Record Exchange Boise

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''Prisoner In Disguise'' (1975) is Linda Ronstadt's sixth solo LP release and her second for the label Asylum Records. It followed Ronstadt's Multi-Platinum breakthrough album, ''Heart Like A Wheel'', which became her first of three #1 albums on the ''Billboard'' album chart in February 1975.

Ronstadt chose songs from friends and songwriters such as James Taylor, Lowell George of Little Feat, J. D. Souther and Anna McGarrigle as well as one written and originally recorded by Jimmy Cliff and a heartfelt interpretation of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".

''Prisoner In Disguise'' debuted in October 1975. Steve Simels of ''Stereo Reviews December 1975 issue described Ronstadt's singing on Parton's "I Will Always Love You" as "absolutely gorgeous, full-bodied and intense". link The album peaked on the ''Billboard'' album chart at #4. It also reached #2 on the Country album chart and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

"Heat Wave", a rockified re-make of the 1963 hit covered by Martha and the Vandellas, peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Its B-side, a countrified version of Neil Young's "Love Is A Rose", generated its own airplay and peaked at #5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The double-sided hits "Tracks Of My Tears," a re-make of a 1965 hit by the Miracles, and "The Sweetest Gift," an older country standard then most recently recorded by the Seldom Scene, also made it to the Country singles chart, peaking at Nos. 11 and 12 respectively in early 1976. "Tracks" also peaked at #25 on the Hot 100 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary songs chart.

The original vinyl album release was a gatefold design, and the center section featured a photo of various sheets with written lyrics to the songs, most of which were in the original songwriters' own handwriting. - Wikipedia