You're No Good (1975) 4/6/20

When 3 other artists have released the same song before you, with very little success, and you really don't care much for YOUR OWN version, you'd expect the song to be “No Good.”

Actually, the song was “YOU'RE No Good,” and it's today's “Great Song of the '70s,” by artist #4: Linda Ronstadt.

The original 1963 release by Dee Dee Warwick did not chart. Betty Everett gave it a shot—also in 1963—and it stalled at #51 on the Hot 100. The Swinging Blue Jeans tried it in 1964, and it barely made the chart at #97.

By 1974, Linda had been singing it in her concerts for a while, and when it came time to record her album “Heart Like a Wheel,' producer Peter Asher (of the '60s duo Peter and Gordon) suggested she include it on the track list.

Several different versions were recorded—and rejected—before they decided on a final mix and added it to the album. Then, in yet ANOTHER case of a record company messing with an artiist, Capitol Records couldn't decide whether ”You're No Good” or “When Will I Be Loved” (an eventual monster hit for Linda) would be the first single release, and didn't make a final decision until AFTER the album had been out for several days.

Turns out that “You're No Good” was a “Pretty DARN Good” First Choice! On the Adult Contemporary Charts, it went to #1 in the US, #2 in Canada and #15 in Australia!

Even so, Linda has been quoted as saying that she didn't sing it very well. I think we can all beg to differ.

TRIVIA: Andrew Gold played guitar on the track, but when making the final instrumental mix, the studio engineer accidentally erased his solo! Gold had to return and recreate it from scratch.

MORE TRIVIA: More than 20 artists have covered the song...including Elvis Costello, Dusty Springfield, Ike & Tina Turner, Reba McEntire, Lulu, Jose Feliciano, Michael Bolton, Van Halen, Wilson Phillips...and the list goes on!

From 1975, Here's Linda!

And Just for Fun, here's the Betty Everett version: