And, after 25 years, the formula remains the same. Bring in the usual LA session suspects, led by guitarist Waddy Wachtel. Pick a Hiatt song here, a Bruce one there. Add some ambience, and boom, there you have it, a Linda Ronstadt album. The songs on "We Ran" that really work, well, they come out at you, bolstered by her gorgeous voice. The ones that don’t work, as with her past releases, either are the result of poor choices or poor arrangements, or, at times, both. All that’s missing here is a Warren Zevon tune, and it could be any of about eight or nine prior Ronstadt releases.
First, the good stuff. "Icy Blue Heart," and "Dreams of the San Joaquin," which close the record, are simply two of the most incredible things she’s ever recorded. When she wants to, Ronstadt can build a mood, like most great singers, just with the breaths she takes between lines of a song. That works on both of these tracks. Other standouts are "If I Should Fall Behind" and "I Go to Pieces," for pretty much the same reasons.
Now, the bad news. She should have left her rendition of Dylan’s "Tom Thumb’s Blues" in the outtake pile; it just doesn’t work, and is close to an embarrassing performance. The song is just not her’s. Others, like "When We Ran" and "Heartbreak Kind," are all right, due to her voice, but just don’t jump out like some of her older work.
All in all, it’s better than the Nelson Riddle stuff, but it would be nice to hear a complete Linda Ronstadt masterpiece, one of these days.
***