Linda Ronstaft

Out of the drawers! Pia Davila and Linda Leine give new perspectives on "ostracised music".

Linda Ronstadt has been an icon for more than 50 years. Her extraordinary vocal range and ambition created unforgettable songs across rock, pop, country, folk ballads, American standards, classic Mexican music and soul…

Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 is a good 12-track collection of Linda Ronstadt's biggest hits from the early '70s, beginning with the Stone Poneys' "Different Drum" and running through "Tracks of My Tears," from 1975's Prisoner in Disguise. In between, all of her best-known songs – "You're No Good," "When Will I Be Loved," "Heat Wave" – are included, plus selected minor hits, making it an excellent overview of her peak years.

It probably isn't surprising to learn that Hoyle's solo debut, cut following the final dissolution of Affinity in 1971, does not deviate too far from that band's jazz-rock modus operandi. However, in seeking to trim the instrumental fat from Affinity's sometimes gruelling work-outs, and concentrate the attention on the songs (and lyrics) themselves, it rises far above its role model, to showcase Hoyle as a far more exciting figure than her footnotes in history would have you believe. Reminiscent in places of the best of Julie Driscoll's late 1960s work - a role model that Hoyle was singularly well-placed to succeed - Pieces of Me likewise borrows from several of Driscoll's own influences. The Nina Simone and Laura Nyro songbooks both contribute to the proceedings, with the latter's "Lonely Woman" standing among the best tracks on the entire album…

Linda Jo Rizzo is a German singer, songwriter and producer. Originally from the United States, she was a photo model and studied nourishing sciences in New York. There she met Bobby Orlando and participated in his group, The Flirts, from 1983 to 1984. In 1984, Rizzo moved to Germany and started her own music career there. Linda has released and produced over 20 records and CD’s with some known producers as Fancy (Slice Me Nice, Lady of Ice) Glen P. Stone (Mandy Winter’s “Julian”) Joe Kleindienst (Saragossa Band) Mino Siciliano (La Bouche) and La Bionda (Vamos a la Playa, One For You-One For Me).