Greatest Hits (Linda Ronstadt album)

Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by Linda Ronstadt
Released	December 1, 1976
Recorded	1967, 1970, 1973-1976
Genre	Rock, country rock, folk rock
Length	37:33
Label	Asylum
Producer	various
Linda Ronstadt chronology

Greatest Hits is Linda Ronstadt's first major compilation album, released at the end of 1976 for the holiday shopping season. It includes material from both her Capitol Records and Asylum Records output, and goes back to 1967 for The Stone Poneys' hit "Different Drum."

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+^[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[3]
Sounds	^[4]

It remains the biggest-selling album of Ronstadt's career, being certified seven times Platinum (over 7 million US copies shipped) by the Recording Industry Association of America^[5] in America alone, with 1.87 million units consumed after 1991 when SoundScan started tracking sales.^[6] It peaked at No. 6 on the main Billboard album chart and also reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, where it remained for over three years.

The album was criticized by the Rolling Stone Record Guide for being "premature," as Ronstadt continued to have record-breaking mainstream successes for many years following this release. By the time this collection came out, however, Ronstadt had already been recording hit records (as a solo artist and with the Stone Poneys) for a decade, and there were many examples of other artists releasing greatest hits albums much sooner, such as Elvis Presley.

In terms of being released while the performer was still in the midst of their career, this collection is unusual for a major artist in that it compiled works from two unrelated labels thanks to, as the sleeve states, a "special arrangement" between Asylum and Capitol; this overlap mirrors the situation in which Ronstadt briefly alternated releasing albums between Capitol and Asylum in 1973–74 in order to fulfil her contract with Capitol.^[7]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"You're No Good"	Clint Ballard Jr.	3:44
2.	"Silver Threads and Golden Needles"	Jack Rhodes, Dick Reynolds	2:20
3.	"Desperado"	Glenn Frey, Don Henley	3:30
4.	"Love Is a Rose"	Neil Young	2:46
5.	"That'll Be the Day"	Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty	2:32
6.	"Long, Long Time"	Gary White	4:21

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Different Drum" (with The Stone Poneys)	Mike Nesmith	2:45
2.	"When Will I Be Loved"	Phil Everly	2:05
3.	"Love Has No Pride"	Eric Kaz, Libby Titus	4:10
4.	"Heat Wave"	Holland–Dozier–Holland	2:46
5.	"It Doesn't Matter Anymore"	Paul Anka	3:26
6.	"Tracks of My Tears"	Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marv Tarplin	3:12

CD reissue

The CD reissue of the album was compiled with Ronstadt's second greatest hits collection and released by Rhino records in 2007 as Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2.^[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"You're No Good"	3:40
2.	"Silver Threads and Golden Needles"	2:20
3.	"Desperado"	3:30
4.	"Love is a Rose"	2:46
5.	"That'll Be the Day"	2:32
6.	"Long, Long Time"	4:21
7.	"Different Drum"	2:45
8.	"When Will I Be Loved"	2:05
9.	"Love Has No Pride"	4:10
10.	"Heat Wave"	2:46
11.	"It Doesn't Matter Anymore"	3:26
12.	"Tracks of My Tears"	3:12

No.	Title	Length
13.	"It's So Easy"	2:26
14.	"I Can't Let Go"	2:43
15.	"Hurt So Bad"	3:12
16.	"Blue Bayou"	3:54
17.	"How Do I Make You"	2:21
18.	"Back in the U.S.A."	3:02
19.	"Ooo Baby Baby"	3:18
20.	"Poor Poor Pitiful Me"	3:41
21.	"Tumbling Dice"	3:05
22.	"Just One Look"	3:15
23.	"Someone to Lay Down Beside Me"	3:58

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1976–1977)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[9]	22
UK Albums (OCC)^[10]	37
US Billboard 200^[11]	6
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[12]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)	Position
US Billboard 200^[13]	20
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[14]	8
Chart (1978)	Position
US Billboard 200^[15]	66
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[16]	19

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[17]	4× Platinum	280,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[18]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)^[19]	Gold	10,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[20]	7× Platinum	7,000,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

From the Liner Notes on the Original Vinyl Album.

Peter Asher: Cabasa, Cowbell, Trombone and Shaker, Hand Claps, Wood Block, and Percussion.
Ed Black: Guitar, Steel Guitar
Michael Botts: Drums
Mike Bowden: Bass
Richard Bowden: Electric Guitar
John Boylan: Keyboards
Richard Burden: Guitar
John Connor: Harmonica
Dan Dugmore: Steel Guitar
Kenny Edwards: Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocal
Chris Ethridge: Bass
Jim Fadden: Harmonica
Don Francisco: Backing Vocals
Andrew Gold: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Drums, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Tambourine, Piano, Arp, Congas, Hand Claps
Jim Gordon: Saxophone
Gib Guilbeau: Fiddle
Ginger Holliday: Backing Vocal
Mary Holliday: Backing Vocal
Andy Johnson: Electric Guitar
Mac Johnson: Trumpet
David Kemper: Drums
Clyde King: Backing Vocals
Sneaky Pete Kleinow: Steel Guitar
Danny Kortchmar: Electric Guitar
Russ Kunkel: Drums
Bernie Leadon: Acoustic Guitar
Daryl Leonard: Trumpet
David Lindley: Fiddle
Gail Martin: Trombone
Shirley Matthews: Backing Vocals
Marty McCall: Backing Vocals
Mickey McGee: Drums
Weldon Myrick: Steel Guitar
Spooner Oldham: Piano
Herb Pedersen: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Banjo
Norbert Putnam: Bass, Harpsichord
Don Randi: Harpsichord
Lyle Ritz: Concertmaster
Linda Ronstadt: Vocals, Tambourine, Hand Claps, Backing Vocals
John David Souther: Guitar
Buddy Spicher: Fiddle
Dennis St. John: Drums
Nino Tempo: Saxophone
Al Viola: Acoustic Guitar
Waddy: Electric Guitar
Pete Wade: Guitar
Bob Warford: Acoustic Guitar

Producers

Peter Asher: 1, 4, 5, 8,10,11,12
John Boylan: 9
John David Souther: 2,3
Elliot F. Mazer: 6
Nikolas Venet: 7

Release history

Release history and formats for *Greatest Hits*
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
North America	December 1, 1976	LP cassette	Asylum Records	^[21]

References

^ Allmusic review
^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 701. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone linda ronstadt album guide.
^ Charone, Barbara (25 December 1976). "The Best of George Harrison (Asylum K53055)" (PDF). Sounds. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "Searchable Database - Search: Linda Ronstadt". RIAA. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
^ Bjorke, Matt (January 7, 2020). "Country Music's Most-Consumed Albums Chart for January 7, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
^ Moore, Mary Ellen (1978). The Linda Ronstadt Scrapbook: An Illustrated Biography. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. p. 61. ISBN 0-441-48411-5.
^ Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 258. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Linda Ronstadt | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1977". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "1977 Talent in Action" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 51. December 24, 1977. p. 88. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1979". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
^ "American album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
^ Ronstadt, Linda (December 1, 1976). "Greatest Hits (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 7E-1092 (LP); TC5-5106 (Cassette).

[1] Allmusic review

[CG-2] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[3] Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 701. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone linda ronstadt album guide.

[4] Charone, Barbara (25 December 1976). "The Best of George Harrison (Asylum K53055)" (PDF). Sounds. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

[5] "Searchable Database - Search: Linda Ronstadt". RIAA. Retrieved December 10, 2013.

[6] Bjorke, Matt (January 7, 2020). "Country Music's Most-Consumed Albums Chart for January 7, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved January 15, 2020.

[7] Moore, Mary Ellen (1978). The Linda Ronstadt Scrapbook: An Illustrated Biography. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. p. 61. ISBN 0-441-48411-5.

[8] Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

[aus-9] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 258. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[ac_UK_Linda_Ronstadt-10] "Linda Ronstadt | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Linda_Ronstadt-11] "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[ac_BillboardCountry_Linda_Ronstadt-12] "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[13] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1977". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[14] "1977 Talent in Action" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 51. December 24, 1977. p. 88. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[15] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[16] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

[AustraliaLinda_RonstadtGreatest_HitsalbumCertRef-17] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 14, 2021.

[CanadaLinda_RonstadtGreatest_HitsalbumCertRef-18] "Canadian album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

[Hong_KongLinda_RonstadtGreatest_HitsalbumCertRef-19] "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1979". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

[United_StatesLinda_RonstadtGreatest_HitsalbumCertRef-20] "American album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 16, 2019.

[21] Ronstadt, Linda (December 1, 1976). "Greatest Hits (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 7E-1092 (LP); TC5-5106 (Cassette).

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