Don't Cry Now

Linda Ronstadt had been recording for Capitol Records in the early part of her career. Since the break up of her group the Stone Poneys, Ronstadt had been recording as a solo artist. She had some chart success with the single "Long, Long Time" in 1970.{{cite web |title=Heart Like a Wheel |url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/HeartLikeAWheel.pdf |website=Library of Congress |access-date=9 September 2023}} In the early seventies, Ronstadt obtained an early release from her Capitol contract to sign with David Geffen's Asylum Records.{{cite book |last1=King |first1=Thomas R. |title=The Operator David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood |date=2001 |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0767907576 |page=173}} Although Don't Cry Now marked the start of Ronstadt's long association with Asylum, due to contractual obligations her next recorded album, Heart Like a Wheel, would be released on her previous label, Capitol.{{cite book |last= Moore|first= Mary Ellen|date= 1978|title= The Linda Ronstadt Scrapbook: An Illustrated Biography|location= New York|publisher= Grosset & Dunlap|page= 61|isbn= 0-441-48411-5}}

Ronstadt began the recording process for Don't Cry Now in 1972. It would take a year to finish. The album reportedly cost over $150,000 to make. It was first produced by John Boylan and JD Souther, each of whom had separate romantic relationships with Ronstadt at the time. The album's recording kept getting delayed primarily due to Ronstadt going on tour with Neil Young.{{cite book |last1=Lewry |first1=Peter |title=Linda Ronstadt: A Life in Music |date=2010 |publisher=Andrews U.K. Limited |isbn=978-1849892483 |chapter=1: Welcome to the L.A. Rock Scene}} James Taylor knew of Ronstadt's music and his family introduced her to producer Peter Asher. Asher and Ronstadt would eventually record 13 albums together. Asher helped Ronstadt finish recording Don't Cry Now in 1973.

Don't Cry Now consisted of ten tracks.{{cite journal |last1=Ronstadt |first1=Linda |title=Don't Cry Now (Liner Notes) |journal=Asylum Records |date=October 1, 1973 |id=SD-5064 (LP); CS-5064 (Cassette)}} Three tracks were penned by co-producer JD Souther: "I Can Almost See It", "The Fast One" and the title track. A selection of songs on the album were covers. Among them was "Love Has No Pride", which was first recorded by Bonnie Raitt.{{cite news |last1=Masley |first1=Ed |title=Linda Ronstadt's 25 greatest songs of all time, ranked |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/07/11/linda-ronstadt-25-best-songs/7831725001/ |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=July 11, 2022}} A second was "Silver Threads and Golden Needles". Although first recorded by Wanda Jackson, it was notably a US top 20 song for The Springfields in 1962.{{cite book |last1=Howes |first1=Paul |last2=Clark |first2=Petula |title=The Complete Dusty Springfield |date=2012 |publisher=Titan Publishing Group |isbn=978-1781165409 |chapter=3: Song by Song}} The track "Everybody Loves a Winner" was first a top 30 US R&B song for Glenn Jones. Also included was Randy Newman's "Sail Away", the Eagles' "Desperado" and Neil Young's "I Believe in You".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/dont-cry-now-19731108|title=Don't Cry Now|magazine=Rolling Stone }}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}

|rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

|rev2Score = C+{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: R|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=R&bk=70|access-date=March 12, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}

|rev3 = Rolling Stone

|rev3score = (favorable)

|rev4 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev4score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite book| last1 = Brackett | first1 = Nathan | last2 = Hoard | first2 = Christian | title = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | location = New York City, New York | page = 701 | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&q=rolling+stone+linda+ronstadt+album+guide&pg=PA701}}

}}

Don't Cry Now was met with generally favorable reviews. Billboard described it as both "fresh and reflective". They found Ronstadt's vocals "confident" and to evoke similar qualities to that of Joan Baez. Rolling Stone also drew comparisons to Baez, notably to her album Blessed Are.... Writer Stephen Holden also praised Ronstadt's vocal performance: "Her natural vocal equipment is second to none. Combined with perfect pitch, impeccable phrasing and control, her singing carries a throb that hurts and soothes at the same time, and her feeling for the melodic construction of any given song is always proportionate to its structure." AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated Don't Cry Now three out of five stars and commented that it "expanded the pop/rock concessions of Linda Ronstadt, and the result was the singer's first genuine hit record."

Don't Cry Now was originally released by Asylum Records on October 1, 1973. It was made available as a vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette, with five selections on either side of both discs. It was Ronstadt's first Asylum album and fifth overall. Don't Cry Now entered the US Billboard 200 albums chart in October 1973 and spent 56 weeks there. In March 1974, it peaked at the number 45 position.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=The Billboard Albums Includes Every Album that Made the Billboard 200 Chart: 50 Year History of the Rock Era |date=2006 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |isbn=978-0898201666 |page=897}} It also went to the number 57 position on Canada's RPM all-genre chart{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Linda+Ronstadt+albums&x=0&y=0|title=Search results for "Linda Ronstadt albums'|magazine=RPM|access-date=2009-10-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019062546/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Linda+Ronstadt+albums&x=0&y=0|archive-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead}} and number 46 on Australia's Kent Music Report chart.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=258}} It was Ronstadt's second album to make positions in Australia and Canada.

A total of three singles were spawned from Don't Cry Now. The first was "Love Has No Pride", which was issued by Asylum in October 1973.{{cite journal |last1=Ronstadt |first1=Linda |title="Love Has No Pride"/"I Can Almost See It" (7" vinyl single) |journal=Asylum Records |date=October 1973 |id=11026}} It reached number 51 on the US Hot 100{{cite web |title=Linda Ronstadt chart history (Hot 100) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linda-ronstadt/chart-history/htl/ |website=Billboard |access-date=18 August 2023}} and number 59 on Canada's Top Singles chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Linda+Ronstadt&x=0&y=0|title=Search results for "Linda Ronstadt"|magazine=RPM|access-date=2009-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011091815/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=Linda+Ronstadt&x=0&y=0|archive-date=2012-10-11|url-status=dead}} It was followed in February 1974 by "Silver Threads and Golden Needles".{{cite journal |last1=Ronstadt |first1=Linda |title="Silver Threads and Golden Needles"/"Don't Cry for Me Now" (7" vinyl single) |journal=Asylum Records |date=February 1974 |id=11032}} Along with reaching number 67 on the US Hot 100 and number 90 on the Canadian Top Singles charts, it also reached number 20 on the US and Canadian country charts.{{cite web |title=Linda Ronstadt chart history (Country Songs) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linda-ronstadt/chart-history/htl/ |website=Billboard |access-date=18 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=Search results for "Linda Ronstadt" (Country Singles) |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Linda+Ronstadt&ChartEn=Country+Singles& |website=RPM |access-date=18 August 2023}} "Colorado" was issued as the album's third single in May 1974.{{cite journal |last1=Ronstadt |first1=Linda |title="Colorado"/"Desperado" (7" vinyl single) |journal=Asylum Records |date=May 1974 |id=11039}}

{{track listing

|headline = Side one

|title1 = I Can Almost See It

|writer1 = JD Souther

|length1 = 3:50

|title2 = Love Has No Pride

|writer2 = {{hlist|Eric Kaz|Libby Titus}}

|length2 = 4:10

|title3 = Silver Threads and Golden Needles

|writer3 = {{hlist|Dick Reynolds|Jack Rhodes}}

|length3 = 2:28

|title4 = Desperado

|writer4 = {{hlist|Don Henley|Glenn Frey}}

|length4 = 3:30

|title5 = Don't Cry Now

|writer5 = Souther

|length5 = 4:28

}}

{{track listing

|headline = Side two

|title1 = Sail Away

|writer1 = Randy Newman

|length1 = 3:05

|title2 = Colorado

|writer2 = Rick Roberts

|length2 = 4:18

|title3 = The Fast One

|writer3 = Souther

|length3 = 3:40

|title4 = Everybody Loves a Winner

|writer4 = {{hlist|Bill Williams|Booker T. Jones|William Bell}}

|length4 = 3:15

|title5 = I Believe in You

|writer5 = Neil Young

|length5 = 2:50

|total_length = 35:34

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Don't Cry Now.

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{{col-3}}

Musical personnel

• Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals, tambourine (3), backing vocals (5, 8, 9)
• Spooner Oldham – acoustic piano (1, 4, 5)
• John Boylan – electric piano (2)
• Craig Doerge – acoustic piano (6, 10)
• JD Souther – acoustic guitar (1, 8), bass (1), electric guitar (4), backing vocals (8)
• Jerry McGee – electric guitar (1)
• Sneaky Pete Kleinow – steel guitar (1, 2, 6, 7)
• Richard Bowden – electric guitar (2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
• Andy Johnson – electric guitar (2)
• Herb Pedersen – acoustic guitar (3), backing vocals (3, 9)
• Ed Black – steel guitar (3, 8, 10), electric guitar (7)
• Larry Carlton – electric guitar (5, 6)
• Buddy Emmons – pedal steel guitar (5)
• Rick Roberts – acoustic guitar (7)
• Glenn Frey – electric guitar (8), steel guitar (9)
• Mike Bowden – bass guitar (2, 3, 7, 9)
• Chris Ethridge – bass guitar (4, 5, 8)

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• Leland Sklar – bass guitar (6, 10)
• Dennis St. John – drums (1, 4, 5, 8)
• Mickey McGee – drums (2, 3, 7, 9)
• Russ Kunkel – drums (6, 10)
• Jimmie Fadden – harmonica (1)
• Gib Guilbeau – fiddle (3)
• Jim Gordon – saxophone (4, 9)
• Nino Tempo – saxophone (4, 9)
• Gail Martin – trombone (4, 9)
• McKinley Johnson – trumpet (4, 9)
• Darrell Leonard – trumpet (4, 9)
• Jim Ed Norman – horn arrangements (4, 9), string arrangements (4)
• Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements (2, 7, 10)
• Sid Sharp – concertmaster (2, 4, 7, 10)
• Ginger Holladay – backing vocals (1, 2, 7)
• Mary Holliday – backing vocals (1, 2, 7)
• Clydie King – backing vocals (4, 6, 10)
• Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals (4, 6, 10)
• Marti McCall – backing vocals (4, 6, 10)
• Wendy Waldman – backing vocals (5)

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Technical personnel

• JD Souther – producer, remixing
• John Boylan – co-producer (2, 3, 7, 9)
• Peter Asher – co-producer (6, 10)
• Peter Granet – engineer
• John Haeny – engineer
• Ric Tarantini – engineer
• Al Schmitt – remixing
• Terry Dunavan – mastering at Elektra Sound Recorders (Los Angeles, California).
• Shawn R. Britton – half-speed mastering
• Edmund Meitner – technical support
• Tim de Paravic – remixing
• Terry Dunavan – mastering at Elektra Sound Recorders (Los Angeles, California).
• Shawn R. Britton – half-speed mastering
• Edmund Meitner – technical support
• Tim de Paravicini – technical support
• Glenn Ross – cover design
• Cathy Seeter – cover design
• Ed Caraeff – cover photo
• Terry Wright –ini – technical support
• Glenn Ross – cover design
• Cathy Seeter – cover design
• Ed Caraeff – cover photo
• Terry Wright – sleeve photography

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Don’t Cry Now|artist=Linda Ronstadt|type=album|relyear=1973|region=United States|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Linda Ronstadt}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1973 albums

Category:Linda Ronstadt albums

Category:Albums arranged by Jimmie Haskell

Category:Albums produced by Peter Asher

Category:Albums produced by John Boylan (record producer)

Category:Asylum Records albums