Linda Ronstadt - Willin' Live - Lowell George Tribute Concert.

Linda sings Willin'- Lowell George Tribute 1979.
Doing Background Vocals are Nicolette Larson, Rosemary Butler & Emmylou Harris. Bill Payne plays keyboard.

[@randyventresca4152]

Linda Ronstadt is the greatest most versatile female vocalist of her generation.

[@ralphhorst3682]

Her voice so clear and beautiful. Was hard to find anyone better!!

[@Allen-xu2wv]

Do you all see her meaning in her face 😈 and her wonderful voice ❤❤❤

[@johnpoore4239]

The greatest voice in the last 120 years. She is amazing.

[@johncopeland3826]

Add another zero !

[@janetannerevans2320]

well there is Whitney Houston and in my opinion the greatest Mahalia Jackson. I love Linda but she doesn't have the greatest voice in the last 120 years.

[@randyventresca4152]

​@@janetannerevans2320 Linda was vocally way more versatile than Whitney Houston.

[@SallyGeewiz57]

I don't know how anyone could deny Whitney had a beautifully powerful voice. The 1st time I heard her sing Dolly's,,I will Always Love You, I was on a back road at night and pulled the car over. Who the heck is that!?! I had not seen the movie, Whitney, or much of Dolly. Anyway, I was blown away. One isn't better than the other, but like any artwork, we are drawn to certain pieces, or styles more than others.That was a while ago, but over the years I've listened to Dolly do her song and also learned the backstory. Dolly was singing goodbye to someone she loved. Thats's the way she felt led to perform it. Part of Whitney's gift was was raised in her church choir and I know she had even the back pew on their feet. To me, she did so well with the National Anthem, her voice and power was a perfect fit. But, Linda could command a performance, too. I grew up to her album, Heart Like a Wheel, and later when she sang Blue Bayou, I wanted to send all my spare change to her, so she could get back there! Sadly, now Whitney's gone and health issues took Linda's. Both ladies had a gift we were luck enough to see and hear.

[@Allen-xu2wv]

You ever hear her sing with Nelson Riddle and his orchestra

[@skyewilliams2247]

Original authentic heartbreaking songbird. Linda soars for Lowell. The finest example of a female voice.

[@robertwoodward9231]

Yes and from the heart as her and Lowell were intimate during a period of their times together. No other female voice comes close to her range and beauty.

[@larryc3860]

if you ain't cryin', you just ain't got no heart........R.I.P. Lowell ( and Paul and Richie) what a great group of female vocalists!

[@mikedineen7857]

Rosemary Butler is a force.

[@EconAdviser]

He was Linda's greatest love. Saw him perform in a bar on the road, and fell head over heels. A complex, hard to love guy evidently, but she saw inside him. What a screenplay this could be! I'd watch it, and cry all the way through it.

[@curtisshaw9317]

"When Linda sang Willin' at Lowell's memorial- that's when we all felt it, everyone choked up" Bill Payne

[@gergemall]

The best ever . Live always sounds perfect like studio . Dallas Alice

[@andypendley3876]

My favorite Lowell George tune by my favorite singer. Classic.

[@barbaralovenvirth8726]

When Linda sings...you listen to Linda!

[@manelk8]

Wow...this was 2 days after Lowell's cremation and Linda really knew he was listening. She carried it well under these difficult circumstances.

[@tjwash2]

Some people criticize Linda as having watered down versions of the songs she covers. I just see them as being beautiful renditions more palatable to the masses. She was a great ally to talented song writers, and supported fellow musicians rather than compete with them. She introduced a young generation to the sounds of Motown and classic country from the 50’s and 60’s. Years later in the 80’s with Nelson Riddle she took us back still further to the 30’s and 40’s. Where am I going with all this you ask? Hell if I know, I just love the songs that Linda lends her voice to.

[@plantfeeder6677]

Yep like she watered down this one. Actually her four Lowell George songs she recorded over the years were just like the Little Feat versions. She was true to LG writing at least. She really did love him. But he was married.

[@energyfromyourwing]

Hear, hear!

[@randyventresca4152]

​@@plantfeeder6677 Yeah...he slept with Linda without telling her he was married.

[@michaelflanagan5450]

The tribute to Lowell George.

[@brianlamberts756]

Heart broke when Nicollete died.

[@plantfeeder6677]

Gonna take a lot of love to get over that one

[@stevenmanios]

I was a 17 year old kid at this show. I think I might have been the youngest person at the show. I would love to find a recording from that night. It was the first time I heard NIcolette Larson sing. What great night that was.

[@petermcculloch4933]

Never realised how tiny Nicolette Larson was.Stunning rendition.

[@spiratustreviso9885]

Linda sings like an angel...

[@johnknottenbelt2727]

Oh man, do I LOVE THIS TUNE ! And for everyone who says "If you remember anything from that time, you weren't stoned enough", I say, "Surprise, Surprise"! 😂🎉😊

[@lebtu]

I have listened to every version of this by Linda Ronstadt here on KZbin and this is by far the best one!!!

[@kawainess]

I totally agree with you

[@kelmadfan]

Moved me to tears, in light of Linda's Parkinson's announcement and Lowell no longer among the living either. He is missed. RIP Lowell George.

[@johnpoore4239]

When I hear her sing this song, it just totally blows me away. I have seen her 5 times in concert. Her voice is just something that one cannot explain to this younger generation. Linda is one of the greatest, if not the greatest to ever have her voice recorded so the rest of us could enjoy that little bit of heaven. WOW, like I always say, that voice leaves me weak.

[@haroldkatlin1188]

Linda Ronstadt is the most amazing female singer with the most amazing voice in the last 63 years. She is my all time favorite favorite and classy woman singer.

[@robertdaniel1234]

Just wonderful

[@lindadukeslaw740]

Missing Lowell George who wrote this fabulous song.

[@joncma72]

This clip and "Blowin' Away" from that concert are gifts that I can open over and over again. The best.

[@waynewilliams8554]

Who's voice could even come close, WOW !!

[@lindadukeslaw740]

Lowell George was a genius! He wrote this beauty. He is deeply missed!

[@richardleonard4281]

Live to boot, no auto tune , pure as the driven snow. And may I add how much I like Linda with short hair.

[@Eztoez]

Incredibly potent vocals. Utterly amazing

[@sistersuetube]

I was at this show. 7th row. It was amazing.

[@lukelee6850]

Linda - the sound of her voice, especially live, was magnificent.

[@dwayneaguiar1148]

ILOVEYOULINDA.

[@SuperScotch23]

Brings me to Tears! Such a beautiful version for an amazing man!

[@gustavinok4685]

She had a special kind of heartbreak. You can have all those other gals. - Linda Ronstadt was for the lovers, dreamers and creamers. Extraordinary pipes.

[@jeanninel4178]

Linda is a timeless beauty. I recognized the other singers, singer to her right was Jackson Brownes back up singer.. cant remember the others

[@blackfinjrblackfinjr3555]

Rosemary Butler

[@tunahelpa5433]

I swear, I got chills when she started to sing

[@markvmv186]

Linda is simply amazing on this ....so much emotion

[@Bamaboompa]

Great upload. I get chills every time I hear Ronstadt do this song. And what a lineup of backups! Lot of people don't realize that this was about the time that Linda was the #1 touring performer, hit records and cover of Time magazine. She was the shit! Thanks again!

[@RogerSteinbrinkh2oBrother]

god bless these fine ladies for sounding like a choir of angels for Lowell.

[@blueprint6746]

Linda honors Lowell. Gorgeous and heartbreaking.

[@ronstadtfanaz]

Very moving tribute to a great and talented guy. Thanks so much julian.

[@Allen-xu2wv]

and Rosemary

[@mikegatti794]

Pure gold ! A great song - with her voice it just shines!

[@sallysheridan6264]

Killer. Greatest female set of pipes ever.

[@barbaramccroy8663]

Sally Sheridan she has always had such great control of her vocals when she sings and she is always passionate, I love.♥️✌️

[@waynej2608]

She, Linda Ronstadt, is the absolute queen of rock and roll!! 😍😍

[@dmsinjt65]

In the mix. Janis, Aretha....

[@lepantoslim7058]

@@dmsinjt65 and Rosemary Butler

[@pasqualedevitto5569]

Ever! EVER!

[@krissmith3498]

Wow, never disappoints...The great Linda Ronstadt....the best...

[@jesusgonzalez-xd9yx]

Llnda was put on this Earth to slng.

[@johnwhite5485]

How April 13, Lowell's birthday, is not a national holiday still escapes me.

[@tunahelpa5433]

Been from Tuscon to Tucomcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah!

[@guggenheimlloyd6714]

Queen of the scene. Great singer - power, sadness and longing.

[@frankpeter6851]

I love how the lyrics of this song draw an "x" over the state of linda's home state of Arizona.

[@plantfeeder6677]

I don't get it. Tehachipi is in California, Tonopaugh is in Nevada, Tucomcarrie(sic)is in New Mexico. Lowell George wrote it.....and he lived in Atlanta! Doubt he had what you said in mind. Doubt he ever thought of Linda when he wrote it when he was still with Frank Zappa in the '60s. I think this is just a coincidence that the four cities can form an 'x' thru AZ and more taking the backroads(especially tonopaugh)so I wouldn't get weighed...and they fit with the song all beginning with 'T'. But it is a cool point.

[@robtempe]

Not sure about anyone else but this performance and its circumstances choked me up. RIP Lowell..

[@Cyberella1000]

Lowell was brilliant and is still missed terribly! RIP from one Hollywood native to another.

[@tmee1512]

It is a crime that Little Feat is not in the R&R Hall of Fame.

[@chiliboy8584]

the quintessential hippie girl - she knew it and sang it like no other

[@lindadukeslaw740]

Miss the late great Lowell George! Hollywood High Alum.

[@twwtjohns]

There wasn't anything Linda Ronstadt sang that didn't sound better with her voice.

[@jimchance6059]

Here she was simply divine. Folks still make up stories about her. Don't believe them - just listen to her voice.

[@lindas5745]

The best.

[@Allen-xu2wv]

Plus Nicolette and Emmylou

[@markbrookman8233]

Damn! What a tribute! ... This has to be her best performance of this song, live. When she she sang, "Weed, whites and wine...", a tear came to my eye and I actually gulped... Masterful stuff.

[@royallins591]

Heartbreak in abundance - all from a tiny little pin-up. Enormous vocal talent - no wonder all the players loved her.

[@pbohearn]

Heartfelt tribute. Always engaged with her band.

[@codyjones1098]

Before i even heard of any of this i was hooked, Linda is a Light in the dark, all comers taken! Linda is inredible..

[@grassrootsacoustica]

When I described this clip to Rosemary Butler, she asked, without her having seen it on youtube yet, "Are you sure that's Emmylou Harris & not Fran Payne (Billy Payne's late wife)?"

[@northernmuse9]

You're right! When I watched it and saw a brief closeup of her face, it was clear that it wasn't Emmylou (pregnancy doesn't change your face that much!). Looked her up--her professional name is Fran Tate. Thanks for the tip. Hope the original poster will correct it.

[@TangoEliott]

Linda-a great love of a great voice and a kind heart. We miss you but we got things like this to fill us up with more Linda!

[@davidmodine2582]

Wow. Just Wow. What an incredible rendition from the best female singer of my lifetime, with the help of two more spectacular voices.

[@veronical9383]

DAVID MODINE Linda's voice is more hauntingly beautiful now than I even realized back then. She had plenty talented contemporaries, Bonnie, Emmy lou, her pal Nicolette etc. but the sound of Ronstadt's voice seems otherworldly to me now - especially some of these live performances on YT (some even with poor audio)put her in a vocal universe of her own.

[@davidmodine2582]

I considered her a goddess back then, and still do. I saw her multiple times in several DC venues. I think a show around 73 or 74 at Merriweather Post Pavilian, in Columbia MD, was my favorite. I had very up close seats, and she absolutely glowed with beauty, while that voice of hers was indeed otherworldly.

[@lnl3237]

@@davidmodine2582 Thank you, David, for taking the time to share your memories. How I wish I could listen to more of these obscure performances! I don't know if it's just "KZbin hyperbole" but to a person, her live performances are described as extraordinary. Actually, I do know-not KZbin hyperbole! Have to forgive myself for not being a cool, tuned-in teen, who did not hop a train to the city or drive to a venue in my own backyard on Long Island to see Linda Ronstadt work her magic!

[@francoisbouvier7861]

First time I heard, "Willin " was an Amazing Rhythm Aces/To Stuffed to Jump record. Ever since, no matter LF or LG but always Linda R ♥️ makes my heart flutter.

[@harryc6347]

A great Ronstadt musical moment.

[@johnpoore4239]

The greatest voice ever recorded.

[@jimmyb1378]

I saw her in late 1979-early 1980. My then girlfriend liked her a lot and asked me to take her. I hesitantly bought tickets as I wasn't into female singers enough at that time to want to spend money for a concert. She assured me that I would enjoy the show. Was she ever right; magnificent stage presence, great band and a voice that turned me to cream. Ronstadt had Bill Payne join the tour as pianist ... also a thrill as I had never seen the Feat. It was only a few short months since Lowell's death and Payne was visibly still broken. I suspect that Linda knew that playing and touring would be therapeutic. When she introduced "Willin'" , the audience went silent and melded with the moment. Almost 40 years since and I still remember and get goose bumps when I hear her sing. Silver Threads and Golden Needles JB.

[@smwrbd]

So Lowell and Linda hot together for a week and then Lowell's old lady shows up banging on Linda's door. That's when Linda found out Lowell was married. She still loves him methinks.

[@fishbum55]

I was at the concert.

[@Utubestir]

OMG I was there!. i have never seen any footage before ....thanks so much!

[@wandaoverman5978]

Never has been and never will be anyone like her.

[@TwinksToes]

ahhh...taking me back to my younger days...love the songwriter and the singers. Thanks for a great tune. ☺

[@rasputin8699]

Just blown away by this performance. Been listening to it for an hour. Best performance of Willin' ever.

[@trenier23]

I get goosebumps listening to that amazing voice. She was so talented, seems unfair that her voice was taken from her.

[@rlawing2]

what a great tribute to Lowell Gearge. a true great !

[@davidcunningham2984]

What a sweet pure voice. Gives me goose bumps.

[@nursebabs18]

Yes, its a great loss. This is my favorite Linda R song

[@energyfromyourwing]

Amazing!!!

[@johnpoore4239]

That voice will reign forever supreme and the woman forever amazing.

[@SteveBerberovic]

Tears at this performance.

[@pbohearn]

Steve Berberovic yes her too right!?

[@leefrancis190]

Linda, you are just too good, blessed to be one of your passionate fans, love you forever

[@mikegatti794]

Wow!

[@mannythanx6090]

Linda singing some very fine trucker love and heartbreak for Lowell George. Gone June 29, 1979.

[@pbohearn]

mannythanx A Tucson girl, she could sing for the disenfranchised with empathy.

[@plantfeeder6677]

RIP Lowell George, Ritchie Heywood, and Paul Barrera. RIP LITTLE FEAT

[@annazampi8088]

Love Linda 💗💕

[@jerrythompson9441]

I just cried, wonderful song, fabulous version

[@theresaheyer537]

great song sung by great voice of 60s n 70s.

[@chrisculhane5097]

Thank you for sharing, I was able to attend this wonderful tribute to Lowell George

[@kennyp1400]

Me too. So much fun.

[@cwebsterk]

Great song. I would have never known about Little Feat if it weren't for Linda....saw her in concert at least six times in the 70's and she always plugged LF. She said they were her favorite band and that "Willin'" was the one song she never got tired of singing. Billy Payne played keyboards on a couple of her albums and tours. I recognize Nicolette and Rosemary but who is the other lady?

[@northernmuse9]

It turns out the other singer is Fran Tate. See grassrootsacoustica's comment just above yours, and my recent comment.

[@plantfeeder6677]

And Fran Tate is really Fran Payne...Billy's ex-wife.

[@hiddenfearnomore5877]

Linda does Lowell. All you need - a trucker's dream if I ever did see one.

[@timjohnson1199]

My dream too.

[@jameswhitney2450]

Loved Ronstadt's emotions here.

[@alphasixfive1658]

the good old days

[@ronstadtfanaz]

Linda looked ready to cry. I know this was an emotional event for her. She was more than fond of Lowell. You can see Lowell playing backup for Linda on The First Cut Is The Deepest and Fill My Eyes here on youtube. I think it is the only video footage of them performing together.

[@saraheff487]

+ronstadtfanaz She tells the story of their affair on the video from an Atlanta concert right before singing "Willin'". I read something recently where she said she felt badly for the pain and embarrassment that Lowell's wife endured.

[@pbohearn]

I think she was tearful. A close up at the beginning

[@bpbatlaw]

@@saraheff487 just saw that version and that was the first I had heard about that. There was a bigger connection between Linda and the songwriters whose work she recognized, but that was a heck of a beginning!

[@tdelacruz61]

@@bpbatlaw I think Lowell George was just a free spirit in general who bonded artistically one on one with people, if you listen to the early Robert Palmer records they were just Little Feat records with Palmer singing lead, and so it was with the way she was drawn into Lowell George, she had no choice LOL

[@10songsblog]

Favorite Linda song by far.

[@deannaturnbaugh9549]

Love ya linda and mr panye

[@ravello99]

That's gospel music right there! Sing it Linda!

[@Alvin4NY]

So pure....so honest. Linda.

[@gustavogill3147]

¡¡¡MUCHAS FELICIDADES LINDA!!! TE QUEREMOS DESDE MADRID (Spain)

[@AnnMarieJordanActress]

OMG...THANK YOU for sending me one of my ALL TIME favorite songs in your email to me Craig ! I do not know who you are...Thank you for making me smile this morning ! (craigg992 sent you a video: "Linda Ronstadt - Willin' Live - Lowell George Tribute Concert.")

[@stormy5969]

Ahhh, sweet Linda...

[@gospelbluegrassblog]

Unbelievable! I was at this show -- my first rock concert, in fact. Thanks so much for posting.

[@unamckillen7125]

Were you? I envy you. What an amazing concert to start going to concerts with. Mine was The Marmalade at St Albans Civic Centre - no disrespect to the guys or the venue. I was 13 and it was a great night out!. However, yours! I love all the performers here and the whole lot brought together to provide funds for a fellow performer's widow and child - impressive. This concert really moves me on line so what it must have been like being there!