The Stone Poneys were a folk-rock trio formed in Los Angeles, consisting of Bobby Kimmel (rhythm guitar and vocals), the late Kenny Edwards (lead guitar and vocals), and Linda Ronstadt (vocals). Their recordings include Linda Ronstadt's first hit song, a cover of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum". Even at this early stage, Ronstadt was already showcasing her performances of an eclectic mix of songs, often from under-appreciated songwriters, requiring a wide array of backing musicians. Additionally, many of her songs, including "Different Drum" were written by male songwriters and had minimal lyric changes, allowing Linda Ronstadt to toy with gender roles that were in ferment in the 1960s and 1970s.

As a testament to enduring interest in the trio, the band's three albums, The Stone Poneys, Evergreen, Volume 2, and Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. III, were released together as single CDs for the first time in the 1990s in the US (a full 30 years after the music was recorded), with the first two albums reissued in Australia in 2008. Four additional songs from the band's third album could also be found on the Australian reissue.