Adventures in Music

Robert Hilburn as usual gets it all wrong when he compares Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris and claims that Harris is “a much more adventurous artist, reaching out for rock, folk and R&B; material” (“They Can’t Help It If They’re Friends,” Aug. 15).

Has he forgotten the incredible versatility of Ronstadt moving from rock to the standards albums with Nelson Riddle, to Gilbert & Sullivan, to Puccini, to “Canciones de mi Padre”? This is to take nothing away from Harris, who is indeed wonderful, but “adventurous” should be Ronstadt’s middle name. No rock performer has had the guts and daring to challenge as many different genres as she.

PATRICK A. LONG

Santa Ana

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Many years ago, after the release of “Heart Like a Wheel,” Ronstadt agreed to do an acoustic concert at McCabe’s Guitar Shop and I was lucky enough to attend. Midway through she announced that her friend Emmylou Harris was going to join her for a few songs. They sounded like two angels and it was, at that time, the highlight of my concertgoing adventures.

I always wished they’d record together--sometimes these wishes come true. Now if we could only get Bonnie Raitt to record an all-blues CD. . . .

ADRIANNE SOSANIE

Northridge