Bonnie Raitt - The Best of Bonnie Raitt on Capitol 1989-2003

The Best of Bonnie Raitt on Capitol 1989-2003, its 18 tracks handpicked by the artist herself as a portrait of her renaissance years, are indicative of the high-quality work ethic she has imposed on herself. Sometimes these songs reveal the queen doing a definitive read, such as on John Hiatt's "Lovers Will" (a song that deserves far, far more than it got -- the ache in her voice is the real grain of somebody who has been on both sides of love's hot broken arrow and still has faith enough to sing) or "Thing Called Love." Sometimes she's bringing the songs of Paul Brady ("Not the Only One"), Bonnie Hayes ("Love Letter" and "Have a Heart"), or even David Gray ("Silver Lining") and Richard Thompson ("Dimming of the Day") to the masses in ways that define them for a different audience. And sometimes, it's simply Raitt playing her own songs ("Nick of Time" and "Spit of Love") 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. There aren't any unreleased tracks here, but for the money you get the best of the best and her own comments on each song as well as a short essay about what this music means to her. Given that you don't have that box set (yet), that means this is worth whatever you happen to pay for it -- but don't forget about getting some of those Warner albums (Give It Up is a great place to start). Here is the astonishing range, from deep blue-eyed bluesy soul, sheeny reggae-tinged pop, and adult rock & roll that moves and inspires anyone with an open mind. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Light Liner Notes Alex Acuña Talking Drum, Conga Andrew Scheps Drum Loop Andy Abad Guitar Ann Cutting Photography Arnold McCuller Vocals (Background) Arthur Adams Guitar B.S. Bull Trumpet Benmont Tench Piano, Organ (Hammond) Bernard Fowler Vocals (Background) Bill Bergman Sax (Alto) Bob Jr. Thiele Synthesizer Accordian, Arranger Bob Ludwig Mastering Bonnie Raitt Guitar (Electric), Piano, Organ Arrangement, Vocals (Background), Producer, Vocals, Slide Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Horn Arrangements Bruce Hornsby Keyboards Buell Neidlinger Bass (Acoustic) Claire Lewis Assistant Craig Conard Assistant Curt Bisquera Drums Dana Tynan Photography Darrell Leonard Trumpet David Lasley Vocals (Background) Debra Dobkin Percussion Dennis Farias Trumpet Don Was Producer Ed Cherney Engineer, Mixing Gary Gold Drums (Snare), Drum Loop George Marinelli Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric) Greg "Frosty" Smith Sax (Baritone) Heart Attack Horns ? Jacqui Blake Assistant, Digital Editing, Pro-Tools James "Hutch" Hutchinson Bass Jeff Scott Young Gut String Guitar Jimmy Roberts Saxophone Joe Sublett Sax (Tenor) Joey Spampinato Bass John Berry, Jr. Trumpet John Paterno Overdub Engineer Johnny Lee Schell Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals Jon Cleary Vocals (Background), Keyboards Mark Goldenberg Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Oud Marlene Rosenberg Photography Marty Grebb Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) Michael Landau Guitar Mitchell Froom Clavinet, Harmonium, Moog Bass, Reed Organ, Marxophone, Keyboards, Producer, Piano, Moog Synthesizer Nick Lane Euphonium, Trombone Norman Moore Design, Art Direction Paul Brady Vocals (Background), Gut String Guitar Paulinho Da Costa Percussion, Conga Pete Thomas Percussion, Drums Renee Geyer Vocals (Background) Richard Thompson Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Ricky Fataar Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background) Roy Rogers Slide Guitar Scott Thurston Keyboards Sir Harry Bowens Vocals (Background) Stephen Bruton Guitar (Acoustic) Steve Berlin Sax (Baritone) Steve Donnelly Guitar (Rhythm) Sweet Pea Atkinson Vocals (Background) Tchad Blake Producer, Mixing, Engineer Texicali Horns ? Tommy Sims Vocals (Background) Tony Braunagel Timbales, Drums, Percussion