Linda Ronstadt For Sentimental Reasons CD

Live Recording

Personnel: Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Dennis Budimir, Bob Mann (guitar); Bud Shank (alto saxophone); Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Warren Luening (trumpet); Chauncey Welsch (trombone); Don Grolnick (piano); Bob Magnusson, Ray Brown (bass); John Guerin, Louie Bellson (drums); Mic Bell, Drake Frye, Clifford Holland, Carl Jones, Sr. (background vocals).

Recorded at The Complex, Los Angeles, California between July 10, 1985 and May 16, 1986.
For Sentimental Reasons was the last traditional pop album Linda Ronstadt recorded with Nelson Riddle, and it's virtually indistinguishable from its two predecessors -- it has the same sweeping arrangements, and her voice remains adequate, not spectacular. That said, For Sentimental Reasons is notable since it contains a high percentage of familiar -- some might say overly familiar -- standards like "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "My Funny Valentine," "Am I Blue," and "'Round Midnight," which might make the album more appealing to casual fans who want to hear Ronstadt sing songs they know if they're going to hear her in this setting. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
This was the final installment of Linda Rondstadt's successful American Songbook trilogy with arranger Nelson Riddle, who died soon after these sessions were completed. At this stage in the game Linda sounds far more confident as she ventures bold interpretations of a few Rodgers & Hart songs ("Bewitched," "My Funny Valentine," "Little Girl Blue") as well as the de rigeur Gershwin number ("But Not For Me"). Fans of the singer will be especially startled to hear her long, belting tones on "Valentine." She also tries the ultra-romantic "You Go To My Head" and Thelonius Monk's dark classic "'Round Midnight" on for size and finds they suit her just fine.
When Ronstadt began this project, it could have been seen as yet another experiment in the restless singer's career--i.e. THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE or the much-maligned attempt at Mimi in a one-time performance of LA BOHEME. By the time she and Riddle had finished however, Rondstadt had transformed both herself and her loyal baby boomer listeners into something like musical adults.