Val Garay
Grammy Award Winning
Producer * Engineer
PS #1 selling on Amazon but who knows what that means?
I recorded this live in 1980.
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I could listen to it as a shitty sounding MP3 file because I have Spotify, and the other streaming services but I choose not to.
I'll buy it if there's a good sounding version.
I don't eat shit
I don't drink shit
I don't listen to shit
and it has NOTHING to do with age!
Michael Fremer
P.S. The album is available on vinyl but no one at Rhino told me about it…..great story behind the tape discovery too….
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I use Apple Music, which I'm generally happy with. BUT their idea of turning me on to new releases doesn't appear to be tied to my listening habits. For instance, for 2 months, the only things they suggested were the Fleetwood Mac 50 Years compilation (I guess because I listen to the Peter Green stuff) and "Songs for Judy"…both released at the end of November. Then they told me about a Johnny Winter compilation and a Humble Pie compilation. All valid stuff that I'd listen to, but really…nothing else? I have to subscribe to a bunch of new release schedules (Americana Music''s and AllMusic's) to find out about anything else I don't just stumble on.
Yes, I listen to a lot of classic rock, but the Ronstadt live album is nowhere to be found (without searching). I guess the good news is that they did recommend the Alex Chilton and Lemonheads releases...
Jesse Lundy
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Those Spotify numbers are disappointing but not surprising. (And, by the way, you neglected to mention that her album is a live album from her classic period.)
I'm your age (66 and change) and use Spotify all the time. But I'm convinced that there is a large market of people ages 50-70 who used to be avid music consumers but have fallen out of the habit of purchasing music. They may listen to the radio occasionally, more often Pandora, and listed to Sirius XM in the car, but they are passive, very casual music listeners. How hard would it be for Spotify and Apple to invest some money in television advertising to push these folks to become subscribers? I don't see any advertising for the services on television or, for that matter, in any media. I'm sure they're advertising on line, but I'm not seeing it. There's a real untapped market out there.
Don Friedman
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It's not very good. Linda hates it -- too much compression for the original TV audio. Not that you're wrong about anything you say ...
Joel Selvin
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Not sure that's true Silever Platters which is the Indie Music store here in Seattle blew out all the copies they brought in on the New Release In 4 days @ all 3 ofr their Seattle stores
Kevin F. Sutter
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Gotta admit I didn't know there was a new release out for Ms. Ronstadt. I saw the YouTube clip of the interview but was and am so sad she's been reduced to being an "old couch potato" now. Since I have most of her albums from "the day", unless they really worked some magic on the tracks on the new release, I'd probably have taken a pass on buying it.
James Walker
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Just wanted to weigh in and give some input on the physical side of the spectrum from the indie record store. I was excited about the Ronstadt live album personally so I ordered a bit heavy, expecting to recommend to customers and play in the store. We sold through all of the LPs and CDs I brought in for street date. I tried to reorder quickly and Warner Brothers distribution was completely out of product on both physical formats. I don't know the total numbers sold but that obviously points to demand surpassing expectation, both at the store level and at the distributor. Maybe some of the oldsters will start streaming tracks when they can't easily get their hands on a physical copy?
It is a great live album and deserves to be widely heard. Linda Ronstadt is a truly gifted singer and this is her only full-length live recording. It's essential to her legacy.
Doyle Davis
Co-Owner / Vinylist
Grimey's Records
1060 East Trinity Lane
Nashville, TN 37216
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I was fortunate to be the head of marketing at Elektra records when Linda released her "What's New" album of American standards, featuring arranger Nelson Riddle.
I have to confess that everyone at the company was VERY skeptical about the potential of this album. No one had ever done this before. An album of oldies….Frank Sinatra songs with strings????
There was a syndicated radio format called "Music of Your Life" based in Connecticut , basically music for the senior demo…..60+. This format was on the air in all the retirement cities around America, mainly on AM stations. The man that programmed this format JUMPED on this album and played it NON STOP.
I was in the men's room at Water Tower Place in Chicago at a WEA sales meeting. The great Henry Droz, head of WEA, stepped up in the next urinal and said, "Hey Bone, you got a hit record with this Ronstadt album." Henry was NOT wrong.
The only reason "What's New" did not go to #1 is that some guy named Michael Jackson had an album out.
I forget the man's name that programmed "Music of Your Life", but I sure as shit gave him a platinum record award plaque for his support.
Don't rule out the "Gray panthers". They have a LOT of money to spend. They may not do Spotify, but they will likely buy the vinyl. You know….vinyl is hip again.
Mike Bone "retired and over the hill"
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My only problem with the Linda Ronstadt album is that three of the songs were already on the reissue of "Simple Dreams" and the shortness of the CD itself. They could have easily put other tracks from the concert onto the release.
Bill Migicovsky
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ON THE MONEY!! (I guess I really am an old baby boomer too if I'm using that phrase)
jstone
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Im not on Spotify. I'm not on iTunes. If they want to get to me it would be on IG. I'll listen to clips. Not a fan of LR, so not following her life. Had no idea she was recording.
Vicki Whicker
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Two words that always get my attention.........Linda Ronstadt!! Before the demon Parkinson's stole Linda's voice, she was, for me, the best singer on the planet. Not a week goes by that I don't have headphones on and, what do you know? Along comes Linda. And.....hell, she still is the best. No contest.
And Spotify, Apple, Radio, Vinyl, CDs, Buskers on the subway, a 200 seat club, a concert hall......I don't care. Just give me the music. Feed my head.
Bob Bisnett
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I actually bought it on iTunes (don't shoot me), and it's fantastic!
Tommy Terrell
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You are right - no one watched "CBS Sunday Morning" but considerably more have listened to Part 1 of the RHINO Podcast featuring Linda. Part 2 comes out this Wednesday. The CBS piece was exactly what it needed to be - a quick overview for a shrinking network television audience.
The conversation I had with her at her home (where the CBS piece was shot) was a lot more personal and honest - she doesn't LIKE the sound of the record and hated doing anything on TV.
I know you are fan of RHINO, and it's kind of fun that my company PopCult is following in your legacy of the many early podcast episodes you did for them!
You and all the other amazing people who I know love Linda as much as I do can listen here: www.rhino.com/podcast
Dennis Scheyer
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Boomers = Pandora (free radio version)
Every single boomer I talk to uses Pandora and that's it.
I still have to walk boomers through how to sign in and setup Spotify. Once they are setup they love it and use it. But nobody is helping them get set up.
Hellooo? Anyone at Spotify realize this?
Johnny Lloyd Rollins
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Thank Bob. I am a super spotify user; a boomer too. It was wonderful to listen to Blue Bayou. Loved the spanish ending.
Z
Sam Zamarripa
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Because I appreciate your posts, I've refrained from contacting you about something that crops up continually in your writing. Until today.
Your blatant, hateful ageism is disconcerting and horrifying.
Baby boomers, or "oldsters" or "alta kachers" as you insist on calling them, range in age from 54 up. (Look it up. I did.)
That means Sandra Bullock, the mother of two young children and star of the recent megahit "Bird Box," is lumped in with all these allegedly decrepit folks you know who can't figure out their smartphones or data plans and who are "afraid of streaming" and find Spotify too "newfangled."
Exactly who are these "oldsters" who have, according to you, turned into Aunt Bee and Floyd the Barber overnight? My mother, who died three years ago at 82, had a smartphone, a MacBook and blogged. And she was just an ordinary woman, not some music industry insider.
I'm no psychologist but it certainly seems that you're projecting your own feelings about age onto your hapless readers, who are not asking to be insulted, demeaned and discriminated against. Ageism is tough enough. Why contribute to it by portraying your readers who are 54 years old and up as worthless, washed-up, clueless fogies?
I am 57 which means you are older than I am but you're still out skiing the the expert slopes, at least from your posts. I ski, too. I also know how to operate a Smartphone & use Spotify. I don't "bitch" all the time about everything, which is also how you portray us.
You began a recent post accusing Ilhan Omar of anti-Semitism. There are those who believe it's unfair to conflate criticism of the right-wing Israeli government with hatred of Jewish people or the Jewish religion. I appreciate your opinion on the matter but I ask again, as I did in the subject header:
Why is anti-Semitism beyond the pale but ageism okay?
They are both discrimination.
Sincerely,
Clare Spencer
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Her appearance on CBS sunday morning hardly encouraged one to look back at her playmate who rocks sassiness.
Andrew Loog Oldham
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Why so resistant to the idea of Boomers being retired and over the hill? Was there some promise or expectation that they'd be different from any generation that preceded them, that they'd remain the avid culture vultures they were in their teens and twenties? It happens, most people slow down, become exhausted by trying to keep up. Why no compassion? In time Millennials and Gen Z will control the media and they'll calcify too, appearing out of touch to whatever demographic follows them.
Doug F
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It truly sux getting old...zzz
I said this before and I'm sticking to it;
While riding the mile-high escalator at NAMM, I decided there needs to be an exclusionary rule in place there. No one older than 60 need go. We don't count anymore.
Br,
Will Eggleston
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Put one in the grandpa column for me.
D/L'd the album from HDTracks, and I'm streaming that thru iTunes or Apple Music on my desktop or mobile, respectively.
And I did buy it while watching that weekly music show on the "Grey Shopping Network" - "CBS Sunday Morning".
Love has no pride.....
Ken Rhodes
Nashville, TN
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Hi Bob. I'm 56 and both a huge music fan and follower of the industry. Learn so much from reading your column. I stopped buying CDs a couple years ago and now subscribe to Spotify because of its ubiquitous availability. I love Linda Ronstadt but didn't know about this album. Can't wait to listen. In years past, I would read about new releases or see them advertised. It is harder to learn about new music these days.
Keep up the great work!
Gary Sender
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Interesting point.
But in my world, my Facebook page blew up in response to our posting of the video, the announcement of the cd, and my short essay. I mean, for me, huge response, both to her and to me.
Boomers are there and paying attention, I'm convinced, but I don't think they're where we expect them to be.
I talked with her, she's thrilled. Me too.
Especially so many people blown away at the quality of the band, duh.
Talk about separating the men from the boys or the women from the girls.
History will judge, as Kenny Edwards said, "our music will become classical music in the future." Boy, was he right!
Sliding scale for "what's working."
Love to you
Wendy Waldman
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There's a social contract in place today that states that boomers get to hold political power, make jokes about millennials that involve safe spaces or Tide pods, and share terrible memes on Facebook. In exchange, millennials and Gen-Zers get to have trap music, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and cryptic memes on Twitter.
Don't question this aspect of the status quo, Bob. We had a deal.
Garrett Gravley
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Hi Bob; Thanks for views on the album. I picked up on it because I "follow" her on Spotify - I am a mammoth fan and saw her in concert around 1982/83 - and get notifications for new music I might like from Spotify. Great service which has allowed me to listen to virtually all the world's music and decide for myself if the music favourably reviewed by Christgau, Marcus, Bangs, Derogatis, Moon et. al. is actually worth listening to (in general, where my taste and Christgau's overlap, he's pretty solid. the rest are hit and miss). Anyway, sad that more of my cohort (I was born in 1960) don't take the plunge and enjoy this amazing opportunity to explore and discover.
Hope you are doing well and have been able to get out on the slopes.
Best regards,
Michael Craig
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I used to love CBS This Morning because it felt like the network execs let the people running the show do whatever they wanted. We got to hear some great, little known bands and learn about art for art's sake. But now it feels like another corporate shit show. Profiles of famous musicians rather than talented ones. I quit watching a few years ago.
Michael Kimball
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Bob - this has nothing to do with Linda Ronstadt's live album, forgive me.
From 2011-2014 my wife and I were planning/trying to have a baby. I spent a ton of time trolling through used CD racks all over Nashville buying EVERYTHING I had ever been into and lost/never had the cash to buy. Paying a quarter per CD seemed like a cost effective way to rebuild my collection.
I justified this by saying one day our son/daughter (now we've had one of each) will one day want to raid my CD cabinet like I did to my Dad when I was a teenager - which ultimately changed my life. My wife thought I was an idiot but played along. We used Spotify at the time, but still kept a half dozen CDs in the car for kicks.
Fast forward to 2019, our super savvy 4 year old daughter calls out to Alexa whenever she wants to hear a song. She occasionally asks to put Kacey Musgraves on the record player in our front room. She 100% doesn't give a single shit about CDs and I now have an immaculate collection of hundreds of them and no where to play them.
Looks great on the shelves in my office though... by the time she even shows a slight interest in Minor Threat or Soundgarden or whatever, there won't even be CD players at Goodwill if I WANTED to let her or her brother steal them.
Do any of your readers want them? I'll let them go for a great price...
Eli Chastain
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"Is it time to forget the baby boomers?"
Yes. :)
Cliff Seal
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Jeez, Bob…lighten up!
I'm one of the boomers you'll undoubtedly be hearing from and just became aware of Linda Ronstadt's new release (LA Times) - oh...good job, Bob!.
Speaking of old, I'll be using my Spotify account to check it out, while looking hard for this release on vinyl.
Keep it up.
Barry Lindgren
Encinitas, CA
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And Linda R deserves way more accolades then most. In fact she earned it with monster talent and class. Sunday morning is the lest we can do for this totally genuine artist.-wishing here the best. -bill kinzie
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I'm a more cutting edge boomer than my friends (I go to live shows in small venues 3x a year and use Bandcamp) but Spotify and pandora annoy me. So I vote for your Para 6 and 7, my friends use Alexa or Apple, and Most times we still want to own the file if not the CD. Hey, $9.99 at Target. But anymore my circle does not listen to music at all. Saw her in '75 in a cub scout uniform w/ JD Souther & Jackson & Eagles in a Phoenix little league stadium! And did I say it's $10 bucks at target?
Andrew Caplan
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Or it could be that, like many people my age (52), that we subscribe to Apple Music...AND Spotify...AND Amazon Music because we want our music and we want it now.
As for me, Linda was my first rock-n-roll crush when I was a kid. I've listened to everything she's ever done. Proud to say I contributed to the "bupkes" of all the tracks on ALL of those platforms.
I am,
Sincerely yours,
David Levy
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Yes, sure, it's time to forget the baby boomers. I'm 66, but I sure wish you would mention the incredible young musicians who are in the game for. . .the music. I'm sure they want to make a living, too, but don't miss out on this wave of talent and inspiration. As for Linda Ronstadt's new album. . .when I was a teenager I was listening to her, not Judy Garland. So now I'm not listening to Linda so much, but Molly Tuttle, Rachel Baiman, The Ladles, Kaia Kater, Rhiannon Giddens, Lula Wiles, Kristin Andreassen, Sunny War, Sierra Hull. . .
David Hutchison
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One of these days, Bob, there's bound to be a solar flare or a comic book villain in turbo mode and lots of satellites and "The Cloud" will go to the Cornfield. When that happens, I'll be enjoying my cd's and vinyl. Looking at the booklets and reading the lyrics and enjoying something tangible.
Remember; Just because you're paranoid, that doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
Do the best you can and can the best you do.
Bill Mumy
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I've listened to Linda Ronstadt since I was 10 years old, and I learned every word, every note, and every inflection of many of her songs. She has definitely shaped who I am as a singer. I'm 50 now, and but for this email, I would not have known about this new live album, so thank you.
I use both Spotify and Apple Music, and neither of them have recommended it to me, even though I regularly get some Linda Ronstadt tracks in a couple of my 6 Spotify Daily Mixes.
Nothing in Release Radar or Discover Weekly either.
I'd love to know more about the algorithms that put those songs in my playlists and how much cash they pay to promote them on Spotify and Apple.
Love your newsletter. It was recommended to me by some Nashville friends. I've learned so much through the years.
Thanks,
Angela Buikema
Chicago, IL
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What is this "Spotify" you speak of?
I play my Linda records the way I always have:
I pull them out of my shelf and put them on the turntable.
Bob Sarles
Producer, Editor - Ozzy Bio
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As I guy a 56 year old man, I love Spotify and was an early adopter. I saw her CBS piece by accident as I stream TV content as well.
I'm glad you are calling this out, she is a treasure and Linda broke more hearts then bacon. This is a time capsule of when she ruled the world.
Dan O"Brien
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I'm on the high end of Baby Boomers (1963), but I love Spotify! I've taken to selling all my cd's. They just collect dust and they're a pain in the ass! As for Linda Ronstadt, I never was a big fan of hers. Don't get me wrong, she can sing, but it's all covers, and why would I want to hear her when I can listen to the originals? I have one friend who still listens to her and he's 66! He didn't know about the new (1980) live release until I told him, but I don't think he has Spotify, just Alexa. I tout Spotify to all my friends. I love it! Now I'm going to go listen to those Terry Kath demos that I've never heard...
Rodney Rowland
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I love you, Bob, but why can't you let persons of all ages use their own technical favorites and preferences to enjoy entertainment? Between us, my wife and I have iPhones, a tablet and a desk top. Yet we prefer to play CDs, sometimes DVDs and listen through large speakers while watching our flat screens. Our collections of these are vast and we add new items (less now then in the past) as we desire.
There is room for all of us and physical things are part of who we are. As the renowned philosopher, Rodney King asked, "Why can't we all get along?". To each his own, my man.
Tony Colao
Easthampton, MA
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The album is great, although it saddens me because of the reminders of how great she was, and how her illness has limited her ability to perform. Sunday Morning's tribute was wonderful. I also play her duets with Emmylou and her Spanish album (although I don't habla espanol). Best, krog
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Are you not a baby boomer owning a disproportionate part of the conversation?
Roy McCloskey
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You mention boomers?
Greatest act of political judo of our lifetime is training our anti-war generation to love the FBI on the hope it saves them from our times.
Just wait, they're prepping us to support war, interventionism, unbridled consumption, destruction of public education, and wholesale slaughter in Latin America in exchange for legalized pot, renamed bathroom doors, slight relief from student loan debt and a streamlined health insurance racket. A Reagan Roosevelt hybrid approach to social engineering. Just in time concessions with a catch...
But they have to alloy us with the millenials, the ones really carrying the torch these days. And they're smart, smarter than we are, or were, because the ones out in front, they see through our sacred cows of the past. They are not signing off on the vigorish they offered you and most of your readers. Sadly, they killed the Grammy just in time for a socialist to host. See how it goes? The hand you see is never the hand that does ya'.
As John Lennon declared, in fact sang: " The dream is over."
Truth is, it's been over for years and all that remains are the vapors and one last chance to nail a buck.
And now there is nothing special about American music other than what comes out of the hoods or reservation. Not even the sales.
And those soft and flabby (albeit tanned and oblivious to everything but their own declining margins) entertainment execs? Future toast!
From the trenches,
Ken Shain
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I am big fan of your blog and emails, as you often tell the truth to power (!) and have real pulse of what is working-or not-these days in media and music.
I do have to confess that I am one of your 'old farts' that still buy (at discount!) CD's. I have a possibly 700 CD collection..? No idea really. There's some I'd probably love to play but finding them's a bitch! I do have to say though that having the 'album' cover and some information is a plus. Also box sets with art and commentary. That's also a plus. But I now have a Spotify account and wireless Sonos to stream music, so I am gradually weaning myself off CD's. As a matter of fact, I've even considered thoughts to get rid of all my CD's altogether and sell them. We'll see what happens. Maybe baby boomers can adjust if need be!
Regards. D Bodnar
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You speak of baby boomers as if they're a third party:
"So, are oldsters not paying for Spotify or are they unaware of this album or…"
But, at your age, surely you should have written:
"… or are we unaware of this album or…"
I'm a big fan, but after all, you are one of us. :)
Bob Kennedy
Toronto, Canada
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I'll be 65 in May. I can't tell you the last time I bought a CD, well actually I can it was a Walter Wolfman Washington CD that came with a tee shirt. I heard the track Even Now first on Spotify. I do still sell CD's at my shows and I am constantly trying to figure out what to do about physical media.
Anyway, I stream all of my music on Spotify. I've had a paid subscription since the first time you wrote about it, which was a long time ago. I have both Netflix and an Amazon Fire stick and I'm pulling the plug on my cable this spring. Constantly pushing to find the next thing.
Not all of the old cats are tied to the past. I tell people that when I turn 65 I'm going to a whole nother level of cool. So look out!
Peace,
Jimmie
PS, I did know that Linda had a new project I haven't listened to it yet but I'm saving it on Spotify now! Thanks for the reminder.
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I'm a boomer. I use bluetooth. I stream. I don't use Spotify. I use Amazon but I don't use Alexa. I don't care how many plays any song gets anywhere. I love Ronstadt. Haven't listened yet but looking forward to. New "music" blows. Cardi B? Total shit. Ariana Grande? Please. Greta Van Fleet Enema? Enough said.
Harold Love
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I'm one of the baby boomers you're going to hear from about the Linda Ronstadt Live album.
I was similarly taken with how few plays the tracks have which is a shame because this is a great project by one of the most important rock singers in history.
Because liner notes are a thing of the past, I was pleased that the last track of the project (at least on Spotify) is Linda introducing her stellar band.
I'm glad Spotify now has a section for credits but I wish it could come closer to honest to goodness liner notes. I also wish I could see the back covers of albums on Spotify. Being able to see the cover art full screen would be nice too. All that said, $10/month to access almost every song in the world is a screaming deal. I wish more boomers would check it out.
I enjoy your posts Bob.
Dale Bobo
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Well Bob,
You sure know how to put the nail in the coffin!
Now what?
All we got left is a bunch of wanna be's, and has beens......have a nice day. Ha!
Steve Chrismar
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I'm not a boomer (I'm Gen X), but I bought tickets to The Who's upcoming tour, and the tickets come with a physical CD of their new album. What am I going to do with that?
Darin Linman
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Hi, Bob. So, I bought this album. That's how I get music. I Listen to Pandora some, and Serius XM (or whatever it's called these days) but mostly I buy music from I-tunes.
James C. Dolan
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You need to get out of your post Grammy funk. Linda still sounds great at 72. Her band intros at the end of the album are almost identical to the intros on FM - which came out in 1978. I wonder if Lady Gaga will sound as good in 2059...
Have a double double and a shake, and everything will be ok.
Jeff Eglen
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Good afternoon Bob. 65 year old retired boomer from Toronto here. Music lover since that Sunday night television broadcast in February, 1964. My 60 year old brother and I still dissect the best music of our era on a regular basis over coffee.
I consume most of my music via streaming, have been a paying Apple Music subscriber since the beginning, watched it develop into a mature facility for accessing the new and the old. Had tried Spotify beforehand for months as a paid subscriber, always had issues with the interface.
Much of what you say about boomers is likely true. But I think the key issue here is NOT demographic. Rather, it is differentiating between consumption from connoisseurship, the difference between listening to Muzak in an office all day and consciously pulling or queuing up an album of songs out to listen to. You've made the point many times in your columns that when we were younger, our generation had much more limited access to our music: when we bought an album it was because we had weighed it against several other contenders before putting money down. And when we got it home, we generally listened to it HARD.
That collection of purchased albums turned into our personal library, and we have returned to it again and again over decades of listening on vinyl, 8 track, cassette, CD, MP3 and now as streams. We understood that we were hearing only a fraction of what was being produced at any given time, but we understood and appreciated what we owned deeply. And ultimately, we loved the best of that library to the point that we're still listening to it today.
That framework of a connoisseur ("a person with a well-informed knowledge and appreciation, e.g. of fine food, wine or music") building a library they return to repeatedly is awfully difficult to undertake in a streaming world. We aren't provided with any but the most basic tools The physical aspect - which is itself part of the curatorial framework whether it's book, CD or record - is non-existent. And most importantly, the curatorial paradigm is broken.
You're one of my top curators now - I'm actually listening to to new Linda Ronstadt as I write this - but outside of specialty magazines like "Sound & Vision" - where are the reputable, regular record reviewers we used to see in newspapers? Where are the gatekeepers to succeed the AM and FM dj's of yore? Streaming services are built for uncurated mass consumption.
I think we're stuck until we resolve the this consumption/connoisseurship issue AND start providing decent digital tools to provide the library-building environment that flows from being a connoisseur (of a band, of an era, of a genre). I'm tired of feeling like I'm being fed from a firehouse every time I access a streaming service, whether it's Netflix, Apple Music or Amazon Prime. Sirius XM has taken baby steps in this direction, albeit in a transient fashion since it's their library not yours, by giving us live hosts and niche channels like Classic Vinyl.
I don't want to love or listen to ALL music. I DO want support as I continue to build my music library in a coherent, focussed way in the remaining years the good Lord sees fit to give me.
Great writing Bob. Please keep it coming. Don't write our generation off quite yet. There are still many of us who actually DO want to find new music, just as we want to continue the deep dive of the past 50-60 years into the music we love.
All the best,
George Goodwin
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Jeez, you sound like a fun guy to be around. Yes I knew the album was coming out, preordered it a month in advance and have been enjoying it since it was DELIVERED on release day. Excellent album and I love it, love Linda. I play music with my Marantz and my Bose speakers, all vintage. At home, while I read the liner notes and if it's not a CD it's an old vinyl. Hell, sometimes I'll even smoke a joint while listening. We can do that in Seattle. Yeah, I'm an old boomer. Sure, I can listen to music by whatever means now available and have. The cool thing about being an 'old has been' is you can do whatever the fuck you want that makes you happy. What exactly is the problem with that? Not sure what your point is, but glad to hear you promote Linda 's new album. It's a gem. Now fire up whatever makes you happy and enjoy it while you can!
Peace
Sherilyn Jordan in Seattle
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I think I can play them in my PS4!!! (not positive) I love reading your thoughts... keep killing it.
Bobby Cloyd
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ou are assuming that "baby boomers" care about the streaming. They also don't care for the current music. Hip Hop? Please, boring. You can try and push the youth culture, but there is nothing there.
Kids need Netflix and Spotify and all the attendant services. Baby boomers DON'T! Get over it and let us "old people" enjoy the life we have, OK?
Pat O'Connell
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I listened to the album on Spotify. I saw the CBS Sunday Morning interview on YouTube. The album is good but we've been here before.
I like to listen to new music, Panic at the Disco, Dua Lipa, Krewella, The Chainsmokers, Clean Bandit, Against the Current, Chvrches...
By the way I am the same age as Linda Ronstadt.
Larry Green
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Duh. They bought the physical CD off Amazon, now backordered for 2-4 weeks.
richatomic
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All good points but…
Seventy-two year old boomer who has been using computers for work and home since 1981, and I know how to use them. I am a beta tester for all Apple OS.
Always with the latest phone and I know how to use them—iPhone since 2007.
Music was a big part of my life well into my 50s, not so much anymore.
Netflix since the old red envelope days.
I use Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Apple and all the HBO, Showtime, Stars on demand selections.
I have used Apple Music, Amazon music, Google play, no Spotify.
As you said once, now, there is too much quality programming to watch (and listen to) with streaming Netflix—too many good choices, as opposed to the old model of too many channels with nothing to watch or listen too.
I never watch Network TV, news, late night, etc., except for the maligned SNL.
When you mention in your newsletter, new or old music, I give it a try. Sometimes from other recommendations too. Some sticks most does not.
I miss the old curation of the monoculture and radio. It seemed a lot easier.
My twenty-eight year old son curates many types of recent music to me but they just don't stick.
I gave up on Rock about the time bands like Metallica became mainstream. Too derivative of bands like Led Zeppelin, etc from the "classic rock" era.
I am happy listening to Rock, R&B, etc from the 60s, 70s and early 80s as well as mostly eighteen century 'Classical' music. Lots of choice to keep me from being bored.
I do find it difficult to discover new music by old bands or music I like from newer musicians.
I don't know how you do all that you do: reading all the newspapers, newsletters, books, articles, periodicals, answering your emails, attending numerous concerts and symposiums, writing your newsletter and keeping abreast of all on Netflix, Spotify, etc. I surely cannot do it and explore new music.
Cannot fathom about 98% of Hip-Hop or Rap, I guess I need a melody, harmony and…
I am retired, but not over-the-hill. I just look like a 72 year old. If anything my tastes are more refined and defined.
I don't buy into the ethos of Capitalism, as applied to music and art—I do not need a constant barrage of new stuff to spend my time and money
It is time for us boomers to get out of the way and recognize the contribution of those who came later and much later than us.
Respectfully,
Steve Greene
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This gen-xer really enjoys reading your stuff. Thank you.
I am on Apple Music and I do listen to some of the new stuff by the acts of the 70s and 80s. I like the variety of stuff I can find to stream. I am also on Sirius XM mostly for the Spectrum, the Verge (Canadian alternative), Alt Nation - and the NFL Network radio. I don't listen to the actual radio.
I do Soundcloud now and then to hear upcoming artists I know from Downtown Records (the Academic) and Belmont University (where Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Moon Taxi, and more come from). I tried Spotify but it had too much hip hop for me. Apple Music seems easier to use and integrate with my cd collection which is now on the cloud.
I see 3 movies a month at the theater, have Amazon Prime, and Netflix. I am watching Ms. Maisel, Agents of Shield, Manifest, Hemlock Grove, and Brooklyn 99
Thanks for all you do.
Rev. Dr. Jim Monnett
First Presbyterian Church of Saline
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In oldster fashion, I purchased the vinyl.
Doug Smith
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OUCH.....I'm 60.
P.S. I have a client (fitness club chain)....I just received a phone call (yes, a phone call- not email or otherwise) from a 20-something aged club manager who is adding my 1970's era artist recommendations to her live club / group exercise playlist...her favorite selection was Frampton Comes Alive from an "unknown" musician named Peter Frampton.
Scott Hazlewood
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I attended the annual Enterainment Lawyers Initiate lunch last Friday. Always a great hang and this year honoring my colleague Dina LaPolt. This year was the first year there were no glossy books with adds and the winning student essays. But they still put the "Grammy 2019" CD on everyone's chair. With all
Nominated songs and records.
It might as well have been a paperweight.
Kenneth D. Freundlich
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Thanks for USING me.
You obliviously planted some surveillance equipment in here last time I went to the Forum.
(Why's everybody pick on AOL? It's just a mailbox. I still write on my pocket notebook. No batteries!)
Art Fein
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Not time to forget anyone.
And if they are seniors and have lived a full life, have suffered, sacrificed, loved and lost, they should be celebrated, not minimized.
Thats another thing that's wrong w this country…not respecting the wisdom of its elders.
And no, life hasn't changed so much and so fast that that approach doesn't hold up anymore.
You don't have to know about the latest tech to know whats important in life.
jfaith
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I still play a lot of cassettes in my shop. Friends give me all of their old ones.
Gregory Gebben
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I'm one of those dinosaurs who still buys cds, and I listen to Spotify (paid version). I did purchase Linda's live album on cd. Last year I bought about 150 cds, a few albums and singles on vinyl, and saw 120 live shows (40 local performers, 80 touring band ones here in New York State: Syracuse, Albany, Homer, Ithaca, Rochester, Buffalo and in other states, including MA, PA, NC, VA, RI, MD, D.C.). I'm single, retired, on a decent fixed income and 73. As my one of a kind rock and roll hero Ed Hamell, aka Hamell On Trial, says "I will keep on rocking till my dying day." Plus, I will keep reading your posts.
William D. Baldwin
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You are 100% correct we BB's are all AK's now.... And we pay good money to hear cover bands of classic rock we are so desperate for good music!
Bennie
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I'm quite happy with iTunes music store and I put together an extension custom playlist that I listen to what I want when I want. (Which includes the likes of Linda Ronstadt and other "oldies" including later albums). As you are obviously aware, some of these artists are cutting albums exclusively for iTunes.
Les Ehrsam
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Hadn't known of it until now so thanks for the recommendation, the sound quality is fantastic throughout. Have to think Warren Zevon would be proud of that rendition. She was one of the greatest voices we have ever had in rock and roll.
-Mike J. Clarke
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Not only are boomers irrelevant as consumers, they're irrelevant as music executives. They need to finally retire and pass the torch. The music industry is sorely in need of modernization and it's never gonna happen when decision makers need to take 30 trips to the bathroom per day. Too bad they won't go anywhere until they kick the bucket and then hand everything off to their inept, emotionally stunted offspring who think growing up around rock stars is normal.
-Mike Sherman
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Bob,
Tired of your stupid rants! I'm out of here!
William Chapman
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