Bonnie Raitt - Best of (2003)

GREATEST HITS WEEK (JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2015)

Love Bonnie Raitt and had many of her albums in the '80s into the early '90s, mainly on cassette (ed. note: wha??). Why I haven't replaced all those with CDs is a mystery and a damn shame. Be right back - I gotta search for a box set.

Raitt's voice and guitar playing are immediately identifiable. Can't pigeonhole her particular brand of folk-blues-rock-pop, so I won't even try. Raitt released her first album in 1971, but this compilation covers only her "renaissance" period that started in 1989 where she was helped by producer Don Was and a cast of all-star musicians. Add all that to some top-notch songwriting and you've got something fantastic. Tracks 3 & 4 were written by Bonnie Hayes, yes, that Bonnie Hayes. No wonder they're so good. From Allmusic:

...full of a poetic, sensual ferocity that oozes tenderness and commitment. And throughout it all is her trademark bottleneck slide, coaxing love notes or razored snarls out of her Stratocaster.

Excellent liner notes with personal remarks from Raitt on every track. Chronological order. I've marked my favorites below with a ✔.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #47

Tracks:  18 tracks, 17 minutes.

Title	Year	Pop	AC
Thing Called Love	1989			✔
Nick of Time	1989	92	10	✔
Love Letter	1989		35	✔
Have A Heart	1989	49	3	✔
Something to Talk About	1990	5	5	✔
I Can't Make You Love Me	1990	18	6	✔
Not the Only One	1990	34	2	✔
Love Sneakin' Up On You	1994	19	2	✔
You	1994	92	15	✔
Dimming Of The Day	1994			✔
Love Me Like A Man (Live)	1995			✔
Spit Of Love	1998			✔
One Belief Away	1998		15	✔
Lover's Will	1998		23	✔
I Can't Help You Now	2002		15	✔
Gnawin' On It	2002			✔
Silver Lining	2002		21	✔
Hear Me Lord	2002			✔

Missing Top 40 hit: You Got It (#33, 1995).

Issue 577, May 3, 1990

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Green Light (1982)