Simple Dreams

A Musical Memoir

By: Linda Ronstadt

Narrated by: Linda Ronstadt, Kathe Mazur

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

In this memoir, iconic singer Linda Ronstadt weaves together a captivating story of her origins in Tucson, Arizona, and her rise to stardom in the Southern California music scene of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Tracing the timeline of her remarkable life, Linda Ronstadt, whose 45-year career has encompassed a wide array of musical styles, weaves together a captivating story of her origins in Tucson, Arizona, and her rise to stardom in the Southern California music scene of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Linda Ronstadt was born into a musical family, and her childhood was filled with everything from Gilbert and Sullivan to Mexican folk music to jazz and opera. Her artistic curiosity blossomed early, and she and her siblings began performing their own music for anyone who would listen. Now, in this beautifully crafted memoir, Ronstadt tells the story of her wide-ranging and utterly unique musical journey.

Ronstadt arrived in Los Angeles just as the folkrock movement was beginning to bloom, setting the stage for the development of country-rock. As part of the coterie of like-minded artists who played at the famed Troubadour club in West Hollywood, she helped define the musical style that dominated American music in the 1970s. One of her early backup bands went on to become the Eagles, and Linda went on to become the most successful female artist of the decade.

In Simple Dreams, Ronstadt reveals the eclectic and fascinating journey that led to her long-lasting success, including stories behind many of her beloved songs. And she describes it all in a voice as beautiful as the one that sang “Heart Like a Wheel” - longing, graceful, and authentic.

©2013 Linda Ronstadt. All rights reserved. “Long Long Time”: Words and music by Gary White © Universal Music Corporation. Reproduced by permission of Hal Leonard. “Heart Like a Wheel”: Words and music by Anna McGarrigle © Anna McGarrigle Music. Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Kobalt Music. “Still Within the Sound of My Voice”: Words and music by Jimmy Webb © Seventh Son Music, Inc., c/o Music of Windswept and Bug Music, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Hal Leonard. (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Captivating

If you like Linda’s music, the journey through her musical career is fascinating, highly influenced by generations in her family of love for music and musicianship.

Excellent

For anyone who likes any of Linda’s songs, this is a must read/listen! You won’t be disappointed.

Amazing Book by an Amazing Woman

Linda has had an amazing and inspirational life and career. I’ve listened to her since her first album and have always been blown away by her voice. This book shows her to also be an intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, generous, self-aware person. I’m sad that she won’t be singing any more, but all her past work is there for me, and all of us, to enjoy now and into the future.

Review of “Simple Dreams” by Linda Rondstadt.

I would like to thank Linda Rondstadt for taking me on the journey through her life and career, I fell in love with her music in the 1970’s. And, I must say: Linda’s honest and inciteful depiction of how that music came into being helped me to appreciate it even more. I just finished Carly Simon’s book “Boys In The Trees. And, the opportunity I was given to learn even more about two beautiful and intelligent women like Linda and Carly was a rare pleasure for me. I will treasure the books, coming back to them often.

Fantastic book by the voice of a generation.

i have always loved Linda Ronstadt's voice. Her recordings were the playlist of my youth.
i admire her interest and integrity of experiencing all forms of musical art,

surperb

I had no idea Linda new so much about such a remarkable variety of music styles -- and performed them.

Lovely author, story could have been much more

I am being generous with my rating, as Linda Rondstadt is such an intelligent woman, full of grace and having paved the way for many other women in the very sexist music business. I have a full appreciation of how she looked at music and why she sang in so many genres from reading the book.

I wish huge music successes could strike a balance between FAR too much intimate information (e.g., Billy Idol) and next to none (this book). It's not even intimate information I want. But so very many pivotal relationships were ignored or glossed over, relationships that influenced the music. Plus, not being given a single detail about why she chose single motherhood, and how she went through the very emotional adoption experience, was disappointing in the extreme. My first disappointment came early, when she went from the beginning of a harrowing Catholic school to suddenly graduating from high school and just as suddenly, from college. Too much of her life was skipped.

However I did appreciate her brief assessment of Jim Morrison, which was always what I suspected he was like, and I learned a few new things, such as why arena performing is so awful from a sound perspective and how Metallica adapted to that beautifully. I'm glad I read it. But it could have been much more.

It was a monotone rendering that didn't really convey the heady excitement and ups and downs she lived.

Wondrrful musical memoir by Linda

I was not sure what you expect from a memoir about Linda's musical life but I really enjoyed it! Hearing the music that inspired her and hearing how she decided to move between different styles was fascinating. I lived in Mexico for 5 years as a young child and heard and remembered some of the songs she sang on Canciones de Mi Padre. I went to YouTube To find them again and listen - they brought back happy memories.

Linda is extremely honest about her musical abilities - an endearing characteristic in a star. I also loved hearing about the musicians she admired, many of whom I did not know or know well. I will have to look them up and listen! I look forward to expanding my musical education.

Great book for musicians and fans of Linda.

I enjoyed the book very much. Narrator’s voice sounded Linda a bit. Excellent Audible experience.

it felt authentic!!

I love the detail and passion that comes through. It truly felt personal and authentic! It made me a true Linda Ronstadt fan!! Growing up i was frequently told I looked like Linda...but it wasn't until recently I really started to listen to her music and learn more about her!!