Linda Ronstadt – How Do I Make You

About The Song

“How Do I Make You” is a song composed by Billy Steinberg and recorded by Linda Ronstadt in 1980, reaching the top 10 in the United States.

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.'”

“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”.
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 [Ronstadt] had charted with in the past” saying “[the track’s] quick tempo and pulsating pace had Ronstadt showing some new wave spunk mixed with a desire to rock out a little.”[4] 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.

Video

Lyric

You’re a doll
Your eyes see all
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
want to see me?

You’re so young
But your feelings are deep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you feel for me

You put your head on my pillow
And you’re fast asleep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Dream about me?

Ooh, ooh, baby
The world’s a wall of ice
You’re gonna need someone

To treat you warm
And keep you nice

I like the way you dance
The way you spin
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Spin for me?

You put your head on my pillow
And you’re fast asleep
And how do I make you
How do I make you
How do I make you
Dream about me?
Dream about me?