Linda Ronstadt
Silk Purse

Artist: Linda Ronstadt
Title: Silk Purse
Release Year: 1970
Pressing Year: 1970
Pressed By: Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester
Label: Capitol Records
Catalog Number: ST-407
Runout Etchings: ST 1 407-8Z #2 —◁ LH/RL
Runout Stamping: STERLING
Format: 33 RPM • 12” Album • Stereo
UPC: none

Abandoning California for Nashville, Linda Ronstadt took a stab at relatively straight-ahead country on this, her second album. But still, she didn't quite throw herself into the maelstrom of Music City. Nevertheless, many of the soft, flowery flourishes of her first solo album were traded in for steel guitars and echoing acoustics, a move that definitely read country, but Ronstadt's sensibility remained rooted on the West Coast, favoring great emerging songwriters and revived, reworked versions of classics.

Only a couple of these tunes are classic country -- just Hank Williams’ Lovesick Blues and Mel Tillis’ Mental Revenge, which are balanced by Goffin/King’s Will You Love Me Tomorrow and I'm Leaving It All Up to You, R&B hits given nice country rearrangements (the latter in particular feels suited to its new barroom rendition). These rearrangements, alongside covers of former Byrd Gene Clark’s and future Eagle Bernie Leadon’s He Dark the Sun and Paul Siebel’s Louise, suggest that Ronstadt's sensibility was still a bit more cosmopolitan than country at this point.

But that's the great thing about this album: perhaps she didn't quite find her voice, not in the way she would a year later on her eponymous record, but this Nashville excursion had a clarifying effect, whittling down the musical excesses and strengthening her aesthetic while winding up a nifty little record in its own right.

Personnel: Linda Ronstadt (lead vocals); Norbert Putnam (bass); Kenny Buttrey (drums)’ The Beechwood Rangers, Gary White (backing vocals). Plus uncredited studio musicians.

VINYL GRADE: VG
Notes: Light surface noise. A good cleaning will perk this one up considerably. No warping.

LABEL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Neither side has spindle wear, writing, ring wear, or tape. Capital bold text logo with black LP art in the center of a purple “C” on green. Text is black on green.

SLEEVE GRADE: VG+
Notes: Original plain white paper. No splits, no writing, no tape, no stains, no rips, some crinkling, substantial yellowing.

JACKET GRADE: G
Notes: Visible ring wear. No writing, no stains, no marks, a few dings, no splits, no tape. Corners, edges, and spine (partially readable) are substantially worn. (See my original scan.) Cover glue is separated from bottom corner to bottom corner (a relatively easy repair).

Shipping is $4.00. NOTE: I will NOT be responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.

Payments managed by eBay.

Combined shipping: I will be happy to combine multiple items. If you buy more than one item from me, the shipping cost will be the highest original shipping fee plus $1 per additional item.

This is not a cut-out or a record-club pressing. It is the original issue.

Note: I haven't cleaned this 53-year-old record because everybody seems to prefer their own methods. I'll leave the cleaning up to the buyer. Also, I'm not a professional vinyl seller or buyer. This comes from my own collection. Bought at Books, Strings & Things, downtown Blacksburg VA.

Enjoy the auction — and good luck!