Heart Like a Wheel

{{other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Heart Like a Wheel | type = studio | artist = [[Linda Ronstadt]] | cover = Heart Like a Wheel Ronstadt.jpg | border = yes | released = {{Start date|1974|11|19}} | recorded = June–September 1974 | studio = [[The Sound Factory]] and Clover Recorders, [[Los Angeles]], Track Recorders, [[Maryland]], [[Record Plant]] and [[The Hit Factory]], [[New York City]], [[Trident Studios]] and [[AIR Studios]], [[London]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Linda-Ronstadt-Heart-Like-A-Wheel/release/2621539 |title=Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like A Wheel (Vinyl, LP, Album) |website=Discogs.com |date=1976-11-13 |access-date=2017-07-12}}</ref> | genre = * [[Country rock]]<ref name="Lounge 1998">{{cite book|last= Dedrick|first= Jay|chapter= Linda Ronstadt|editor-last= Knopper|editor-first=Steve|date=January 1, 1998|title=MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=[[Visible Ink Press]]|location=Detroit|pages= 409–410}}</ref> * [[pop rock]]<ref name="RS 2020">{{Cite magazine|date=2020-09-22|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=2020-09-29|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> * [[soft rock]]<ref name="RS 2020"/> | length = 31:40 | label = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] | producer = [[Peter Asher]] | prev_title = [[Don't Cry Now]] | prev_year = 1973 | next_title = [[Prisoner in Disguise]] | next_year = 1975 | misc = {{Singles | name = Heart Like a Wheel | type = studio | single1 = [[You're No Good]] | single1date = November 19, 1974 | single2 = [[I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)]] | single2date = November 19, 1974 | single3 = [[When Will I Be Loved (song)|When Will I Be Loved]] | single3date = March 25, 1975 | single4 = [[It Doesn't Matter Anymore]] | single4date = March 25, 1975 }} }}

'''''Heart Like a Wheel''''' is the fifth solo [[studio album]] by [[Linda Ronstadt]], released in November 1974. It was Ronstadt's last album to be released by [[Capitol Records]]. At the time of its recording, Ronstadt had already moved to [[Asylum Records]] and released her first album there; due to contractual obligations, though, ''Heart Like a Wheel'' was released by Capitol.<ref>{{cite book |last= Moore|first= Mary Ellen|date= 1978|title= The Linda Ronstadt Scrapbook: An Illustrated Biography|location= New York|publisher= Grosset & Dunlap|page= 61|isbn= 0-441-48411-5}}</ref>

''Heart Like a Wheel'' reached the top of the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], becoming her first number one album in the United States. The lead single, a cover of [[Betty Everett]]'s "[[You're No Good]]", peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. At the [[18th Annual Grammy Awards]], the album was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], while her version of "[[I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)|I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love with You]]" won the award for [[Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance|Best Country Vocal Performance, Female]].

Widely considered Ronstadt's breakthrough album, it was selected by the [[Library of Congress]] to be inducted into the [[National Recording Registry]] in 2013. In 2020, it was ranked number 490 on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|''Rolling Stone''<nowiki/>'s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{AllMusic |class=album |tab=review |id=r16876 |first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |access-date=3 December 2005 |ref=AllMusic}}</ref> |rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' |rev2Score = A−<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: R|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=R&bk=70|access-date=March 12, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev3score = 8.5/10<ref name=Pitchfork>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/linda-ronstadt-heart-like-a-wheel/|title=Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like a Wheel Review|first=Lingan|last=John|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=RSguide>{{cite book |chapter=Linda Ronstadt |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/701 701–702] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |year=2004 |publisher=Fireside |location=London |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&q=london%20calling&pg=PA701 |access-date=24 September 2011 }}</ref> | rev5 = [[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]] | rev5Score = B<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=April 1975|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rekord3.php|title=The Rekord Report: Third Card|magazine=Overdose|access-date=June 26, 2020|via=tomhull.com}}</ref> }}

''Heart Like a Wheel'' became Ronstadt's first album to hit the top spot on the ''Billboard'' Top 200 album chart and spent four weeks at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Country Albums chart in early 1975. "[[You're No Good]]", the first single release from the record company, reached number 1 on the ''Billboard'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]. A [[Cover version|cover]] of [[the Everly Brothers]]' "[[When Will I Be Loved (song)|When Will I Be Loved]]" spent two weeks at number 2 on the Hot 100 in June 1975 and reached number 1 on the ''[[Cash Box]]'' Pop singles chart and on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart. [[The Crickets|Buddy Holly & the Crickets]]' song "[[It Doesn't Matter Anymore]]", also appeared on the Pop, Adult Contemporary and Country charts.<ref>{{AllMusic |class=artist |tab=charts-awards/billboard-singles |id=p5302 |label=Linda Ronstadt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles |access-date=28 July 2006 }}</ref>

[[Stephen Holden]]'s 1975 review ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described the title track as "a masterpiece of writing and arrangement" and lauded the album's expansive repertoire, production and song selection.<ref name=RSreview>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=178 |date=January 16, 1975 |first=Stephen |last=Holden |author-link=Stephen Holden |title=Linda Ronstadt ''Heart Like a Wheel'' > Album Review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/heart-like-a-wheel-19750116 |access-date=28 July 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202120406/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lindaronstadt/albums/album/208307/review/5946498/heart_like_a_wheel |archive-date=2 December 2008 |ref=RSreview}}</ref> The album's [[Cover version|cover]] of [[Hank Williams]]'s "[[I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)]]" peaked at number 2 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} Hot Country Songs chart.<ref name=Billboard >{{cite magazine | title=Country Charts | magazine=Billboard | url=http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/topcount.htm | access-date = 2011-12-13}}</ref>

''Heart Like a Wheel'' spent 51 weeks on the [[Billboard charts|album chart]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Joel |last=Whitburn |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title=Joel Whitburn presents The Billboard Albums |edition=6th |date=April 1, 2007 |publisher=Record Research Incorporated |isbn=978-0-89820-166-6}} Cited in {{cite web |website=Ronstadt-linda.com |title=Linda Ronstadt Top Pop Albums |url=http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/toppopa.htm |access-date=28 July 2006 }}</ref>

Retrospective reviews of ''Heart Like a Wheel'' widely regard it as a high-point in Ronstadt's oeuvre. In his review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] described it as "a landmark of '70s mainstream pop/rock."<ref name=AllMusic/> John Lingan claimed in his review for ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' that "[Ronstadt] had one power, but it was a superpower. Viewed from one angle, Linda Ronstadt's career is the story of a woman gradually recognizing the power of her own voice. She had the tone early, but you can hear her control improve in each successive album. Her breaths sound more natural, her vibrato becomes more pronounced. By 'Heart Like a Wheel', she’d mastered it."<ref name=Pitchfork/>

In 1976, the album earned Ronstadt four nominations at the [[Grammy Award]]s. She won [[Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance|Best Country Vocal Performance, Female]] for the track "I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love with You". She was also nominated for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. Producer Peter Asher was among the nominees for Producer of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1976-224.html|title=Grammy Award Nominees 1976 - Grammy Award Winners 1976|work=Awards & Shows|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

The album was ranked No. 490 on the September 22, 2020 edition of ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.<ref name="RS 2020"/>

''Heart Like a Wheel'' was selected for preservation in the [[National Recording Registry]] in 2013 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/registry-by-induction-years/2013/|title=2013{{!}}View Registry by Induction Years {{!}} Recording Registry {{!}} National Recording Preservation Board {{!}} Programs at the Library of Congress|work=[[Library of Congress]]|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, ''Heart Like a Wheel'' was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#h|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists|website=Grammy.com|access-date=November 13, 2024}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing |headline = Side one |title1 = [[You're No Good]] |writer1 = [[Clint Ballard Jr.]] |length1 = 3:44 |title2 = [[It Doesn't Matter Anymore]] |writer2 = [[Paul Anka]] |length2 = 3:26 |title3 = [[Faithless Love]] |writer3 = [[JD Souther]] |length3 = 3:15 |title4 = [[The Dark End of the Street]] |writer4 = [[Chips Moman]], [[Dan Penn]] |length4 = 3:55 |title5 = Heart Like a Wheel |writer5 = [[Anna McGarrigle]] |length5 = 3:10 }} {{Track listing |headline = Side two |title1 = [[When Will I Be Loved (song)|When Will I Be Loved]] |writer1 = [[Phil Everly]] |length1 = 2:04 |title2 = [[Willin' (Little Feat)|Willin{{'-}}]] |writer2 = [[Lowell George]] |length2 = 3:02 |title3 = [[I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)]] |writer3 = [[Hank Williams]] |length3 = 2:45 |title4 = Keep Me from Blowing Away |writer4 = [[Paul Craft]] |length4 = 3:10 |title5 = [[You Can Close Your Eyes]] |writer5 = [[James Taylor]] |length5 = 3:09 |total_length = 31:40 }}

==Personnel== Adapted from the album's [[liner notes]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= Heart Like a Wheel |year= 1974 |type= booklet |publisher= [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]}}</ref>

* Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 9) * [[Andrew Gold]] – electric piano (1, 3), electric guitar solo (1), drums (1–3, 7), percussion (1–3), acoustic piano (3–5, 8, 10), electric rhythm guitar (4), tambourine (4, 6), guitars (6), backing vocals (6, 7), acoustic guitar (7, 8), [[ukulele]] (8). Credit on album cover: "Special thanks to Andrew Gold for his help with the arrangements." * Eddie Black – electric guitar (1) * Bob Warford – acoustic guitar (2, 4, 8), electric guitar solo (4, 7) * [[Sneaky Pete Kleinow]] – [[pedal steel guitar]] (2, 7, 8, 10) * [[JD Souther]] – acoustic guitar (3), harmony vocals (3) * [[Herb Pedersen]] – [[banjo]] (3), backing vocals (7) * Paul Craft – acoustic guitar (9) * John Starling – acoustic guitar (9) * Danny Pendleton – pedal steel guitar (9) * [[John Boylan (record producer)|John Boylan]] – acoustic guitar (10) * [[Glenn Frey]] – acoustic guitar (10) * [[Kenny Edwards]] – bass guitar (1, 2, 6–8), backing vocals (6, 7) * [[Chris Ethridge]] – bass guitar (3) * [[Emory Gordy Jr.]] – bass guitar (4) * Tom Guidera – bass guitar (9) * [[Timothy B. Schmit]] – bass guitar (10) * Dennis St. John – drums (4) * [[Russ Kunkel]] – drums (6) * Lloyd Myers – drums (8) * [[Don Henley]] – drums (10) * [[Peter Asher]] – percussion (2), [[cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]] (6), backing vocals (10) * Jimmie Fadden – [[harmonica]] (2, 7) * [[David Lindley (musician)|David Lindley]] – [[fiddle]] (5, 8) * Gregory Rose – string arrangements and conductor (1, 2, 10) * [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] – string arrangements (5), viola (5) * Dennis Karmazyn – cello (5) * Richard Feves – double bass (5) * [[Clydie King]] – backing vocals (1) * [[Sherlie Matthews]] – backing vocals (1) * [[Wendy Waldman]] – backing vocals (2) * [[Cissy Houston]] – backing vocals (4) * Joyce Nesbitt – backing vocals (4) * [[Maria Muldaur]] – backing vocals (5) * [[Emmylou Harris]] – harmony vocals (8)

'''Production''' * Peter Asher – producer * [[Val Garay]] – engineer, mixing * David Hassinger – engineer, mixing * Dennis Ferrante – assistant engineer * [[John Haeny]] – assistant engineer * Peter Kelsey – assistant engineer * [[George Massenburg]] – assistant engineer * Peter Swettenham – assistant engineer * [[Bernie Grundman]] – mastering at [[A&M Studios|A&M Mastering Studios]] (Hollywood, California). * [[Rod Dyer]] – design * Leandro Correa – photography * [[Eve Babitz]] – photography

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1974–1975) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=258}}</ref> | 35 |- {{album chart|Canada|7|chartid=3921a|rowheader=true|access-date=December 15, 2024}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Linda Ronstadt|rowheader=true|access-date=December 13, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1975) ! scope="col"| Position |- {{album chart|Canada|39|chartid=6489a|rowheader=true|access-date=December 15, 2024|refname=CA_YE}} |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1975/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1975|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108112558/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1975/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 54 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|title=Heart Like a Wheel|artist=Linda Ronstadt|type=album|relyear=1974|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history and formats for ''Heart Like a Wheel'' !scope="col"| Region !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Format !scope="col"| Label !scope="col"| Ref. |- ! scope="row"| North America | November 19, 1974 | {{hlist|LP|cassette}} | {{hlist|Asylum Records|Capitol Records}} | <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ronstadt |first1=Linda |title=''Heart Like a Wheel'' (Liner Notes) |journal=Asylum Records/Capitol Records |date=November 19, 1974 |id=ST-11358 (LP); 4XT-11358 (Cassette)}}</ref> |- |}

===Reissues=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Label ! Edition |- | 2009 | Audio Fidelity | 24 Karat Gold HDCD |- | 2017 | [[Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab]] | SACD |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links==  * [http://www.myspace.com/lindaronstadt/music/albums/heart-like-a-wheel-9644978 ''Heart Like a Wheel''] at [[Myspace]] (streamed copy where licensed) *[http://www.wnyc.org/story/linda-ronstadt-heart-like-a-wheel/ Linda Ronstadt: ''Heart Like a Wheel'' | Studio 360] on [[WNYC]]'s Inside the Recording Registry

[[Category:1974 albums]] [[Category:Linda Ronstadt albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Peter Asher]] [[Category:Albums recorded at Trident Studios]] [[Category:Capitol Records albums]] [[Category:United States National Recording Registry albums]]