Search - Bonnie Raitt :: Takin' My Time

Third album is a classic

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 05/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A decade and a half before Bonnie captured the public imagination with her 1989 album, Nick of time, she was already building a solid reputation with her blend of blues, rock and folk music, of which this album is a fine example although the blues are the dominant influence here. It may not have been what mainstream commercial radio stations were looking for at the time but, like Bonnie's other early albums, continues to sell steadily while many bigger-selling artists of the time are now represented only by greatest hits compilations.



One reason why Bonnie's music stands the test of time so well is her uncanny ability to pick great songs that suited her outstanding, bluesy voice. Bonnie was also able to persuade some of the finest musicians of the day to play on her albums. On this album, the musicians include members of Little Feat (Lowell George among them), Taj Mahal and the brilliant saxophonist, Ernie Watts.



The set opens with You've been in love too long, a cover of a brilliant but relatively unknown Motown song that Barbara Acklin and Martha Reeves recorded. Bonnie doesn't usually cover Motown but her choice here is impeccable. More predictably, Bonnie covers songs written by some of the finest blues and rock songwriters such as Mose Allison (Everybody's crying mercy), Eric Kaz (Cry like a rainstorm), Jackson Browne (I thought I was a child), Fred McDowell (Write me a few of your lines / Kokomo blues) and Randy Newman (Guilty).



Maybe this isn't the place to begin a collection of Bonnie's music but it should be a high priority if you are interested in collecting at least some of her original albums."

My all-time fav from Bonnie

Annie Fite | Gilroy, CA United States | 12/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up listening to this classic from Bonnie Raitt. My mom played the album so many times, the words are imbedded in my memory. Now I own the cd and can't thank my mom enough for turning me into a huge Bonnie Raitt fan!

Most of these songs bring me to a deeper, bluesy place. I usually choose to listen to this cd when I need to slow down, get a little perspective, and can enjoy a good glass of wine.



It's a must-have for any blues music lover!"