Hasten Down the Wind

Hasten Down the Wind (1976) is Linda Ronstadt's seventh solo LP release and Ronstadt's third straight million-selling album, an unprecedented feat at the time, earning her a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Female in 1976. It represented a radical departure from 1974's Heart Like a Wheel and 1975's Prisoner in Disguise in that she chose to showcase new songwriters over the traditional country rock and pop sound she had been producing up to this point. It is a more serious, more poignant album than its predecessors, yet won immediate critical acclaim from critics and the general public alike.

The album showcased Ronstadt by way of songs such as the likes of Warren Zevon's "Hasten Down the Wind" and Karla Bonoff's "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me", both of whom would indeed soon be making a name for themselves in the singer-songwriter world. An exquisite treatment of the Tracy Nelson standard "Down So Low" and two Ronstadt-penned songs completed an array of immaculately chosen and delivered songs.

This was Ronstadt's third album to go platinum. Hasten itself spent several weeks in the top three of the Billboard charts. Her subsequent album was her best-selling, Simple Dreams.

1 Track listing
2 Personnel

[edit] Track listing

"Lose Again" (Karla Bonoff) - 3:34
"The Tattler" (Ry Cooder, Russ Titelman, Washington Phillips - 3:56
"If He's Ever Near" (Karla Bonoff) - 3:15
"That'll Be the Day" (Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) - 2:32
"Lo Siento Mi Vida" (Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Edwards, Gilbert Ronstadt) - 3:54
"Hasten Down the Wind" (Warren Zevon) - 2:40
"Rivers of Babylon" (B. Dowe, Trevor McNaughton, S. McNaughton) - :52
"Give One Heart" (John Hall, Johanna Hall) - 4:07
"Try Me Again" (Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold) - 3:59
"Crazy" (Willie Nelson) - 3:58
"Down So Low" (Tracy Nelson) - 4:08
"Someone to Lay Down Beside Me" (Karla Bonoff) - 4:28

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Core band

Linda Ronstadt - Vocals, Vocals (Background), Handclapping
Andrew Gold - Organ, Keyboards, Arp String Ensemble, Finger Cymbals, Sleigh Bells, Handclapping, Clavinet, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Piano (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (Electric), Clavichord, Piano, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic)
Dan Dugmore - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel)
Waddy Wachtel - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Kenny Edwards - Bass, Mandolin, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Russ Kunkel - Drums
Michael Botts - Drums

[edit] Additional musicians

Clarence McDonald Piano, Keyboards
Herb Pedersen Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Paul Polenick Viola
Paul Polivinick Viola
Bill Thedford Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Ken Yerke Violin, Viola
Ron Hickland Choir, Chorus
Gerry Garrett Choir, Chorus
Sherlie Matthews Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Clydie King Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Wendy Waldman Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Peter Asher Guitar, Wood Block, Shaker, Producer, Handclapping, Vocals, Tambourine, Percussion
David Campbell Conductor, String Arrangements, Viola
Charles Veal Violin, Concert Master
Richard Feves Bass, Double Bass
Gerald Garrett Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Jim Gilstrap Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Pat Henderson Vocals, Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background)
Ron Hicklin Vocals
Dennis Karmazyn Cello
Becky Louis Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Karla Bonoff Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Don Henley Drums, Vocals, Harmony Vocals

[edit] Production

Kosh Cover Design
Ethan Russell Photography
Jim Shea Photography

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