New Wave Outpost Forum

So I was getting ready to have my dad and his wife over for brunch this morning and I selected the 80s music station (not RetroActive) from the digital cable. (Dad likes Bruce Springsteen.)

On came a song that was familiar, but I could not immediately place it. For a second I thought it was Romeo Void. So I looked at the information on the cable and it was "How Do I Make You" by Linda Ronstadt! The blurb said this song was from Linda's foray into New Wave on the 1980 "Mad Love" album.

Now I had always sorta secretly liked that album (that one and the late 70s album where she's on roller skates), and I know that she covers two Costello songs on it, including one of my all-time favorite songs, "Girls Talk." But, I never would have considered it New Wave back in the day, because no New Wave kid I knew would have admitted to liking Linda Ronstadt. Hearing that song today though, separated from its historical baggage, I very much assumed it to be a New Wave song.

Anybody else? Can this be characterized as New Wave? Fortunately, I've matured enough so that I can admit to liking it even if it isn't. [:D]

I knew that song from when it came out and I thought it fit perfectly into the new wave of the day-Elvis Costello, Pat Benatar, etc. Sure, she may go back to the 60s but she obviously had the vision to recognize new wave as an important genre coming into its own and decided to take a stab at it as well. I think there is nothing wrong with "non" new wave artists doing new wave music as long as it truly captures the essence of new wave.

She also did a few Cretones covers on the album: http://lostbands.blogspot.com/2005/02/cretones.html

She was just jumping on the NW bandwagon but her choice of writers to cover was excellent.

I agree!

Almost all cover songs suck compared to the originals. eg. "It's My Life" Gwen Stephani vs. Talk Talk. Ronstadts new wave covers, however, are superior to the originals! My opinion, of course.
"How Do I Make You" is perhaps my favorite. **edit** I think I like "Can't Let Go" (same album) better. Not that anyone cares.

This is one of my favorite albums! Until this moment I always characterized it as a guilty pleasure.
Justine and Party Girl are great too.

Linda always had a great knack for covering exactly the right song.

I agree, this is a good candidate for 'guilty pleasure'...I always liked this one. I think the Cretones actually may have played on the album if I'm not mistaken.

I remember in the magazines at the the time, people were saying things like "Linda, leave our music alone, etc etc" but I think it's a nice slice of early 80's new wave-inspired rock.

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten all about that album. I actually had it on 8 Track of all things. [8D] Anyone got it on the hub?

I could get it on by this evening!

Hell yeah, you da man Wolverine! I'll look for it - Thanks!

you mean da' weasel don't you...

You da largest land-dwelling member of the family Mustelidae !!!

Linda's always had a beautiful voice. I don't think she will ever be a true New Wave artist but the song "How Do I Make You" does have New Wave elements. I think it's the same for most songs that were produced during that time that were pop. In the late 70's and early 80's, everyone just sounded New Wave. Too bad we can't bring back those times. Although these songs are not New Wave from Linda, I totally love them:

Long Long Time
Don't Know Much (duet with Aaron Neville)

[quote][i]Originally posted by i_like_lectric_motors[/i]
<br>You da largest land-dwelling member of the family Mustelidae !!!
[/quote]

oh.my.God. "Mustelidae"...I'd have a huge crush on you now if I wasn't....you know....a different Family, genus and species.

Definitely NNW but... my 3 LR faves are
You're No Good
Heatwave (great cover)
Poor Poor Pitiful Me (another great cover)

I uploaded the cd now - check it out of you're interested!

I've also heard that the Cretones were the band on the album - but there aren't any credits....