A song the Eagles wrote in Linda Ronstadt’s living room

(Source: Far Out / The Eagles)

Saturday 28 September 2024 20:00, United Kingdom

Being a famous musician couple can be a tricky business. Just ask Sonny and Cher or John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The problem is that if everything falls apart, you risk your hard-earned career falling apart along with your love life. But very rarely, if the stars align, can these relationships create moments of magic enough to cement an iconoclastic status in one’s career, even if it comes at the expense of a happily intact marriage. Take the example of the late Eagles lyricist JD Souther.

Souther dated fellow American singer Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s, when he and his Eagles bandmates were working on their greatest hits. The Eagles headquarters, so to speak, took over Souther and Ronstadt’s home in the Camrose-Highland Bungalows in the Hollywood Hills. However, Ronstadt claimed that this was solely because “we had a bigger living room than them.”

The fruits of the bandmates’ work – and taking over a bigger living room – were finally rewarded when one of the Eagles’ biggest hits was produced there. Ronstadt remembered that “he came home one day and they were rehearsing ‘The Magic Woman’ and they had all the harmonies worked out in four-part harmonies. It was fantastic. I knew it would be a hit. You can just tell.

From the initial brash electric guitar rhythm to the funk-tinged sound, Ronstadt clearly had a well-trained musical ear. “Witchy Woman” will be featured on The Eagles’ most famous album Hotel Californiaand firmly established them as rock and roll gods through the test of time.

Unfortunately, the same sentiment could not be applied to Souther and Ronstadt’s relationship, which ended shortly thereafter. But that doesn’t mean they followed the same path of bitter separation as many Hollywood couples; the pair remained strong friends for decades to come. In a 2015 interview, Souther, when asked about Ronstadt, went so far as to say, “She’s always the first one to hear the new album. She is the best listener: a smart, well-read woman, and also musical.

Not only is it refreshing to hear about the healthy respect and love the couple has clearly maintained in their relationship all these years, but it also shows how Ronstadt played a significant role in making the Eagles the stars they were and “Maleficent” the hit it was.

Following the sad news of Souther’s recent death, it is perhaps more important than ever that his music is given the recognition and iconic status it deserves. Role Hotel California This cannot be understated. He and Ronstadt’s relationship may not have lasted long, but the influence and knowledge he exerted will undoubtedly stand the test of time. Above all, the story of “The Witch” teaches us that good things can come out of failed relationships, that joy can still be found in them after many years, and – perhaps most importantly – the value of a decent-sized living room.