Lush Life (Linda Ronstadt album)

Lush Life is an album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released in November 1984 on Asylum Records as the second in a trilogy of jazz albums with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle. All three album covers were designed by John Kosh.

Lush Life
Studio album by Linda Ronstadt
Released	November 19, 1984
Recorded	August 24 - October 5, 1984
Studio	The Complex, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Jazz big band traditional pop
Length	41:29
Label	Asylum
Producer	Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt chronology
What's New (1983) Lush Life (1984) For Sentimental Reasons (1986)
Singles from Lush Life
"Skylark" Released: December 1984 "When I Fall in Love" Released: March 1985

The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Billboard jazz chart, becoming certified as Ronstadt's record tenth platinum album. Lush Life was nominated for two Grammys, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Album Package, winning the latter. Riddle was posthumously awarded the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying A Vocal for the title track, "Lush Life."

A music video was created for the song "Skylark," with vintage clothing by wardrobe stylist Genny Schorr.

In 1986, Asylum Records released the compilation Round Midnight, which included all tracks from all three albums with Riddle.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Rolling Stone	^[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"When I Fall in Love"	Edward Heyman, Victor Young	2:20
2.	"Skylark"	Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer	3:07
3.	"It Never Entered My Mind"	Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers	4:22
4.	"Mean to Me"	Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk	4:09
5.	"When Your Lover Has Gone"	Einar Aaron Swan	4:18
6.	"I'm a Fool to Want You"	Joel Herron, Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf	4:45
7.	"You Took Advantage of Me"	Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers	2:21
8.	"Sophisticated Lady"	Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish	3:40
9.	"Can't We Be Friends?"	Paul James, Kay Swift	2:28
10.	"My Old Flame"	Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston	3:33
11.	"Falling in Love Again"	Friedrich Hollaender, Sammy Lerner	2:35
12.	"Lush Life"	Billy Strayhorn	3:51
Total length:			41:29

Personnel

• Linda Ronstadt – vocals
• Nelson Riddle – arrangements and conductor
• Don Grolnick – grand piano, piano solo (11)
• Bob Mann – guitar
• Bob Magnusson – bass
• John Guerin – drums (1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
• David Frisina – concertmaster, violin (5)

with:

• Tommy Morgan – harmonica (2)
• Tony Terran – trumpet solo (4)
• Plas Johnson – tenor sax solo (5, 7, 8)
• Louis Bellson – drums (7, 9)
• Oscar Brashear – trumpet solo (9)
• Chauncey Welsh – trombone solo (10)

Production

• Peter Asher – producer
• George Massenburg – recording, mixing
• Murray Dvorkin – recording assistant, mix assistant
• Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).
• Gloria Boyce – album coordinator
• John Kosh – art direction, design
• Ron Larson – art direction, design
• Robert Blakeman – photography
• Genny Schorr – wardrobe stylist

Charts

Chart (1984/85)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[3]	31
Canadian RPM Top Albums	35
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)	100
United States (Billboard 200)	13

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[4]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for Lush Life

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
North America	November 16, 1984	LP CD cassette	Asylum Records	^[5]

References

1. "Lush Life Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
2. Davis, Francis. "Lush Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 258. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "American album certifications – Linda Ronstadt – Lush Life". Recording Industry Association of America.
5. Ronstadt, Linda (November 16, 1984). "Lush Life (Liner Notes)". Asylum Records. 9-60387-1 (LP); 9-60387-4 (Cassette); 9-60387-2 (CD).