Ah, “Willin’”. Just the title itself conjures up vivid images of endless highways, truck stop diners, and the quiet resolve of a soul relentlessly on the move. When Linda Ronstadt lent her remarkable voice to this classic on her groundbreaking 1974 album, Heart Like a Wheel, she did more than sing a cover; she embodied a spirit, a quintessential American archetype that stirs the hearts of anyone who has chased a distant horizon or a far-flung embrace.
Though “Willin’” never charted as a single for Ronstadt, the album Heart Like a Wheel soared to phenomenal success, claiming the top spots on Billboard charts and cementing Ronstadt’s status as a mainstream icon. This album became a country-rock masterpiece, flowing effortlessly between genres, much like Ronstadt’s own voice — capable of being at once raw and exquisitely refined.
The story behind “Willin’” is as winding and intoxicating as the highways it depicts. Crafted by the late, legendary Lowell George of the band Little Feat, the song first emerged in 1971 and was immortalized in a more haunting version on Little Feat’s 1972 album, Sailin’ Shoes. Rumor has it, while George was part of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, Zappa himself was shaken — either impressed or scandalized by the song’s daring references to “weed, whites, and wine.” According to legend, this prompted Zappa to urge George to leave and form his own band, ultimately igniting the rise of the iconic Little Feat. This story perfectly encapsulates the rebellious, fiercely independent spirit that
