An Intimate Conversation with Linda Ronstadt

LINDA RONSTADT is into French poodles these days. Basking in the glow of two consecutive platinum albums — filled with orchestrated arrangements of what she calls "American jazz standards" — she would have us believe that her skateboarding days are over. Actually, unlike most rock standard bearers — Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner — Ronstadt has just been acting her age (39). Rock & roll was never intended for anyone over 30, and perhaps with this in mind, she recruited the legendary arranger Nelson Riddle and recorded What's New and then Lush Life — both homages to Frank Sinatra in particular and the American song tradition in general.