Duets in Bloomington, MN

By nature,
Linda Ronstadt
isn't a solo singer. She started her career in
the Stone Poneys
and during the height of her fame she was happy to harmonize on records by friends; later still, she joined
Dolly Parton
and
Emmylou Harris
in the group
Trio
.
Duets
, a compilation released on the eve of her 2014 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, doesn't concentrate on this considerable legacy as a harmonizer, preferring instead to pick 14 previously released duets from throughout
Ronstadt
's career, adding an unreleased version of "Pretty Bird" with
Laurie Lewis
as mild collector bait. Much of this dates from the latter part of
Linda
's career: it opens with three selections from
Adieu False Heart
, her 2006 album with
Ann Savoy
, and is anchored by her hit duets with
Aaron Neville
("Don't Know Much," "All My Life") and
James Ingram
("Somewhere Out There"), making a sideways glance at her career as a standards singer via an OK selection from
Frank Sinatra
's
album ("Moonlight in Vermont"). The liveliest stuff comes from her golden age of the late '70s -- "Hasten Down the Wind" with
Don Henley
, "Prisoner in Disguise" with
J.D. Souther
, "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine" with
James Taylor
, "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" with
-- but generally, this
emphasizes the sweeter, softer, and slower side of
, a move that makes for pleasant listening. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine