We Ran is a 1998 rock album by American singer, songwriter, and producer Linda Ronstadt. The disc featured back-up from Tom Petty's band, The Heartbreakers. It spent two weeks on the Billboard albums chart, peaking at #160.
On this album, Ronstadt interprets a mixture of rock material by various songwriters, including Bruce Springsteen, John Hiatt, and Bob Dylan.
For much of the '90s, it seemed as if Linda Ronstadt was avoiding pop music. She recorded only two pop albums, 1994's Winter Light and 1995's Feels Like Home, which seemed like diversions from the Latin and children's records that were occupying her time.
In 1998, she returned with We Ran, a full-fledged pop comeback produced by Glyn Johns (George Massenberg, Peter Asher, and Waddy Wachtel also produced a handful of songs) and featuring support from such '70s soft rock stalwarts as Waddy Wachtel and Bernie Leadon, as well as Heartbreakers Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, and Benmont Tench. The pedigree is in place, leaving it up to Ronstadt and her songs to deliver the goods, which, more often than not, she does. Her voice remains strong and surprisingly robust, and her choice of songs, while not surprising, is quite satisfying.
There are a couple of cuts that are a little bland and others, such as Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," aren't suited for her polished delivery, but most of the album is quite enjoyable. It's nice to hear Ronstadt tackle classics like "Ruler of My Heart," but the moments of We Ran that truly capture the spirit of Heart Like a Wheel are when she tries contemporary songs like John Hiatt's "Icy Blue Heart"and Bruce Springsteen's "If I Should Fall Behind."
Granted, Hiatt and Springsteen are predictable choices -- she could have been more adventurous and sought out songs by such '90s songwriters as Ron Sexsmith or Aimee Mann -- but they are just contemporary enough to help make We Ran a successful update of her classic '70s sound.
Track listing
1."When We Ran" - 5:08
Written-By - John Hiatt
2."If I Should Fall Behind" - 4:06
Written-By - Bruce Springsteen
3."Give Me a Reason" - 3:59
Written-By - Marion Hall
4."Ruler of My Heart" - 3:37
Written-By - Naomi Neville
5."Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" - 7:48
Written-By - Bob Dylan
6."Cry 'Til My Tears Run Dry" - 4:01
Written-By - Scott Fagan, Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
7."I Go to Pieces" - 3:47
Written-By - Troy Newman, Waddy Wachtel
8."Heartbreak Kind" - 3:31
Written-By - Paul Kennerley, Marty Stuart
9."Damage" - 3:19
Written-By - Waddy Wachtel
10."Icy Blue Heart" - 4:57
Written-By - John Hiatt
11."Dreams of the San Joaquin" - 5:15
Written-By - Jack Wesley Routh, Randy Sharp
Personnel
- Linda Ronstadt – lead and backing vocals
- Ethan Johns – acoustic, electric and slide guitars; mandolin, ukulele, drums
- Bernie Leadon – acoustic and electric guitars, mandocello, backing vocals
- Andy Fairweather Low – acoustic, electric and electric baritone guitars
- Mike Campbell – electric six and twelve string guitars
- Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar
- Benmont Tench – acoustic piano, Hammond organ
- James "Hutch" Hutchinson – electric bass
- Bob Glaub – electric bass
- Leland Sklar – electric bass
- Russ Kunkel – drums, percussion
- Plas Johnson – saxophone
Production
- Glyn Johns – producer (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 & 11), mixing (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7-11)
- Peter Asher – producer (Tracks 4 & 6)
- George Massenburg – producer (Tracks 4 & 6), mixing (Tracks 4 & 6)
- Linda Ronstadt – producer (Track 6)
- Waddy Wachtel – producer (Tracks 7 & 9)
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Ivy Skoff – project coordinator
- John Kosh – art direction, design
- Ira Koslow – management
Companies, etc.
- Made By – WEA Manufacturing Inc.
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – Elektra Entertainment Group
- Copyright (c) – Elektra Entertainment Group
- Recorded At – The Site
- Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording
- Recorded At – Jim Brady Recording Studios
- Mixed At – Ocean Way Recording
- Mastered At – Gateway Mastering
- Glass Mastered At – WEA Mfg. Olyphant – W3051
- Pressed By – WEA Mfg. Olyphant
Notes
Released: June 23, 1998
Recorded: 1998 Studio The Site, San Rafael, California; Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, California; Jim Brady Recording, Tucson, Arizona.
Genre: Roots Rock
Length: 49:28
Label - Elektra Records
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