Linda Ronstadt did not dislike Don Henley because he lacked talent.

She disliked the way he first tried to impress her.

LINDA RONSTADT KNEW A REAL COVER NEEDED MORE THAN COPYING THE RECORD.

Before Don became part of Linda’s band, she heard him perform “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” with his early group Shiloh.

But something about it stopped her cold.

He had copied her arrangement too closely.

Linda Ronstadt Sings “Silver Threads And Golden Needles”

But here’s what bothered her…

Linda said the guitarist had learned the solo note-for-note from her record, and she was stunned anyone would study her arrangement that way.

To Linda, that kind of copying made sense with a band like Led Zeppelin, where the parts were experimental and worth dissecting.

But on a simple country song?

She thought it missed the point.

And that’s not all…

Linda believed a singer had to bring something personal to a cover. She built much of her own career that way, taking songs by other writers and making them feel unmistakably hers.

Don was smart enough to learn from that.

Here’s where their story changed…

Here’s the truth…

Linda’s first impression of Don may have been rough, but she still heard his potential.

Soon, Don Henley and Glenn Frey were playing in her band, learning the road, the stage, and the discipline it takes to make songs live beyond the original version.

They later formed the Eagles, but the lesson stayed.

A great cover is not karaoke.

It is an artist’s interpretation.

Do you think Linda was right to call out Don’s copycat version?