LINDA RONSTADT – Her Connections with Wendy Waldman
Wendy Waldman became a close friend of Linda Ronstadt and also toured with her for a period of time in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s; they collaborated on a song, “I Want a Horse” for the 1980 Sesame Street LP, In Harmony.
My personal favorite among Wendy Waldman’s albums is Strange Company, a 1978 release that has Waldman performing more as a rock bandleader than a singer/songwriter; “Long Hot Summer Nights” was a regional hit that still echoes in my interior playlist from time to time more than 30 years later. Several of the other musicians on this album – who formed a band having the unfortunate name the Cretones – also backed Linda Ronstadt on her 1980 New Wave album, Mad Love.
Along with Kenny Edwards, Andrew Gold and Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman was part of a band called Bryndle that formed in the late 1960’s and was active on the L.A. scene for several years without making any records. The four members of Bryndle have all had successful careers, and each had a close association with Linda Ronstadt. Kenny Edwards had been a founding member with her in the band Stone Poneys (“Different Drum”) prior to the formation of Bryndle, and he later recorded and toured with Linda for about 10 years beginning in the mid-1970’s. Andrew Gold was also a key member of Ronstadt’s backup band in the same time period. Gold had a mid-1970’s hit as a solo artist, “Lonely Boy”; and one of his songs, “Thank You for Being a Friend” was selected to be the theme song for the TV series Golden Girls. Karla Bonoff was one of many songwriters that Linda Ronstadt introduced via the covers on her albums, notably “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me”. Bryndle eventually reformed in the early 1990’s and ultimately released their debut album in 1995, Bryndle.
Along with Kenny Edwards, Andrew Gold and Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman was part of a band called Bryndle that formed in the late 1960’s and was active on the L.A. scene for several years without making any records. The four members of Bryndle have all had successful careers, and each had a close association with Linda Ronstadt. Kenny Edwards had been a founding member with her in the band Stone Poneys (“Different Drum”) prior to the formation of Bryndle, and he later recorded and toured with Linda for about 10 years beginning in the mid-1970’s. Andrew Gold was also a key member of Ronstadt’s backup band in the same time period. Gold had a mid-1970’s hit as a solo artist, “Lonely Boy”; and one of his songs, “Thank You for Being a Friend” was selected to be the theme song for the TV series Golden Girls. Karla Bonoff was one of many songwriters that Linda Ronstadt introduced via the covers on her albums, notably “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me”. Bryndle eventually reformed in the early 1990’s and ultimately released their debut album in 1995, Bryndle.
(January 2010)
