Long Long Time

1970 single by Linda Ronstadt

"Long Long Time" is a song written by Gary White^[1] which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt in 1970. "Long Long Time" is about a lasting love for someone who never became a lover.

Linda Ronstadt version

In 1970, Linda Ronstadt released the song as a single and on the album Silk Purse.^[1] The single spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 25,^[2] while reaching No. 15 on Canada's "RPM 100" (her first single there),^[3] No. 8 on Canada's CHUM 30 chart,^[4] and No. 20 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.^[5][6]

In 1971, Ronstadt was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance for her rendition of "Long Long Time".^[7][8]

Chart performance

Notable cover versions

• In 1976, Larry Santos released a cover of the song, which reached No. 38 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart^[12][13] and No. 109 on Billboard's "Bubbling Under the Hot 100".^[14]

• Canadian singer Alannah Myles covered the song as one of two new recordings for her Greatest Hits album The Very Best Of Alannah Myles.

In popular culture

• The song is played during the third episode (which shares the name with the song but adds a comma to the episode title that the song release does not contain)^[15] of the 2023 television series The Last of Us, serving as a motif for the relationship between Bill and Frank.^[16] After the episode was broadcast, Spotify announced that streams of the song increased by 4,900% over the previous week;^[17] several outlets compared it to the 2022 resurgence of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" after its use in the fourth season of Stranger Things.^[18][19][20] In the period after the episode was broadcast, the song topped three separate Billboard charts, more than 50 years after its release, placing at No. 1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales ranking dated February 11, 2023.^[21]
• The song also features in a scene from the 2024 comedy road movie Drive-Away Dolls.

References

1. Pollock, Bruce (2014). Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era, Routledge. p. 222. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
2. Hot 100 - Linda Ronstadt Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
3. "R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 14, No. 10, October 24, 1970. Accessed May 30, 2016
4. "Chart No. 719 – Saturday, October 31, 1970". CHUM. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2016. CHUM 30, Official Issue No. 119.
5. Adult Contemporary Linda Ronstadt Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
6. "Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, October 3, 1970. p. 45. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
7. "Grammy Awards Final Nominations", Billboard, February 6, 1971. p. 12. Accessed May 31, 2016.
8. "Linda Ronstadt | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
9. Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, October 17, 1970. Accessed July 13, 2016.
10. 100 Top Pops, Record World, October 24, 1970. Accessed January 2, 2021.
11. Top Non-Rock, Record World, October 17, 1970. Accessed January 2, 2021.
12. Adult Contemporary - Larry Santos Long Long Time Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
13. "Billboard Top 50 Easy Listening", Billboard, December 11, 1976. p. 37. Accessed May 31, 2016.
14. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100", Billboard, December 11, 1976. p. 24. Accessed May 31, 2016.
15. "'The Last of Us' Episode 3 Shoots Linda Ronstadt Song 'Long Long Time' into iTunes Top 5". January 30, 2023.
16. Zuckerman, Esther (January 29, 2023). "How The Last of Us Made One of the Most Romantic TV Episodes of the Year". GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
17. Tangcay, Jazz (January 30, 2023). "How 'The Last of Us' Revived Linda Ronstadt's 'Long Long Time,' Which Is Now Up 4,900% in Spotify Streams". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
18. Tinoco, Armando (January 30, 2023). "'The Last Of Us' Causes Linda Ronstadt's 'Long, Long Time' To Surge In Streams On Spotify". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
19. Lussier, Germain (January 30, 2023). "The Latest Last Of Us Has Linda Ronstadt Running Up Those Charts". Gizmodo. G/O Media. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
20. Vespe, Eric (January 30, 2023). "The Last Of Us Is Giving Linda Ronstadt A Stranger Things-Style Soundtrack Boost". /Film. Static Media. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
21. "Linda Ronstadt's 'Long Long Time' Rules Multiple Billboard Charts Thanks to 'The Last of Us'". Billboard.

External links

• Lyrics of this song
• Linda Ronstadt - Long, Long Time on YouTube