(20 July 2010) Few artists approach their work with the grace and dignity of Linda Ronstadt. For more than four decades, she has remained one of the most beloved singers of our generation. One of the first artists to spawn our interest in female vocalists in the early 1970s, her career is a virtual testament to the idea that nothing quite lifts the human spirit like a good song. With an impresario's ear, and a voice that resonates with a haunting gift-like quality, she's crossed all genres, always defying expectations as to what a pop record should be.

Linda Ronstadt has released 29 albums and 60 singles, contributed to 11 compilation albums and has had four No. 1 singles. Wikipedia presents an outstanding biography and an equally astounding view of her full discography. Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Original Master Recording of Prisoner in Disguise (UDCD 768, 2007) delivers the "ultimate listening experience" to Linda's timeless 1973 classic.

Ronstadt made her pop debut in 1967 with the Stone Poneys. It was soon after that she began working with Neil Young. "I sang backup on a lot of his records. He'd call up and say 'I'm making a record, come on down.' He had a recording studio on this ranch. We'd record all day and end up with so much stuff I'm still not sure what made it on to the records." Few knew in those early days that both artists would go on to rewrite pop history. With seven Grammy awards and over 50 million albums sold to her credit, Ronstadt says the only formula she's ever lived by is an undying allegiance to the slow craft of songmaking. With a platinum track record, it's obvious the workmanship has never wavered. Her love for the art of recording helped her form a long standing partnership with legendary engineer George Massenburg, whom she proudly calls a "friend as well as a musical guiding light."

"What I've always done is set myself in a traditional genre and tried to be completely faithful to what the genre demands," says Ronstadt. Whether it be rock, country, pop, or stylistic ventures in big band music, jazz, opera, Broadway standards or Mexican and Afro-Cuban music, Ronstadt has worked with an incredible dedication to her craft. Her albums reflect her virtuosity, overall style and tremendous vocal prowess. Photographers have captured evocative photographs of Linda Ronstadt for many years.

Simple Dreams is Linda Ronstadt's eighth studio album and it reached 3 x multi-platinum in the USA as a number one record in 1977. Mobile Fidelity has been setting the audophile standard for thirty years. This is their fourth Original Master Recording of Ronstadt's work is presented on a Ultradisc II 24KT Gold CD. The eleven tracks were mastered at MSFL in Sebastopol, CA by Shawn R. Britton on the GAIN 2 System™. As with all of Mobile Fidelity's Linda Ronstadt albums, Simple Dreams is also released in the GAIN 2™ Ultra Analog 180g LP format.

Mobile Fidelity is wisely releasing Linda's Elektra / Asylum platinum discs chronologically. This is Linda's biggest selling and most eclectic recording. The rich warm tones of her mega-hits "Blue Bayou," "It's So Easy," "Tumbling Dice," and "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," give the listener a ringside seat in the studio. The audiophile sound on such gems as the title track and "Camermelita" are a pleasure to listen to and you get the sexy Ronstadt cover art.

Every single song is a hit but this is a short disc, with only ten tracks. Throw out your old CD, and give this mini LP sleeve limited edition, numbered disc is an extremely a good listen. It is amazing how many new sounds you will hear in the Mobile Fidelity production. This is not only another true collector item, but one that will spoil you for any other version.

Before "country" found its own section in the record stores, Linda Ronstadt effectively blended pop, rock and country in her own unique format. The sound is soft and spatial, never screeching on the hard rock tunes. Another winner from one our truly great iconic pop stylists. Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs have done Linda Ronstadt's work proud with their Original Master Recording of Simple Dreams. Bravo!--Terry Robertson, Asheville, NC and Russ Elliot in New York