When Will I Be Loved (Live 1975)

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as we spin When Will I Be Loved (Live 1975) by Linda Ronstadt from the King Biscuit Flower Hour! This track, recorded during her 1976 US tour, captures Ronstadt at her peak, delivering a soulful cover of the Everly Brothers’ 1960 hit. Originally penned by Phil Everly, the song was inspired by his turbulent romance with Jackie Ertel-Bleyer, stepdaughter of Cadence Records’ Archie Bleyer. Everly wrote it while parked outside an A&W root beer stand, pouring his heart into lyrics about love’s frustrations. Ronstadt’s version, featured on her 1974 album Heart Like a Wheel, flips the first and fourth verses of the original, giving it a fresh spin. It soared to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Cash Box chart, only kept from the top spot by Captain & Tennille’s Love Will Keep Us Together. The live 1975 recording we’re playing showcases her powerful vocals, backed by Kenny Edwards and Andrew Gold, who added group harmonies to make this rendition pop.

Fun fact for the Zoo Crew: Capitol Records couldn’t decide whether to release When Will I Be Loved or You’re No Good as the lead single from Heart Like a Wheel. They went with You’re No Good, but when When Will I Be Loved dropped in March 1975, it became a massive hit, selling 268,000 digital copies by January 2020. The B-side, a cover of Buddy Holly’s It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, even charted at #47 Pop and #20 Adult Contemporary. Ronstadt’s take on the song is so iconic that it’s been covered by artists like John Denver, Tanya Tucker, and even Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong with Miranda Lambert at the 2014 Grammys, honoring Phil Everly after his passing. In a 1976 Rolling Stone interview, Ronstadt spoke about the pressures of fame, saying the road left her feeling lonely, a sentiment that resonates with the song’s yearning lyrics. This live cut from the King Biscuit Flower Hour is a testament to her ability to make every note feel personal.

Let’s rewind to how Linda Ronstadt got her start, Zoo Freaks. Born on July 15, 1946, in Tucson, Arizona, Ronstadt grew up on a ranch in a family of Mexican and German heritage, steeped in Mexican Mariachi and folk music. Her family’s love for music sparked her passion early on, and by 17, she left home to chase her dreams. In 1966, she joined the Stone Poneys, a folk-oriented trio in California, recording three albums with their biggest hit, Different Drum, written by Michael Nesmith. After going solo in 1968, her first four albums (1969-1973) had modest success, but her breakthrough came with producer Peter Asher and the 1974 release of Heart Like a Wheel. That album, featuring When Will I Be Loved and You’re No Good, topped the Billboard 200 and made her a household name. Ronstadt’s early touring band included Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon, who later formed the Eagles, a nod to her influence in shaping country rock.

Ronstadt’s versatility and powerful soprano earned her the title “Rock’s Venus” from Rolling Stone and made her the highest-paid female artist of the 1970s. She went on to explore genres from Broadway to Latin music, earning 11 Grammy Awards and a 2014 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sadly, her singing career ended in 2011 due to progressive supranuclear palsy, initially misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s, but her legacy lives on. You can keep up with her on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For more fan love, check out the unofficial Linda Ronstadt Homepage or join the Linda Ronstadt Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can connect with fellow devotees of this legendary voice.