We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…….
A cabin at an empty summer camp on an island in Lake Minnetonka in suburban Minneapolis may seem like an odd site to record an album. But that is where 21 year old Bonnie Raitt laid down her debut LP which was released in 1971. The self titled LP featured the young singer-guitarist doing a number of interesting and eclectic covers along with a couple of solid originals.
The album was recorded live on four tracks which gives it that organic feeling you can never get with numerous overdubs and other engineering trickery.
The covers ranged wide…from Bluebird (a Steve Stills tune via Buffalo Springfield) to a fine Marvelettes song called “Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead” to the Lenny Welch hit “Since I Fell For You” to some classic blues songs from Robert Johnson and Sippie Wallace.
One of the originals stood out for me…called “Finest Lovin Man” which features Junior Wells on harmonica. Wells can be heard on a couple of others too.
The critics were kind even if the record didn’t sell much. Robert Christgau called it “an adult repertoire that rocks with a steady roll”. It is still a mystery why it took until 1989 for Raitt to be discovered by the masses. Her LPs through the 70’s and 80’s are filled with fine performances buoyed by that fantastic voice…that outstanding slide guitar…and her ability to pick great songs that will surprise and delight you.
If you have only heard Bonnie from “Nick of Time” onward this funky, stripped down debut will be a revelation on one of the great women of rock & roll. Enjoy!
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