Nick Of Time

I don’t Raitt it

Wow…Three one-star albums in a row. I’ve completed my first one-star hat trick. I don’t know what to say…it’s all so much… [wipes the tiniest tear from the corner of his eye] I couldn’t have done it without you, Bonnie Raitt: The late 80’s production sheen and synthetics are laid on so thick on this record, that you’ve left me with no choice but to achieve this impressive feat. I’d also like to thank U2 and their truly terrible 2000 record, “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” for yesterday’s one star experience. To Anthrax: I probably should have given Among the Living two stars because I like you guys on a personal level…I really, really like you (just not your music), but without that first one star record to get the ball rolling, we wouldn’t be here today. Finally, I’d like to thank the Academy, my agent, my business manager - whazzzup Pete - along with my lovely wife and non-existent kids. I couldn’t have done it without all of your support. Good luck to you all, one day it could be you up here talking about the terrible records you’ve been subjected to. This place…*this* is where we find hope, where wings take dream. God bless you all and long live the Michelin Man.

This is a fake album. I refuse to believe this existed yesterday. The project known as "1001 Albums Generator" is a rogue AI that has altered the fabric of existence to add this album into our timeline. There is nobody by the name of "Bonnie Raitt", it's the Berenstoin Bears and Mandela is actually still alive. Two out of five. "Love Letter" was cool.

Does the word "groundbreaking" have an antonym?

Yay, a woman finally! I haven't listened to this one in a long, long time and it was wonderful to listen to it again. I love her voice, love her music. (Also, her hair. My god that HAIR!) Favorite tracks: Thing Called Love, Cry On My Shoulder, Nobody's Girl, I Will Not Be Denied, and I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again.

I liked the radio playlist that Spotify created after this

I really didn't need to revisit this. where i grew up this was everywhere. this was every car pool ride to school. every soccer practice, whatever. i guess it's fine by normal person standards but fuck this album tbh

Nope. Besides the first song all I got was images of pickup trucks and leopard print and a whole lot of meh.

Genre: Pop Rock 2/5 In what was supposedly a return to form, as well as a triumphant return to pop stardom, Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time is certainly an album of music that makes noise. Assumedly picked for this book because of its chart-topping success and long list of accolades and nominations, Nick of Time does absolutely nothing new for the genre and almost absolutely nothing for me. Its overall blandess is too hard to ignore, but it has a charm to it that's also hard to ignore, and hard to fault the album for. From its title track and intro straight through to the end, we're gifted with just over 40 minutes of a lot of the same sounds, themes, and instrumentation. Well-produced and arranged, though, filling the mix with all of the bland textures they could possibly find, culminating in a very by-the-book, easy-to-listen-to rock album. Bonnie Raitt's vocals are just fine too, neither adding or detracting from the overall experience, but all together this album just doesn't do very much at all. Totally inoffensive, and very sweet and innocent, but non-essential.

Really a brilliant lyricist in this genre. Traditional without being cliched. There's a blend of strength and vulnerability in the sensibility of the writing. The music doesn't stand out so much as the writing but it's all rock solid.

This has to be the kind of album "you had to be there" to appreciate. There's nothing here that makes it set itself apart from anything that ever was and has been since. Do we, in the year of our lord 2024, really need to hear this before we die? Probably not. Key tracks: Nick of Time

Wise man once described this as aiming for mediocrity and falling way short. Bland, corny nonsense that was too painful to sit the whole way through.

The kimono, divorced housewife energy of this album is unmatched.

About halfway through Have A Heart I said to myself, out loud ‘This is really fucking boring.’ I think the printers screwed up the title of the last song, surely it’s called Middle Of The Road’s My Name? This is non revolutionary music of the highest order, because it’s not revolutionary in it’s music, which is backwards looking and safe, in it’s lyrics, which are simple and unremarkable, and in it’s topics, which are love and heartbreak all wrapped in a neat, socially conservative, little package. The small c conservatism of this album really pissed me off, it’s all about reaching middle age and thinking that you need to find a ‘real man’ to settle down with, having a baby just in the ‘nick of time.’ Even the potentially pro independent woman title of Nobody’s Girl is ruined by a song that’s actually about a man and how the titular character wouldn’t be ‘nobody’s girl’ wouldn’t get ‘upset over the least little thing,’ wouldn’t be ‘fragile like a string of pearls’ if she were to just let herself be loved by this random guy. But we never hear anything from the other woman’s perspective at all, it’s all just the narrator’s interpretation, the projection of their own feelings. I kinda wanted to like this. I saw how low the rating was, the underdog rooting part of my brain lit up, and really, I’m a sucker for vulnerable women singing about their vulnerabilities. But Nick Of Time is much less musically interesting than a lot of those sorts of artists that I love, and is presented with this political stand point that I do not understand at all. It’s presented with a veneer of Pop-Rock sensibility, but this is a Country album, and a Country album of the self-righteous, reactionary kind that ruins the genre for so many people. ‘A friend of mine, she cries at night.’ After listening to this album, I completely understand why

All the charm of the demo button on a 1980s casio keyboard. Lyrics were also kinda shit but she did have magnificent pipes.

Most amazing album, my mom played it for us growing up. Danced to have a heart with my mom at my wedding <3

Never heard this before, but if I had it would have been on a tape in my mum’s car

Favourite track:

this shit put me to sleep (derogatory)

Elevator music. The sort that's only bearable if you're going to the second floor. Very corny lyrics as well. *This* won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year? Seriously? Seems to only show one thing: the late eighties were a very bad time for *good* pop music. Bland songwriting all around (with nine covers out of eleven tracks, you could at least choose songs that are better than this), cheesy or hackneyed instrumentation, professional but soulless performances... There's nothing to save this utter debacle, not even Bonnie Raitt's more than competent singing. Oh, the fake reggae shenanigans of "Have A Heart" are somewhat refreshing at some point, at least compared to the blandness that's before and after it (and probably helped a lot in the album's commercial success thanks to the song's promotion on MTV). But that's the only positive thing I can say about *any* of those lame songs. About the larger context about this record, the whole story about Raitt going through a rough patch, both personally and professionally, before finding unexpected success with this album, doesn't change anything about my assessment up there. I'm happy for Raitt, she looks like a nice person, and probably deserved to be cut some slack as an competent artist who had already worked long in the business. But that sort of "storytelling" has nothing to do with the music itself. When you read that raving retrospective review Pitchfork gave about the album, it's just appalling. 80% of it is about that story, not the music itself. This is *not* how you should assess the quality or flaws of a record. Context is important, but never to that point. Between 2012 and 2020, this album went from number 230 to 492 in Rolling Stones' list of 500 greatest albums of all time. You can bet your cowboy boots it will be out of that list in subsequent versions of it, probably the next one if its editors have a shred of good sense left in their minds. And I hope it goes out of Dimery's list soon as well. You just *can't* have so many glaring omisions in the 1001 albums book to make room for such a bad record instead. Number of albums left to review: 749 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 124 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 62 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 66 (including this one)

So eighties you can smell the hairspray. Trapped somewhere between country and Bonnie Tylers hair. Not sure how it made it out of the sports bars, karaoke lounges and the pool houses of the mid west. Though having lived through this era I’m pretty sure it didn’t cross the Atlantic. Elevator music at worst, pedestrian at best. However, mostly harmless.

What a lovely blend of styles, speeds, and sounds. Bonnie sounds great across the board.

Is it pop or is it blues? A little country and gospel maybe? A touch of MTV? Yep. All that and a bag of chips. Raitt's 1989 album Nick of Time is a stylistic mélange that exemplifies where the blues were in the 80s. At the same time, it plays well today as an example of Raitt's exquisite songwriting and selection. The mid-to late 80s showed a revival in roots music and blues especially. This was the era of Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Cray, and, of course, Bonnie Raitt. Some, like Vaughn, were pure blues. Raitt, Cray, and others fused traditional blues with 80s pop, creating a new form of pop blues. Nick of Time is one of the best examples of that sound - classic blues guitar mixed with synths and slick production. Without Nick of Time, you don't have Tedeschi Trucks. Without Raitt, Cray, and a few others, blues may have just died out and become a legacy style like ragtime or swing.

Grata sorpresa, no conocía ni a la artista ni sus canciones. En el primer tema casi me siento en una sala de espera médica, pero de ahí en adelante no hace más que mejorar. Y además en diversos ritmos, todos muy bien interpretados. Hermoso descubrimiento

Hadn’t listened to this album in a decade. It’s still amazing!

10/5…just saw her last week. Been in love with her and her music since ‘74. She plays a mean slide guitar and is ranked 86th in top 100 guitarists. She is only female to have her own Stratocaster “ The Bonnie Raitt” Stratocaster. Fantastic musician and this album is one of her very best..depends on who what what you like musically, but she is #2 on my list.

One of the best ever. Great songs, fantastic singer/songwriter.

I love when the records I own on physical media pop up. I'm happy to listen to them, especially if I haven't in a while. Bonnie Raitt is pretty much an instant fives stars from me because I'm just a fan. Sometimes that's enough.

Great album -- I'd be happy to listen to this anytime.

Loved it!!

One of my favorite albums

So good

I had this when it came out and loved it. Five Stars all the way. She won a cart full of grammy's.

fantastic album, great rock and roll.

Excellent album, great singing, great instrumentals. Great all around.

Love the album, great singing, lyrics and music , haven’t listened in about 30 years but loved returning to it

You know that friend you haven’t seen in years but when you finally do, you both pick up the conversation exactly where you left off? This album is that friend. This album is like an expertly prepared meal of all your favorite dishes...familiar but delicious...nobody knew at the time, but this wouldn’t even be the best album of Bonnie’s second act. Indispensable.

Maybe the best sounding album of its kind/era…Bonnie’s voice could ground anything

I've never really been a Bonnie Raitt fan, but this is a great album.

Oh an album I owned and enjoyed when it came out! I haven’t listened to the album in a very long time. Loving the big hits, but this album also has a lot of depth beyond the hits. Really a great album. Listened to it a couple of times and love it from beginning to end.

Great album. All songs are worth listening to with a few stand out hits. Amazing voice. Worth having this on vinyl.

Bonnie Raitt is one of those artists who I have long respected, yet always seem to forget to reach for when I’m in the mood for some quality female-led blues rock. After listening to this, I played her first two albums and found them to be outstanding. She has earned her reputation and accolades.

Nick of Time I actually listened to this not that long ago, along with quite a few of her earlier albums, after accidentally watching one of her gigs on BBC2, having only really previously known a few of her songs via an uncle of mine who was a huge fan. She really does have a fantastic voice, I love her tone and phrasing, she can lean into a bluesy rasp or go more tender and delicate. This album is a funny one though, she sings brilliantly and many of the songs are at the very least decent, but the Don Was production is so, so dated. It’s got that precise, professionally smooth, middle of the road, edgeless sound, augmented by some stylistically horrible synths and electric pianos. Love Letter is probably the worst culprit, but it’s almost so cheesy it comes back out the other side and I almost think it sounds good. Ultimately it doesn’t escape the feel of a band you’d hear playing in a dive bar in an 80s movie, like Jeff Healy in Road House. Sometimes though the songs do push the production though, Nick of Time is excellent, probably the stand out track, Thing Called Love is a catchy if pretty rote bit of 80s blues rock, Cry on My Shoulder has a superb vocal and nice melody. Nobody’s Girl (not that one unfortunately) benefits from the acoustic only backing, showcasing her voice. Have a Heart is decently cheesy, like the end credits song of another 80s movie. After that it kind of drifts off, neither terrible nor too remarkable, to the end, apart from picking up with the nicely forlorn I Ain’t Going to Let You Break My Heart. If you are after a cheese adjacent late 80s adult MOR blues rock album then this is a supreme example. In the context of her first few albums and how good her voice is though it is hard to escape the feeling that it's all rather insubstantial. However the flip side of that is that it is also decently inoffensive, and in the right mood I’d stick it on again, which lands it as a 3 in my book. 🕰️🕰️🕰️ Playlist submission: Nick of Time

Let's stop shitting on Bonnie Raitt and start respecting the fact that she had the guts to combine country with crappy 80s synthpop, and to do it all 20 years past her prime, too. Truly praiseworthy. I salute your terrible decision-making, Bonnie 🫡

Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time is celebrated as a career-defining triumph, the album that finally gave her mainstream success after years of critical respect but commercial struggle. It won Album of the Year at the Grammys, went 5× platinum, and is widely regarded as a comeback story for the ages. But if I’m being honest, I struggle to hear what makes this record so special. Raitt’s voice is, without question, fantastic—husky, expressive, and effortlessly cool. She delivers ballads with warmth and belts blues numbers with attitude. That much is undeniable. But great vocals can only do so much when the material itself is, at best, average and, at worst, completely forgettable. The biggest issue? The production. By teaming up with Don Was, Raitt traded in her blues grit for something cleaner, slicker, and ultimately more generic. The late-’80s studio polish—glossy synth pads, reverb-soaked drums, and an almost sterile mix—drains much of the life out of these songs. In theory, a more accessible approach isn’t a bad thing, but here it just flattens the album into something that sounds like background music for a department store. There are only a few tracks that really stand out. The title track, “Nick of Time,” is the clear highlight, with introspective lyrics about aging and change that actually feel personal. “Thing Called Love” has a solid blues-rock swagger, even if it’s a bit neutered by the production. And “I Ain’t Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again” is a well-executed piano ballad that lets Raitt’s vocals shine without unnecessary studio gimmicks. Much of the rest feels like a wash of bland, middle-of-the-road soft rock that never leaves much of an impression. I get why Nick of Time was a big deal in 1989—it gave Raitt a much-deserved moment in the spotlight and introduced her to a wider audience. But as an album, it’s painfully safe, sonically dated, and only occasionally engaging. Bonnie Raitt (and her bank manager) might not have cared given the results but if this is the record that got her mainstream success, then I can’t help but think it came at the cost of what made her great in the first place.

Nah.

Radio friendly, low end pop. Don’t see how something as beige as this makes it on to a list that needs to be heard before I die

Ok, 1001 is a lot of albums...it's necessary to have some things like it, I understand. Wikipedia says it's really important, and I'll never get why.

Very little I found enjoyable in this album. From country sounds to generic synth, just seemed to represent the worst of the 80s. Not sure why this is so acclaimed.

Nick of Time is perfectly pleasant, very Magic 105.4. But what follows is a godawful mess of the most hideously produced country it's been my misfortune to hear. The kind of stuff that puts you off country for life. The cod reggae of Have a Heart is a nice break from this. Then back to more of the same. It's not good.

A bit bland for my tastes, despite me usually liking well played AOR. I checked out a few of her earlier albums and it just sounds like this album sanded off all Raitt's rough edges. Too smoooooth.

Je connaissais pas du tout cette dame. Super le fun, il y a des tounes à la Benson, des blues qui groovent, des tounes plus country kitsch qui laissent présager des Shania Twain. Je vais sans doute y revenir.

80's, funky, blues

Awesome

A fabulous album and a long time favouritite

perfect hair, perfect album. The Charli XCX sample of Nick of Time is also excellent and has been my jam for quite some time.

country folk rock, very nice

An old favorite. A lot of these songs hit hard emotionally. I love Bonnie Raitt’s voice, songwriting is unassailable in my opinion: hooky pop tunes with a little country flavor (?). A desert island disc with a lot of subtleties below the surface and super clean production that brings the song into the light.

Always loved this - sentimental 5 out of 5

Pardon me, Bonnie. I was not familiar with your game. This was AMAZING

I simply couldn't find any flaws 5 stars. Very high quality music!

Countryrock van een dame die weet wat ze wil. Ik ben een fan van het album The luck of the draw, maar ja, die staat natuurlijk weer niet in de lijst. Dus dan deze maar. Ik mis de hits van de andere plaat, maar verder ligt het niveau hoog, en waarom zou ik niet eens gul zijn voor zulke tijdloze goede muziek.

Now this is an album from a strong woman Great voice brilliant lyrics good music 9.5 out of 10

Brilliant from start to finish. Great songs, well played and expertly sung.

Incredible. I just know the hoedowns in Mississippi were good Real man

Solid album. Not a country music fan but Bonnie transcends the genre with her outstanding vocals and guitar playing. I could go for an entire album of tunes like The Road's My Middle Name.

I expected this to be a polarizing album between the soulful balladeers who like sweet lyrics and gentle chords vs the hard screaming junkies who want loud instrument noise with screaming singers of 3 word lyrics for 7 minutes. Album sounds (and is) very dated 80s, but Raitt's smooth tones fit well with the mellow moods. 1001 albums ranking is a joke, but this album is a easy listen and one of the original fusion albums of rock and blues with blues taking the lead. Throw in a little country tones s well and you get 5/5 rating.

Heroine

80s country-rock is a bit cringe, but Bonnie Rait gets five stars just for being so cool.

Also awesome!

lovely

A friend of mine she cries at night

For me (and possibly thanks to VH1), Cash and Raitt are pretty much the only tolerable artists who dabble in the dark arts (i.e. country, folk, and blues). This album has a few forgettable misses, but there's more good than bad, overall.

tremendo album, muy desconocida la doña para mi

She wants a 🗣️Real 🗣️ Man 🗣️

In a year of comeback records, Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time may have become the most forgotten of them all these past few years, which is a pity given how at ease she sounds with the sounds of the time blending in with her patented blues guitar styling. A true to hell and back tale, Nick of Time details the complexities of love hardwon and life hard-lived, for which Bonnie has plenty of experience dealing. This record could stand as a crutch to get through difficulties in effort to ultimately get going again, just like its creator did. Favorites: Nick of Time, Thing Called Love, Love Letter, Cry on My Shoulder, Real Man, Have a Heart, I Will Not Be Denied, I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart.

Such an 80s vibe. But one I like. I think I might give more Bonnie a try.

I know it's a little cheesy and boring at times, but I'm a little cheesy and boring at times.

Very good album that finally got Bonnie Raitt the attention she deserved. More poppy and a little less bluesy than some of her albums, but very well produced with a more modern feel.

I thought she was awesome before and still think so now having heard this. Great blend of blues and pop and an awesome voice. There are a couple of clunkers on here giving it a dated 80's feel in spots but overall I really enjoyed this.

Nice easy going music. Nothing challenging.

For a genre I'm not fond of, this album was great!

I think a lot of people miss what’s special about this album on here. Yeah, the production didn’t age well but Bonnie Raitt at least works as a unique lyricist on familiar song settings an industry filled with cliches.

Solid album start to finish.

Wait this is kind of really good, not quite 5 material, but dam I kinda like this womans vibe

Look at that hai!. No question that Raitt is the real deal.

Fantastic album!

the goat, THE GOAT

A good album, I liked Thing Called Love and Nobody's Girl the most.

I liked this a lot more than i expected to after seeing all of the bad reviews. The lyrics can be corny at times but still such a fun album. Although I might be biased as I love country and country-adjacent music. Top Tracks: Love Letter, Too Soon To Tell, Nick Of Time

Maybe a guilty pleasure...but I'm a Bonnie Raitt fan.

Favorite songs: Thing Called Love, The Road's My Middle Name, Real Man, Love Letter, I Will Not Be Denied, Nobody's Girl Least favorite songs: Cry on My Shoulder 4/5

Bonnie Raitt was very successful. Her album was unable to strike a chord with me. Wolf

Four seriously unbelievable good songs and the rest are a bit sleepy. Bonnie is still the Queen

I’m not the 30-60-year-old-middle-class woman demographic on whose concerns this album focusses (a slightly different group than the subject of her most famous song, “Angel from Montgomery”). But the songs are obviously great — lyrically, musically, and vocally. The songwriting artfully (though narrowly) skirts sappy sentimentality and stereotypes. And Raitt’s vocals and guitar playing are superb. The album holds together as a single work of art. My only reservation is that the album seems overproduced— I’d like to hear these songs as an acoustic set live, without the synthetic drum tracks and vocal backing chorus. I’ll always welcome a Bonnie Raitt song though — so it’s a 4.

23/03/25 I enjoyed this album.

An enjoyable listen. It had a great mix of rock, blues, ballads and country tracks. It sounds very 80s and maybe isn't quite as novel as some of the other albums on here but it has solid songwriting, production and performances front to back.

Good writing, good variety of sound and mood, really good guitar and great vocals. Terrific stuff.

Nick of Time was the tenth studio album from Bonnie Raitt, and her commercial breakthrough after a long run of critically - but not commercially - successful albums. Her rich vocals are the central element of her guitar driven, blues-based rock. The album had successful singles with "Thing Called Love," "Have a Heart," and the title track, and won a handful of Grammys, including Album of the Year. It changed the trajectory of Raitt's career, making her into a star.

4/5. She feels very collected and to the point, not like she is half-hearted in your energy, but more that she is an expert in her craft. And it took me halfway through the album to even question if she wrote these songs or not. They feel so close to her vocal style and tone that she takes command of each song. And it's country but has a general blues sound and even some R&B and funk. I wouldn't say every song is great or for me but it's hard to deny the expertise here. Best Song: Nick Of Time, Real Man, Nobody's Girl