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When it comes to The Stone Poneys, Ronstadt’s first major foray into the music world, there is no denying that all of the elements were in place for a great folk band. Ronstadt sounds great next to the skill of Robert Kimmel and Ken Edwards.  And, luckily and thankfully, The Stone Poneys first two albums are preserved together on this single-disc, 27-song compilation.

Often, The Stone Poneys are brushed aside in the annals of folk music as simply the first band that helped launch Ronstadt as a star, sort of like The Faces, which launched the careers of Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) and Rod Stewart. But, The Stone Poneys demand and deserve to be listened to and respected. Their 1960s sound is pure and folksy to the core. At times they feel like Jefferson Airplane and Joan Baez were put together, maybe even throw in a splash of Peter, Paul & Mary.

Be it Sweet Summer Blue and Gold or Bicycle Song (Soon Now), the Poneys really knew how to sound whispy and prescient in the same breath. One of the highlights of the entire collection is Orion, which expertly showcases Ronstadt’s vocal capability and the truly inspired and powerful lyrics of this socially conscious band.

The 27 songs have nearly everything from the Poneys’ catalogue: December Dream, Autumn Afternoon, Different Drum, One for One and New Hard Times. Undoubtedly, the most famous song is Different Drum, which was the Poneys’ biggest hit.

If you want to become a hippie again, check this compilation out.