How Do I Make You - Misplaced Pages

Steinberg stated that he was "a little bit influenced" by the Knack hit "My Sharona" in writing "How Do I Make You". He originally recorded the song with his band Billy Thermal as one of several demos produced while the band was signed to Planet Records. The label ultimately did not release these songs. However, several Billy Thermal demos, including "How Do I Make You", were eventually included on a Billy Thermal EP released by Kinetic Records, a Los Angeles-based independent label.

According to Steinberg, the song's later rise to fame was born from a relationship between Billy Thermal's guitarist, Craig Hull, and Wendy Waldman, a backing vocalist for Linda Ronstadt's live shows: "without asking my permission or anything, Wendy and Craig played the Billy Thermal demos for Linda Ronstadt, and Linda liked the song 'How Do I Make You.'"

Release

"How Do I Make You", which featured Nicolette Larson on backing vocals, was released as an advance single from the album Mad Love. It exemplified Ronstadt's change to a harder-edged style, propelling her stardom briefly in the direction of new wave. Shipped on January 15, 1980, "How Do I Make You" hit number 6 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, it reached a peak of number 10.

A non-album track, Ronstadt's version of the traditional "Rambler Gambler", was the B-side of "How Do I Make You" and was serviced to C&W radio, charting on the Billboard C&W chart at number 42.

"How Do I Make You" appeared in the U.S. Top 10 for several weeks during March and April 1980. The track hit number 1 on many AOR (Album Oriented Rock) stations' charts. The single was also successful in Australia (number 19) and New Zealand (number 3).

A live version, recorded for an HBO special in April 1980, is included in the 2019 release "Live In Hollywood".

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Mike DeGagne assessed "How Do I Make You" as "a far cry from the ballads, the love songs, and the ample amount of cover versions that had charted with in the past" saying " quick tempo and pulsating pace had Ronstadt showing some new wave spunk mixed with a desire to rock out a little." However, Rolling Stone critic Stephen Holden, felt that on "How Do I Make You" Ronstadt "frankly imitates Deborah Harry," the lead vocalist of defining new wave act Blondie. He further described the song as "Buddy Holly-like" and that it roughly brackets "How Do I Make You" with earlier Ronstadt hits "That'll Be the Day" (1976) and "It's So Easy" (1977), both remakes of Buddy Holly records.

Cover versions

The 1980 album Chipmunk Punk by Alvin and the Chipmunks featured a cover of How Do I Make You.

In 2019, Australian hard rock band Baby Animals released a version as the lead single from their first greatest hits album.

Charts

Year-end chart (1980)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)	68

References

^ McPadden, Mike (January 13, 2015). "11 Classic Rockers Who Went New Wave For One Album". VH1. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
Molanphy, Chris (November 27, 2017). "Queen of Disco Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
^ "Song Facts Interview/ Billy Steinberg". SongFacts.com. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
^ DeGagne, M. "How Do I Make You". Allmusic. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
^ "Linda Ronstadt awards". Allmusic. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
"Linda Ronstadt to Release Concert Album 'Live in Hollywood'". Rolling Stone. 14 December 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
"Linda Ronstadt/ Mad Love Review by Stephen Holden". RollingStone.com. 3 April 1980. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
Stone, D. "Chipmunk Punk". Allmusic. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
"Baby Animals Announce 30th Anniverary [sic] National Tour". Bloodlines Music. January 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
"1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

v t e Linda Ronstadt
Albums Singles Performances
Stone Poneys albums	The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt Evergreen, Volume 2 Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III
Studio albums	Hand Sown ... Home Grown Silk Purse Linda Ronstadt Don't Cry Now Heart Like a Wheel Prisoner in Disguise Hasten Down the Wind Simple Dreams Living in the USA Mad Love Get Closer What's New Lush Life For Sentimental Reasons Canciones de Mi Padre Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind Mas Canciones Frenesí Winter Light Feels Like Home Dedicated to the One I Love We Ran A Merry Little Christmas Hummin' to Myself
Collaborations	Trio Santiago Trio II Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions Adieu False Heart The Complete Trio Collection
Compilations	Different Drum Greatest Hits Greatest Hits, Volume 2 The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt Mi Jardin Azul: Las Canciones Favoritas Duets
Live Albums	Live in Hollywood
Hit singles	"Different Drum" "Long, Long Time" "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" "You're No Good"/"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" "When Will I Be Loved"/"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" "Heat Wave"/"Love Is a Rose" "The Tracks of My Tears" "That'll Be the Day" "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me" "Lose Again" "Crazy" "Blue Bayou" "It's So Easy" "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" "Tumbling Dice" "Back in the U.S.A." "Ooo Baby Baby" "Just One Look" "Love Me Tender" "Alison" "How Do I Make You" "Hurt So Bad" "I Can't Let Go" "I Knew You When" "What's New?" "Somewhere Out There" "Don't Know Much" "All My Life" "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" "Close Your Eyes" "Walk On"
Other songs	"Carmelita" "Desperado" "Mr. Sandman"
Related topics	"Mr. Plow" FM (film) The Pirates of Penzance (1983 film) An American Tail (soundtrack)
Category

v t e Baby Animals
Suze DeMarchi Dave Leslie Dario Bortolin Mick Skelton Eddie Parise Frank Celenza
Studio albums	Baby Animals Shaved and Dangerous Il Grande Silenzio This Is Not the End
Other albums	BA25 Greatest Hits
Singles	"Early Warning" "Rush You" "Painless" "One Word" "Ain't Gonna Get" "Impossible to Fly" "Don't Tell Me What to Do" "At the End of the Day / Backbone" "Lights Out at Eleven" "How Do I Make You"

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