Lush Life is an album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released in November 1984 on Asylum Records as the second in a trilogy of jazz albums with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle. All three album covers were designed by John Kosh.
| Lush Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 16, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | August 24 – October 5, 1984 | |||
| Studio | The Complex, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:29 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Producer | Peter Asher | |||
| Linda Ronstadt chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lush Life | ||||
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The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Billboard jazz chart, becoming certified as Ronstadt's record tenth platinum album. Lush Life was nominated for two Grammys, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Album Package, winning the latter. Riddle was posthumously awarded the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying A Vocal for the title track, "Lush Life."
A music video was created for the song "Skylark," with vintage clothing by wardrobe stylist Genny Schorr.
In 1986, Asylum Records released the compilation Round Midnight, which included all tracks from all three albums with Riddle.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "When I Fall in Love" | Edward Heyman, Victor Young | 2:20 |
| 2. | "Skylark" | Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer | 3:07 |
| 3. | "It Never Entered My Mind" | Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Mean to Me" | Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk | 4:09 |
| 5. | "When Your Lover Has Gone" | Einar Aaron Swan | 4:18 |
| 6. | "I'm a Fool to Want You" | Joel Herron, Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf | 4:45 |
| 7. | "You Took Advantage of Me" | Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers | 2:21 |
| 8. | "Sophisticated Lady" | Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish | 3:40 |
| 9. | "Can't We Be Friends?" | Paul James, Kay Swift | 2:28 |
| 10. | "My Old Flame" | Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston | 3:33 |
| 11. | "Falling in Love Again" | Friedrich Hollaender, Sammy Lerner | 2:35 |
| 12. | "Lush Life" | Billy Strayhorn | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 41:29 | ||
Personnel
edit- Linda Ronstadt – vocals
- Nelson Riddle – arrangements and conductor
- Don Grolnick – grand piano, piano solo (11)
- Bob Mann – guitars
- Bob Magnusson – bass
- John Guerin – drums (1–6, 8, 10–12)
- David Frisina – concertmaster, violin (5)
with:
- Tommy Morgan – harmonica (2)
- Tony Terran – trumpet solo (4)
- Plas Johnson – tenor sax solo (5, 7, 8)
- Louis Bellson – drums (7, 9)
- Oscar Brashear – trumpet solo (9)
- Chauncey Welsh – trombone solo (10)
Production
edit- Peter Asher – producer
- George Massenburg – recording, mixing
- Murray Dvorkin – recording assistant, mix assistant
- Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).
- Gloria Boyce – album coordinator
- John Kosh – art direction, design
- Ron Larson – art direction, design
- Robert Blakeman – photography
- Genny Schorr – wardrobe stylist
Charts
edit| Chart (1984/85) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 31 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 35 |
| United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) | 100 |
| United States (Billboard 200) | 13 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[5] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | November 16, 1984 |
|
Asylum Records | [6] |
References
edit- ^ Dedrick, Jay (January 1, 1998). "Linda Ronstadt". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 409–410.
- ^ "Lush Life Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Davis, Francis. "Lush Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 258. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "American album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Lush Life". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Ronstadt, Linda (November 16, 1984). "Lush Life (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 9-60387-1 (LP); 9-60387-4 (Cassette); 9-60387-2 (CD).
External links
edit- Linda Ronstadt With Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra – Lush Life at Discogs (list of releases)