Linda Ronstadt - Poor Poor Pitiful Me

YouTube ^ | 22 Nov 15 | Warren Zevon and Linda Ronstadt

[SkyPilot]

Linda Ronstadt - Poor Poor Pitiful Me

"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is a rock song written and originally recorded by Warren Zevon in 1976. It is best known as one of Linda Ronstadt's signature hits from 1978. Country music singer Terri Clark scored a hit in 1996 with her own cover of the song. There have also been many other versions of this song. In keeping with Warren Zevon's sardonic lyrical style, the song's verses deal with a failed suicide, domestic abuse, and a brush with sadomasochism. The song first appeared on Zevon's 1976 self-titled solo album. It is reputed to be a friendly swipe at Jackson Browne, whose songs (such as "Here Come Those Tears Again" and "Sleeps Dark and Silent Gate" from The Pretender) could be quite dark.

The song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was produced by Jackson Browne and was featured on Zevon's eponymous 1976 album Warren Zevon with backing vocals by Lindsey Buckingham. The track was later included on his greatest hits compilations A Quiet Normal Life (1986), I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (1996), and Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon (2002). Live versions appeared on 1980s Stand in the Fire and 1993’s Learning to Flinch. Alternate studio versions were included in the 2008 reissue of Warren Zevon, as well as the posthumous 2007 compilation Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings.

Linda Ronstadt recorded a gender-altered version of the song during 1977. Ronstadt would recall that Jackson Browne had pitched "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" to her, teaching it to her in the living room of her Malibu home. Ronstadt's interpretation was produced by Peter Asher for her multi-platinum album Simple Dreams. It had already been a hugely popular radio hit as an album cut. Simple Dreams also contained another Zevon song, "Carmelita." Ronstadt’s live version appeared on the soundtrack album to the smash 1978 movie FM, while the studio version was included on her Platinum-plus album Greatest Hits, Volume 2.

Released as a single (on the Asylum label, #45462) at the beginning of 1978, Linda Ronstadt's rocking version of the song was the week's highest debut on the Hot 100 chart the week of January 28, 1978. It reached number 26 on Cash Box Top 100 and number 31 in Billboard.

[A Navy Vet]

"She typically had very good engineers...but the best sounding versions were mastered by my friend, Steve Hoffman - on both vinyl and CD. Check em out for great sonics and music."

Yes, I remember her albums having a very clear sound with the instruments standing out from each other. Loved Blue Bayou.

[A Navy Vet]

"Steve also re-mastered the Eagles, “Hotel California”. Due to the poor tape used during that period, Steve literally had to bake the tapes to get them to playback properly...and then it was only a temporary “fix”."

I have the re-masterd "Hotel California" on CD. It's like listening to it for the first time. I always try to buy re-mastered versions when buying older artists. I'll check out the liner notes and see if it mentions your friend.

[SkyPilot]

Ditto on the Carly part!!! Back then the women were naturally beautiful. They didn’t have the grotesque surgeries, tons of make-up & the image consultants who watched over their every move. They were just beautiful & they could really sing & write. They were real people

You're so right. This is a woman.

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I am not sure what this is.

By the way, weren't they cute together?

[SkyPilot]

Steve has been a very kind friend and gifted me with many, many CDRs burned direct from the raw studio master tapes...including unreleased studio demos of Beatles from their White Album daze. Amazing sonics (pre-reverb) and so cool to hear studio chatter.

Holy cow! Lucky you!

[PhilDragoo]

Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky a carefull woven tapestry of presque vu, killer.

[SkyPilot]

When my mom committed suicide when I was 19 years old, I played that song over and over the day of the funeral, when I was finally alone.

I sort of finally understood some of Browne's pain at that point. Jackson Browne wrote Late For the Sky after his wife (Phyllis Major) committed suicide.

[leaning conservative]

Thanks for two of the photos! Yes they were rock and roll royalty & a beautiful couple. Basically James Taylor & Jackson Browne were the women’s version of Carly & Linda!

[leaning conservative]

Sorry I did not see your post about “Late for the Sky” when I made my last post. I did not know that about his song. I cannot imagine going thru something like that at 19. So sorry you had to deal with something so tragic.

[leaning conservative]

Sorry I did not see your post about “Late for the Sky” when I made my last post. I did not know that about his song. I cannot imagine going thru something like that at 19. So sorry you had to deal with something so tragic.

[Lizavetta]

Unfortunately, things have changed.

[xp38]

It was Rex Smith on Broadway. They made a movie of the production so you can see him in the role there. Both he and Kevin Kline were quite good in the show on Broadway.

[SkyPilot]

Oh, no worries at all. It was many years ago, and God has long since healed my heart.