BONNIE RAITT ~ "STREETLIGHTS"

Original released on LP Warner Bros BS-2818 (US 1974-09)

BONNIE RAITT: Nick Of Time

Original released on LP Capitol C1-91268

(US 1989, March 21)

Prior to "Nick of Time", Bonnie Raitt had been a reliable cult artist, delivering a string of solid records that were moderate successes and usually musically satisfying. From her 1971 debut through 1982's "Green Light", she had a solid streak, but 1986's "Nine Lives" snapped it, falling far short of her usual potential. Therefore, it shouldn't have been a surprise when Raitt decided to craft its follow-up as a major comeback, collaborating with producer Don Was on "Nick of Time". At the time, the pairing seemed a little odd, since he was primarily known for the weird hipster funk of Was (Not Was), but the match turned out to be inspired. Was used Raitt's classic early-'70s records as a blueprint, choosing to update the sound with a smooth, professional production and a batch of excellent contemporary songs. In this context, Raitt flourishes; she never rocks too hard, but there is grit to her singing and playing, even when the surfaces are clean and inviting. And while she only has two original songs here, "Nick of Time" plays like autobiography, which is a testament to the power of the songs, performances, and productions. It was a great comeback album that made for a great story, but the record never would have been a blockbuster success if it wasn't for the music, which is among the finest Raitt ever made. She must have realized this, since "Nick of Time" served as the blueprint for the majority of her '90s albums. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)

BONNIE RAITT Debut Album

Original released on LP Warner Bros WS 1953

(US, November 1971)

Debut album by very young Bonnie Raitt who was fresh as daisy at the time of this recording but knew what she wanted and cherry picked good, strong songs - there are some very good self-penned originals ("Finest Lovin' Man","Thank You") mixed with soulful covers ("Danger Heartbreak Ahead") and her love for older blues tradition clear from the start as she covered two songs from repertoire of her heroine, blues singer Sippie Wallace who was known as "Texas nightingale" in her golden days. What I find particulary attractive here - and it wasn't Raitt's intention - is the way her young self attacks these old blues songs with that young voice,it is actually very endearing to hear that still young girl boasting in "Mighty Tight Woman" and its perfect note by note just funny to hear coming from such young sweet thing. Of course there is nothing fake or posing in Bonnie Raitt, she was dead serious about following any blues mama in that territory but it's like hearing your younger sister channeling to Robert Johnson, you want to hug and kiss her. Music wise, it sounds rough at the places but there is nothing bad with it, it's just that later studio recordings will became more polished and the atmosphere here is of a bunch of friends playing together, which was actually a fact - just look at them on the back cover and it shows. Raitt probably smiles every time she sees this album and I could almost hear her saying «God, I was so young here!» (in RateYourMusic)

DISCOGRAPHY

(Born November 8, 1949, Burbank, CA, United States)

1971-11 LP BONNIE RAITT (US Warner Bros WS 1953): A1. Bluebird; A2. Mighty Tight Woman; A3. Thank You; A4. Finest Lovin’ Man; A5. Any Day Woman; B1. Big Road; B2. Walking Blues; B3. Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead; B4. Since I Fell for You; B5. I Ain’t Blue; B6. Women Be Wise

1972-09 LP GIVE IT UP (US Warner Bros BS 2643): A1. Give It Up or Let Me Go; A2. Nothing Seems to Matter; A3. I Know; A4. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody; A5. Love Me Like a Man; B1. Too Long at the Fair; B2. Under the Falling Sky; B3. You Got to Know How; B4. You Told Me Baby; B5. Love Has No Pride

1973-03-05 LP TAKIN’ MY TIME (US Warner Bros BS 2729): A1. You’ve Been in Love Too Long; A2. I Gave My Love a Candle; A3. Let Me In; A4. Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy; A5. Cry Like a Rainstorm; B1. Wah She Go Do; B2. I Feel the Shame; B3. I Tought I Was a Child; B4. Write Me a Few of Your Lines / Kokomo Blues; B5. Guilty

1974-09 LP STREETLIGHTS (US Warner Bros BS 2818): A1. That Song About the Midway; A2. Rainy Day Man; A3. Angel from Montgomery; A4. I Got Plenty; A5. Streetlights; B1. What Is Success; B2. Ain’t Nobody Home; B3. Everything That Touches You; B4. Got You on My Mind; B5. You Got to Be Ready for Love (If You Wanna Be Mine)

1975 LP HOMEPLATE (US Warner Bros BS 2864): A1. What Do You Want the Boy to Do; A2. Good Enough; A3. Run Like a Thief; A4. Fool Yourself; A5. My First Night Alone Without You; B1. Walk Out the Front Door; B2. Sugar Mama; B3. Pleasin’ Each Other; B4. I’m Blowin’ Away; B5. Your Sweet and Shiny Eyes

1977-04 LP SWEET FORGIVENESS (US Warner Bros BS 2990): A1. About to Make Me Leave Home; A2. Runaway; A3. Two Lives; A4. Louise; A5. Gamblin’ Man; B1. Sweet Forgiveness; B2. My Opening Farewell; B3. Three Time Loser; B4. Takin’ My Time; B5. Home

1979 LP THE GLOW (US Warner Bros HS 3368): A1. I Thank You; A2. Your Good Thing (Is About to End); A3. Standin’ by the Same Old Love; A4. Sleep’s Dark and Silent Gate; A5. The Glow; B1. Bye Bye Baby; B2. The Boy Can’t Help It; B3. (I Could Have Been Your) Best Old Friend; B4. You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming; B5. (Goin’) Wild for You Baby

1982 LP GREEN LIGHT (US Warner Bros BSK 3630): A1. Keep This Heart in Mind; A2. River of Tears; A3. Can’t Get Enough; A4. Willya Wontcha; A5. Let’s Keep It Between Us; B1. Me and the Boys; B2. I Can’t Help Myself; B3. Baby Come Back; B4. Talk to Me; B5. Green Lights

1986 LP NINE LIVES (US Warner Bros 9.25486-1): A1. No Way to Treat a Lady; A2. Runnin’ Back to Me; A3. But a Fool (ThiefInto Paradise); A4. Crime of Passion; A5. All Day, All Night; B1. Stand Up to the Night; B2. Excited; B3. Freezin’ (For a Little Human Love); B4. True Love Is Hard to Find; B5. Angel

1989-03-21 LP NICK OF TIME (US Capitol C1-91268): A1. Nick of Time; A2. Thing Called Love; A3. Love Letter; A4. Cry on My Shoulder; A5. Real Man; A6. Nobody’s Girl; B1. Have a Heart; B2. Too Soon to Tell; B3. I Will Not Be Denied; B4. I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again; B5. The Road’s My Middle Name

1991-06-25 CD LUCK OF THE DRAW (US Capitol C2-96111): 1. Something to Talk About; 2. Good Man, Good Woman; 3. I Can’t Make You Love Me; 4. Tangled and Dark; 5. Come to Me; 6. No Business; 7. One Part Be My Lover; 8. Not the Only One; 9. Papa Come Quick (Jody and Chico); 10. Slow Ride; 11. Luck of the Draw; 12. All at Once

1994-03-22 CD LONGING IN THEIR HEARTS (US Capitol CDP 581427): 1. Love Sneakin’ Up on You; 2. Longing in Their Hearts; 3. You; 4. Cool, Clear Water; 5. Circle Dance; 6. I Sho Do; 7. Dimming of the Day; 8. Feeling of Falling; 9. Steal Your Heart Away; 10. Storm Warning; 11. Hell to Pay; 12. Shadow of Doubt

1995-11 CD ROAD TESTED (LIVE) (US Capitol 7243.8.33705.2.8): 1. Thing Called Love; 2. Something to Talk About; 3. Never Make You Move Too Soon; 4. Shake a Little; 5. Matters of the Heart; 6. Love Me Like a Man; 7. The Kokomo Medley; 8. My Opening Farewell; 9. Dimming of the Day; 10. Longing in Their Hearts; 11. Love Sneakin’ Up on You; 12. Burnin’ Down the House; 13. I Can’t Make You Love Me; 14. I Believe I’m in Love With You; 15. Rock Steady; 16. Angel From Montgomery

1998-04 CD FUNDAMENTAL (US Capitol CDP 7243.8.56397.2.2): 1. The Fundamental Things; 2. Cure for Love; 3. Round & Round; 4. Spit of Love; 5. Lovers Will; 6. Blue for No Reason; 7. Meet Me Halfway; 8. I’m on Your Side; 9. Fearless Love; 10. I Need Love; 11. One Belief Away

2002-04-09 CD SILVER LINING (US Capitol CDP 7243.5.31816.2.8): 1. Fool’s Game; 2. I Can’t Help You Now; 3. Silver Lining; 4. Time of Our Lives; 5. Gnawin’ on It; 6. Monkey Business; 7. Wherever You May Be; 8. Valley of Pain; 9. Hear Me Lord; 10. No Getting’ Over You; 11. Back Around; 12. Wounded Heart

2005-09-13 CD SOULS ALIKE (US Capitol CDP 7243.473.628.2.8): 1. I Will Not Be Broken; 2. God Was in the Water; 3. Love on One Conditon; 4. So Close; 5. Trinkets; 6. Crooked Crown; 7. Unnecessarily Mercenary; 8. I Don’t Want Anything to Change; 9. Deep Water; 10. Two Lights in the Nighttime; 11. The Best I Made

2006-08-15 CD BONNIE RAITT AND FRIENDS (LIVE) (US Capitol 9463.70588.2.4): 1. Introduction; 2. Unnecessarily Mercenary; 3. I Will Not Be Broken; 4. God Was in the Water; 5. Gnawin’ on It; 6. You; 7. Love Letter; 8. Two Lights in the Nighttime; 9. Well, Well, Well; 10. Something to Talk About; 11. I Don’t Want Anything to Change; 12. Love Sneakin’ Up on You

2012-04-10 CD SLIPSTREAM (US Redwing RWR001): 1. I Used to Rule the World; 2. Right Down the Line; 3. Million Miles; 4. You Can’t Fail Me Now; 5. Down to You; 6. Take My Love With You; 7. Not Cause I Wanted To; 8. Ain’t Gonna Let You Go; 9. Marriage Made in Hollywood; 10. Split Decision; 11. Standing in the Doorway; 12. God Only Knows

2016-02-26 CD DIG IN DEEP (US Redwing RWR032): 1. Unintended Consequence of Love; 2. Need You Tonight; 3. I Knew; 4. All Alone With Something to Say; 5. What You’re Doin’ to Me; 6. Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes; 7. Undone; 8. If You Need Somebody; 9. Gypsy in Me; 10. The Comin’ Round Is Going Through; 11. You’ve Changed My Mind; 12. The Ones We Couldn’t Be

BONNIE RAITT: "Give It Up"

Original released on LP Warner Bros BS 2643

(US, August 1972)

Bonnie Raitt may have switched producers for her second album "Give It Up", hiring Michael Cuscuna, but she hasn't switched her style, sticking with the thoroughly engaging blend of folk, blues, R&B, and Californian soft rock. If anything, she's strengthened her formula here, making the divisions between the genres nearly indistinguishable. Take the title track, for instance. It opens with a bluesy acoustic guitar before kicking into a New Orleans brass band about halfway through - and the great thing about it is that Raitt makes the switch sound natural, even inevitable, never forced. And that's just the tip of the iceberg here, since "Give It Up" is filled with great songs, delivered in familiar, yet always surprising, ways by Raitt and her skilled band. For those that want to pigeonhole her as a white blues singer, she delivers the lovely "Nothing Seems to Matter," a gentle mid-tempo number that's as mellow as Linda Ronstadt and far more seductive. That's the key to "Give It Up": Yes, Raitt can be earthy and sexy, but she balances it with an inviting sensuality that makes the record glow. It's all delivered in a fantastic set of originals and covers performed so naturally it's hard to tell them apart and roots music so thoroughly fused that it all sounds original, even when it's possible to spot the individual elements or influences. Raitt would go on to greater chart successes, but she not only had trouble topping this record, generations of singers, from Sheryl Crow to Shelby Lynne, have used this as a touchstone. One of the great Southern California records. (Thomas Erlewine in AllMusic)

Bonnie Is Takin' Her Time

Original released on LP Warner Bros BS 2729

(US 1973, March 5)

This album is an overlooked gem in the catalog of Bonnie Raitt. On "Takin' My Time", she wears her influences proudly in an eclectic musical mix containing blues, jazz, folk, New Orleans R&B, and calypso. Although she did not write her own material for this album, she demonstrates an excellent ear for songs and chooses material from some of the best songwriters of the day. She is a great interpreter, and her renditions of Jackson Browne's "I Thought I Was a Child" and Randy Newman's "Guilty" from this album are the definitive versions of these songs. The highlights of this album are the romantic ballads "I Gave My Love a Candle" and "Cry Like a Rainstorm," where Raitt adds an emotional depth to the performance unusual for such a young woman. (Perhaps that's a result of her spending time with elder statesmen of the blues community such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Sippie Wallace.) Although the faster-paced songs like the calypso "Wah She Go Do" seem a little out of place, the playful tune is welcome among an album filled with the heartache of the slower tunes. Despite being a relative newcomer, Raitt had already earned the respect of her mentors and her peers, as evidenced by the musical contributions of Taj Mahal, and Little Feat members Lowell George and Bill Payne on the album. This is the last consistent album she would make until her comeback in the mid-'80s. (Vik Iyengar in AllMusic)