The 500 - #164 = The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt - Linda Ronstadt

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #164

Album Title: The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt

Artist: Linda Ronstadt

Genre: Country, Rock, Soft Rock, Pop

Recorded: Various Studios (1967-1995)

Released: September, 2002

My age at release: 37 (My guest blogger, Ava, was not born)

How familiar was I with it before this week: Quite (New to Ava)

Is it on the 2020 list? No, but her 1974 record, Heart Like A Wheel, is

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: You’re No Good

For the fifth straight year, I have invited  anyone in my Grade 7 class  to pick an upcoming record and write about. I was delighted when Ava accepted the challenge. Here is her post on The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt, by Linda Ronstadt.

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Hi, my name is Ava and I am a Grade 7 student in Mr. Hodgkinson’s class. Earlier this year he asked if any of us would be interested in being a guest blogger for one of the records on Rolling Stone Magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and I volunteered.

Let me tell you about myself. I love performing and I am definitely an extrovert. I like singing and acting, but my passion is dancing. I have been taking dance classes since I was three. One of my favourite musical artists is Justin Beiber. I became a fan when my aunt played it for me and she is hoping to take me to see him in concert. She even gave me her concert sweatshirt from this 2009 tour. (See Below)

 

The album I picked from the list Mr. Hodgkinson showed me is The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt, by Linda Ronstadt. At first, I wasn’t sure which album to pick, but I went home and shared it with my dad. We listened to a few tracks from some of the other records, but I picked Ms. Ronstadt because I wanted to learn about a female artist and it stuck out from the other records we listened to, including Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello and Live At Leeds by The Who. They were okay, but Ms. Ronstadt stood out more.

Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s.

I did some research and this is what I learned.

Linda Ronstadt is an American singer who was born July 15, 1946. Linda’s family life was filled with music and tradition, which influenced the stylistic and musical choices she later made in her career. She has performed and recorded in many genres including country, rock, opera, and Latin music. She was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy in 2016. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April, 2014.

Winning one of her 11 Grammy Awards.

Despite not being married, she has two children. In 1990, she adopted a daughter, Mary and in 1994, she adopted a baby boy she named Carlos.

The song I picked for Mr, Hodgkinson’s playlist is You’re No Good. I like it because it is catchy and fun to sing along with. It wasn’t written by Ms. Ronstadt but by Clint Ballard Jr. He was an American songwriter who had two number one hits. One was this version of his song by Linda Ronstadt and the other was in 1965 – Game of Love performed by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders.

Linda reduced her performance schedule after 2000 when she felt her singing voice deteriorating. She released her final solo album in 2004 and her final collaborative album in 2006, and performed her final live concert in 2009. She announced her retirement in 2011 and revealed shortly afterward that she is no longer able to sing because, sadly, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive disorder that primarily affects the brain's movement-controlling areas. Since that time Linda has continued to make public appearances, going on a number of public speaking tours raising awareness about her illness.

When I read about her Parkinson’s diagnosis I felt a lot of empathy for her. She is a singer and I am a dancer and I can’t imagine not being able to dance anymore. I know that she is being brave and fighting through this, but it must be very hard for her.

Here are five fun facts I learned about Ms. Ronstadt.

• She was the first female artist to have four consecutive albums go platinum.
• She has been nominated for 27 Grammy Awards and has won 11.
• She has also been awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• She has even won an Emmy Award for her 1989 performance in Canciones De Mi Padre (Songs of my Father) on the PBS special Great Performances.
• Her grandfather, Lloyd Groff Copeman, was an inventor. Among his inventions, he designed early versions of the electric toaster, stove refrigerator and even the microwave oven. He also invented the flexible rubber ice cube tray which earned him millions of dollars. We have one of those in our fridge, so I guess we gave the Ronstadt family some money,

Thanks for reading.

That's all for today BYE! -Ava

(credits to Wikipedia for the blog and CNN10 for the facts)

My Top Ten in Television for 2022 - Part One

Television history is often divided into the following periods

• Pre War Broadcasting (1920 to 1946)

• Fewer than 1 million US households have a television.

• The Golden Age (1947 through 1960s)

• By 1960, 88% of US households have a television.

• Soap Operas, Sitcoms, Family Entertainment & Game Shows flourish.

• The Network Era (1960s through 1980s)

• ABC, NBC, CBS provide most of the content. (CBC in Canada)

• Multi-Channel Era (1980s through 1990s)

• Cable channels boom.

•  24-hour networks for news, sports & music arrive.

• New Golden Age (Prestige Era) (1999 through 2010s)

• Starting with The Sopranos, the era of prestige drama arrived, reinventing the television viewing experience. 

• Established film actors, writers, directors and production teams begin to make rich, layered, lengthy dramatic series with complex but captivating characters, including anti-heros Tony Soprano, Don Draper (Mad Men) or Walter White (Breaking Bad).

• The Streaming Era (Niche Television) (2010s to the present)

• Streaming subscriptions boom from 1% of the US population to 86% in ten years. 

• Netflix, HBO/Crave, Prime Video, Disney+ and others control the entertainment landscape.

For some, the Streaming Era is a third Golden Age as online network services aggressively compete for consumer attention. For others, this is the era of niche television, a time when the content is so plentiful that every viewer can find programs specific to their tastes.

Perhaps you have noticed this shift when in casual conversations, perhaps with co-workers or friends at a dinner party. There was a time when nearly every adult was tuning into the same television programs and water cooler conversations naturally gravitated to next day comparisons about the latest episode of M*A*S*H or “Who shot JR?” on Dallas, or the brilliance of John Ritter’s physical comedy as Jack on Three’s Company.

Even as a kid I felt this “water cooler camaraderie” when my classmates would imitate Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter, debate who the hottest Charlie’s Angel was, or…discuss the brilliance of John Ritter’s physical comedy on Three’s Company.

Nowadays, if you ask someone what they are watching, it is likely you have never seen the show and, in some cases, never even heard of it. Consequently, the inevitable follow-up question is:

“What is that on?” 

With that being said, I invite you to my 2022 assessment of niche television. In no particular order, I offer up my favourite 10 television shows from the past year and list the streaming service that has each program for Canadian viewers. I also include a link to a trailer. Here goes:

The Bear (First Season - Disney Channel)

A young chef from the world of fine dining returns to Chicago to take over the family sandwich shop after his brother’s suicide. As he struggles to keep the failing business afloat, he is forced to come to terms with the fractures in both his life and his family’s.

Episode seven is a frenetic firestorm of restaurant chaos. Miscommunication, backlogged orders and an accidental stabbing are filmed in a single. 18-minute take. To add to the relentless tension, Spiders (Kidsmoke), by alternative rockers Wilco, serves as the disquieting soundtrack. As a former restaurant worker, it brought back the electrifying yet thrilling anxiety/energy that comes with a chaotic shift when the team is “in the weeds”. (Series Trailer)

Better Call Saul (Final Season - AMC)

When a prequel to Breaking Bad featuring sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, was first announced in 2014 I was cautiously optimistic. Could creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould find lightning in a bottle twice – in the same fictional universe? Moreover, could a television series built around a greasy, loathsome and seemingly one-dimensional character like Saul Goodman sustain my interest for several seasons?

My trust was rewarded and, for seven years, the “GilliGould” production team has delivered engaging writing with interesting cinematography that are punctuated by award-worthy performances from a top-tier cast. They also managed to “stick the landing” with a surprising, but satisfying ending.

The only question that remains is: “Will Rhea Seehorn, who played Saul’s love interest Kim Wexler, finally receive the Emmy she has deserved repeatedly since season two? (Series Six Trailer)

Peacemaker (First Season - HBO/Crave)

In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) kicked off with Iron Man featuring Robert Downey Jr. in the role of billionaire, playboy/industrialist Tony Stark and his superhero counterpart, Iron Man. The film was a massive success because it seemed to find the perfect blend of action, drama and comedy to attract a diverse audience.

In 2013, Marvel’s rival, DC comics, began their foray into this lucrative cinematic world with the release of Man Of Steel, a reboot of the Superman franchise. The film received a lukewarm response from audiences. Many critics pointed out that it was “brooding and heavy” and lacked the “sense of lightness” or “pop joy” that MCU movies provided.

The rivalry between the two companies has continued for nearly a decade. The MCU has flourished while the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) has struggled to find an audience. However, in 2020, the executives made the clever decision to hire James Gunn to direct the film The Suicide Squad. Gunn, who had already experienced success at MCU with the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise, delivered a film that was pulpy, outrageous and ridiculously fun.

The follow-up from Gunn and the DCEU was Peacemaker, a riotous eight- part series which debuted last January. Picking up five months after the events in The Suicide Squad movie, the viewers are re-introduced to Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, recovering in hospital. The opening scene, including the hysterical credit sequence, re-establishes the plot for new viewers. This is exactly what the DCEU needed – a goofy and action-packed rollercoaster ride of over-the-top characters, explosions, off-colour humour, slapstick violence…and Peacemaker’s bird sidekick, “Eagley”. Pure popcorn pleasure, with a hair-metal soundtrack to boot! (Opening Credits)

White Lotus (Season 2 - HBO Crave)

The first season of The White Lotus premiered in the summer of 2021. Had I written a top ten blog last year I would have put that series near the top of the list – likely #1. The White Lotus is a fictional chain of high-end, resort hotels located throughout the world. The series focuses on both the diligent, but jaded, staff and the uber-wealthy guests who travel to exotic locations to escape the “hurly-burly” of their privileged lives.

Season Two finds us in Taormina, Sicily, on the picturesque, rocky shores of the Ionian Sea. The effortlessly-hysterical Jennifer Coolidge reprises her role from Season One as the entitled and unnecessarily beleaguered, multi-millionaire, Tanya McQuoid-Hunt. Her newish-relationship with Greg (also from season one) is strained and this Sicilian getaway is intended to rekindle their jaded flame. However, Tanya has, obtusely, brought her genuinely beleaguered, personal assistant Portia along for support.

The next twelve episodes focus on a week in the lives of these paradise-seeking, filthy rich elites as their lives and indiscretions mingle with the hotel staff and locals. The dark comedy provides, in mixed measure, mystery, intrigue, social commentary, sex and farce set to stunning cinematography, and a hypnotic score composed and curated by Canadian/Chilean composer Juan Cristobal Tapia de Veer. (Season Two Trailer)

Hacks (Season 2 - HBO/Crave) 

The idea that art inspires life fascinates me. Such is the case with Season 2 of HBO’s Hacks, a series that focuses on aging, stand-up comedian Debroah Vance whose legendary Las Vegas residency is coming to an end to make way for “new acts”, intended to attract a younger audience.

Vance’s management team decides to pair her with a younger comedy writer, Ava Daniels, from their stable of talent. Daniels, who has already been pigeon-holed in the industry as arrogant and difficult, is desperate for employment after posting an insensitive joke on Twitter. The unlikely pair bond slowly through season one. Daniels helps Vance take more risks with her comedic material and Vance returns the favour by helping Daniels with her personal issues.


Season one of Hacks received critical acclaim and a second season was greenlit for 2022. Actor Jean Smart, who plays Vance, was also a big star in the 80s and 90s, with a starring role on television’s Designing Women. Like many female actors over the age of 40, leading roles began to disappear. Despite the career setback, she continued to work – as a voice actor, on stage in summer theatres, as a guest-performer in television sitcoms, and in Hallmark romantic-comedies geared toward a 50+ audience. Then, much like her character in Hacks, her career has been revitalized with a leading role that allows her to flex her sizable comedic and dramatic talents. So, is that art imitating life or life imitating art? Who cares really…and yes, Hacks has been greenlit for a third season. (Season Two Trailer)

Thanks for Reading…What are you watching?

Part Two Next Week.

My Top 10 in Television for 2020 - Part One

NOTE: Just a quick diversion from my usual The 500 Blog Post series. It's my break and I have a little extra time.

Household secret from the pandemic: Lots of time to watch TV. And, being small-screen aficionados, my wife and I did just that. Throughout our lengthy quarantine, we researched programs and, after viewing, enjoyable conversations ensued including one the other day in which we debated our Top Ten television programs of 2020. 

Our tastes are eclectic and we are not easily offended, so pretty much anything goes. For my list of Top Ten series in 2020, I am focusing on new programs. Consequently, some may be 2019 releases that we watched during this calendar year.

10. The Crown: Season 4: Sure, they took some liberties with the dialogue and the facts and Netflix refused appeals to put on disclaimers to that effect. Granted, few know what was actually said behind closed and heavily guarded doors. However, despite the falsehoods portrayed and presumptions made, such as the doubtful arguments between Prince Charles and Lord Mountbatten, the acting was exception and I enjoyed the quick, clever banter. The sets and costumes are still spectacular. Additionally, the series made it to the eighties when I was more aware of royal events. Everyone of my vintage remembers Diana Mania. Netflix

9. The Queen's Gambit: I watched this one solo, while recovering from a foot surgery. I binged it in two days. Tremendous cinematography, stunning set and costume design, with an outstanding multi-generational soundtrack to boot. And who would have thought chess could be sexy. Then there is the character Jolene, who delivers a line that nearly made me spit my tea with laughter. Netflix

8. Watchmen: I was skeptical when I learned that one of my favourite graphic novels was going to be a television series. I wasn't wowed by the 2009 film adaptation and this new series was pitched as an "original remix of the source material". It's a bit uneven at times and "suspension of disbelief" is mandatory. It also tends to divide viewers based on their political leanings. I pushed all that stuff to the side in favour of a fun, viewing adventure. Watchmen is worth the ride for many reasons -- the soundtrack, the fascinating storytelling choices and, perhaps above all else, the special effects that are blended with eye-popping cinematography. 

If you've seen it, perhaps, like me, you want to try Nostalgia Pills and wonder why you didn't know about the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street before 2020? HBO/Crave

7. The Boys: (Season 1 & 2): This is not for the faint of heart. The violence, although comically exaggerated, is disquieting to say the least and the language is ghost-pepper spicy. Karl Urban's character, Billy Butcher, drops enough F & C bombs to rival a Tarantino or Scorsese script. If you can get past all of that, it has plenty to offer: action, comedy, intrigue, mystery and even a playful dollop of social commentary mixed with a Billy-Joel-friendly soundtrack. Plus, I am envious of the T-shirt collections of several characters -- perhaps that is why is is on Amazon Prime.

6. Schitt's Creek: My wife and I started this series in 2015. We liked it, but didn't love it. Consequently, it fell by the wayside. This year, on the strength of its showing at the 2020 Emmys where it won a record nine awards, we took another look. Boy, are we glad we did. It takes a full season for the show to get its legs. When it does, comedy gold follows. 

This half-hour sitcom was a wonderful distraction from everything negative that 2020 offered. If you want to escape politics and the pandemic...I recommend a heavy dose of the Rose Family, taken nightly. The whole cast is great, but Catherine O'Hara is a national treasure. 

PS: My sympathy to anyone named David who just spent the year hearing their name pronounced exaggeratedly with Moira-esque aplomb. CBC Gem or Netflix

Coming Up Next - Part Two