Living in the USA
Living in the USA is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Linda Ronstadt, released in 1978. The album was Ronstadt's third No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. As a measure of her impact on popular culture in this time period, the front cover photograph of a roller skating Ronstadt in an exercise outfit was noted to have increased the popularity of skating in the United States at the time.
Release
The album was originally released by Asylum in the LP format in September 1978. Subsequently, in 1990, Asylum released the album in the Cassette format and in the CD format.In addition to the standard 1978 release, collector's-item editions of the LP were made in the same time period of the album in red vinyl and also of a picture disc featuring a photograph of Ronstadt's lacing up the roller skating boots that she is wearing on the front cover.
Single releases and radio play
The album's first single release was Chuck Berry's "Back in the USA" which reached #11 on the Cash Box Top 100 and #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The disc's biggest success was Ronstadt's version of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby" that hit #7 Pop and #2 Easy Listening as well as the Country and even the Soul chart. "Just One Look" and "Alison" later became hit singles for Ronstadt as well, while "All That You Dream" and Warren Zevon's "Mohammed's Radio" were popular tracks on Album-Oriented Radio stations.Although not released as a single, Ronstadt's version of "Love Me Tender" was edited together with the original version of the song by Elvis Presley, creating a duet between the two famous singers that was played by many radio stations at the time.
Critical reception
The album received largely positive reviews at the time of release. Ronstadt covered her last Warren Zevon song for this album. The album largely consisted of material that had previously been recorded and released by other artists including covers of songs written and performed previously by Little Feat, Elvis Presley and Elvis Costello.Ronstadt's cover of Elvis Costello's "Alison" has been criticized by Costello himself after he heard her version of the song, although he did admit he "liked the money." Ronstadt had her management reach out to Costello and asked if he had any other material she could cover. He responded by sending her three songs that she recorded for her follow-up album. After the release of Mad Love, Ronstadt's follow-up album with the three Costello songs she solicited, Costello again had negative comments about her versions of his songs.
Track listing
Personnel
- Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Dan Dugmore – electric guitar pedal steel guitar
- Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Don Grolnick – acoustic piano electric piano, organ
- Kenny Edwards – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Russ Kunkel – drums, congas
- Mike Mainieri – vibraphone, arrangements
- Peter Asher – backing vocals, cowbell, tambourine, shaker, sleigh bells
- David Sanborn – alto saxophone
- Pat Henderson – backing vocals
- Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
- Andrew Gold – backing vocals
- Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
- John Lehman – backing vocals
- David Lasley – backing vocals
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
Production
- Peter Asher – producer
- Val Garay – recording, mixing
- George Ybarra – recording assistant, mix assistant
- Jan Michael Alejandro – technician
- Harold Jones – technician
- Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab.
- Kosh – art direction, design
- Jim Shea – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Albums | 41 |