Long Long Time – Linda Ronstadt | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#25) & Adult Contemporary (#20); 1970
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
After several attempts to repeat the success of Different Drum, the Stone Poneys disbanded and lead singer Linda Ronstadt embarked on a solo career. Remaining with Capitol Records, she released Home Sown…Home Grown in 1969.
Although her cover of the Springfields’ Silver Threads And Golden Needles grabbed some airplay, neither it nor the album charted. To produce her sophomore effort, Linda took the recommendation of Janis Joplin and hired Elliot Mazer, who’d worked with Janis on Cheap Thrills.
With Mazer at the helm, Linda lent her pipes to the music she’d loved as a child in Arizona: country. She was especially fond of Long Long Time, an opinion not shared by those around her.
The Nashville session players sided with Linda and dragged themselves into the studio early one Saturday to record it. Not only was Long Long Time Linda’s first solo charter, it earned her a Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Grammy nomination.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Gary White
Lyrics Written by:
- Elliot Mazer
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).