (1976, written by Karla Bonoff).

Linda Ronstadt: “That’ll Be The Day” (1976, written by Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly and Norman Petty).

Linda Ronstadt: “Hasten Down The Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville: “Don’t Know Much” (1989, written by Barry Mann, Tom Snow and Cynthis Weil).

Rosemary Clooney & Linda Ronstadt: “Time Flies” ( Evening At Pops with John Williams live performance May 24, 1993. Written by Jimmy Webb).

Warren Zevon: “Hasten Down the Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon. Harmony vocals by Phil Everly).

Warren Zevon: “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Warren Zevon: “Carmelita” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Delbert McClinton: “Giving It Up For Your Love” (1980, written by Jerry Lynn Williams).

Blue Oyster Cult: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (1976, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Denmark & Winter: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (2016, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 13

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 13A

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Several years ago I heard an absolutely gorgeous song on a TV show which helped me discover the artist-Ryan O’Neal-who performs under the moniker, Sleeping At Last. That led me to his simply gorgeous take on today’s song which I have featured before. This year I found another incredibly beautiful version of that song by singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff.

I discovered her years ago courtesy of Linda Ronstadt who recorded three songs by Bonoff (“Lose Again”, “If He’s Ever Near” and “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me”, with the last two also featuring her on backing vocals) on 1976’s Hasten Down The Wind. Bonoff released those three songs on her self titled debut in 1977. In August 1982 she had her own Top 20 hit with “Personally”. Ronstadt’s 1989 duet with Aaron Neville, “All My Life”, was also written by Bonoff.

Over a decade later, I heard her stunning cover of “The Water Is Wide” when my favorite soap, “Another World” featured it during an episode in January 1997. And this week I finally heard her 2020 album, Silent Night. I love when Christmas comes early.

sleeping-at-last-releases-new-already-gone-cover-1-med

Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

karla

Karla Bonoff circa 2020 from her website. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sleeping At Last: “The First Noel” (2017, traditional).

Karla Bonoff: “The First Noel” (2020, traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: May 8, 2023

Posted in Music, Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another year, another huge disappointment by The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. They announced their nominees for the Class of 2023 a few weeks back. After a 20+ year wait, the list finally included the gifted eloquent singer & songwriter, Warren Zevon. And despite fans voting him in, the HOF ignored their voice and chose instead to induct other people. I cannot even use the word artists as that term does not apply to some of the unworthy “acts” getting in this year. The process to gain entry has been a popularity contest for years and has absolutely nothing-NOTHING-to do with talent. Yet every year I get sucked into believing the HOF will do the right thing. I feel like Charlie Brown with that lousy football.

While there are several artists getting in that I am thrilled for-namely lyricist extrordinaire Bernie Taupin in the Musical Excellence Award category, The Spinners as Performers and Don Cornelius (creator, producer and host of the TV show, “Soul Train”) as the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award-I am just sick about Zevon. In their description of him on the Hall’s nominating page, they wrote: “Warren Zevon was an artist’s artist. One of the most talented and significant singer-songwriters to emerge in the 1970s, Zevon wrote poetic but offbeat songs, often with darkly humorous and acerbic lyrics, and delivered them with a dry wit and a twisted energy like no other performer could”. Yet they passed him over.

According to Zevon’s website, it was Long Island’s own Billy Joel who spearheaded this year’s nomination in a letter to the Hall’s nominating committee that read:

“If anyone deserves to be, he does. He was a real original, and I don’t know if that’s appreciated enough. The first minute I saw him, I was knocked out. He was like the crazy brother I never had. He was fearless, and it stuck with me. I never thought he got the attention he deserved.” On that, Billy, we can agree.

Warren William Zevon was born January 24, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. As a young teenager, he had the good fortune to occassionally visit the homes of two remarkable conductors-Igor Stravinsky and Robert Craft. By 1966 Zevon was part of the duo, Lyme and Cabelle, with Violet Santangelo. His debut solo album, Wanted Dead Or Alive, was released in 1970. One of its songs was retitled & recorded by Leslie Miller for the soundtrack to Midnight Cowboy.

Six years later after a stint as band leader and keyboardist for the Everly Brothers, Zevon’s self-titled second album-produced by Jackson Browne-came out. Like the first one, it was a critical success but did not sell. However, it did include two songs which Linda Ronstadt would also record: “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and “Hasten Down The Wind”. In 1978 Zevon achieved both commercial & critical acclaim with his third album, Excitable Boy (also produced by Browne along with guitarist Waddy Wachtel). That introduced the world to “Werewolves Of London”.

Per the HOF’s rules, an artist is eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first album. That means Zevon qualified in 1995. Even if the HOF wanted to use his major label debut date to qualify him-album #2 in 1976-that put his eligibility in 2001. That was two years before he died from mesothelioma on September 7, 2003 at age 56. In case you are too tired to do the math, that was 20 years ago. 

After he found out about his health, Zevon spent the fall of 2002 recording his final album, The Wind. It was released on August 26, 2003 and won two Grammy Awards in 2004: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for his duet with Bruce Springsteen, “Disorder In The House“. The album featured appearances by several of Zevon’s other friends including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Joe Walsh, Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and John Waite, amongst others.

As much as I love the collaboration with Springsteen, today’s song is my favorite track on the album. It was nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance but that is not why I adore it. The message of it is just beautiful. It was Zevon’s goodbye to his family (daughter Ariel and son Jordan-who accepted Zevon’s Grammys on his behalf in 2004-and her two sons, Maximus and Augustus), his friends and his fans. It closed out the album, his recording career and his life in a stunning and heartbreaking way. It also proved that if talent could get a true artist like Zevon into the R&R HOF, he would already be in.

“Shadows are fallin’ and I’m runnin’ out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while“.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon: “Keep Me In Your Heart” (2003, written by Jorge Calderón and Warren Zevon).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 318

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Shakespeare music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Watching David Letterman’s shows for over 30 years was not just an education in humor but an introduction to a lot of different people and music, too. One of his favorite guests was singer & songwriter Warren Zevon, born January 24, 1947 in IL. I saw him for the first time on Letterman’s NBC show but I had been listening to his music for years before that appearance.

Zevon’s most well known song, “Werewolves Of London” was a staple of FM radio in the 1970’s as were covers of his songs by Linda Ronstadt including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and today’s pick. Zevon included it on his 1976 self titled album which was produced by his friend Jackson Browne. It is a heartbreaking song about a man realizing he is losing the woman he loves not to another man but just because her feelings for him simply faded away. The beautiful harmony vocals are by Phil Everly, who met Zevon when he joined The Everly Brothers touring band in the 1970’s.

“She’s so many women
He can’t find the one who was his friend
So he’s hanging on to half her heart
He can’t have the restless part”.

Warren Zevon circa 1979

Warren Zevon circa 1979. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon: “Hasten Down The Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.