Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
1989
Album Summary
Nick of Time is the tenth studio album by the American singer Bonnie Raitt, released on March 21, 1989. It was Raitt's first album to be released by Capitol Records. A commercial breakthrough after years of personal and professional struggles, Nick of Time topped the Billboard 200 chart, selling five million copies, and won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, which was presented to Raitt and producer Don Was. In 2003, the album was ranked number 229 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, then was re-ranked at number 230 on the 2012 list. As of September 2020, it is ranked at number 492. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2022, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
WikipediaI 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nope. Besides the first song all I got was images of pickup trucks and leopard print and a whole lot of meh.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Great album. All songs are worth listening to with a few stand out hits. Amazing voice. Worth having this on vinyl.
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.
Maybe the best sounding album of its kind/era…Bonnie’s voice could ground anything
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.
Love the album, great singing, lyrics and music , haven’t listened in about 30 years but loved returning to it
Excellent album, great singing, great instrumentals. Great all around.
I know of only one Bonnie Raitt song before this and I like this, she's a kween
I grew up listening to this because my parents had this album... not my normal kind of music but I love her voice and there's more than a few catchy songs on this particular album
Nick of Time. What a song. I also like I can’t make you love me but it’s on another album. As far as I’m concerned I’m very excited to delve deeper.
Overall, this album did not disappoint. Highlights are Nick of Time and Love Letter. But I don't think the album has the 'great' factor. Most of it became good background music while I was doing stuff. 4/5 stars.
Very smooth voice. Music is a little smooth jazz/smooth country vibe. Great vocal melodies.
I love her early 70's work, and even most of "Luck Of The Draw". Apparently Bonnie Raitt was going to make an album with Prince before this album, and was even signed to his Paisley Park album before things fell apart. Now THAT'S an album I want to hear. Wondering if THIS should be the Bonnie Raitt album represented on this list. Thinking it's a bit over praised because it won some surprise Grammys. And then I listened to it again, and it makes all the sense in the world why it's here. I still think Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever should have won the Album Of The Year Grammy instead, but this is a great listen.
sonidos agradables y una voz realmente atrapante, que te hace mantener la atención en la totalidad del álbum. fue mi primera escucha tanto del álbum como de bonnie raitt y realmente estoy deseando conocer más de sus trabajos
Surprising that I liked this album. Really catchy. I always considered her "country" in my mind, but she's really bluesy and I dig it. Will listen to more of her. 3.5/5, but rounding up to a 4.
This is an album (tape!) from my childhood. I listened to it so many times... I was singing Have a Heart from memory. The voice, the slide guitar, the lyrics. Bonnie is a blues rock legend for a reason. She gets what it is to be a woman.
Not my usual choice of listening but can appreciate this pop country gem. I give it higher marks for just how influential it is and mainly for the fact that I enjoyed it a lot. It is Christmas Eve Eve today so this was a nice break from my Xmas song play list. I will come back and listen to this again as it seems like a good soundtrack to kicking back in the summer sun
hi- thing called love, have a heart Hey, shut up! Just listen to this album!
A 3 probably. A 4, I love this stuff. Also on this album-cover she's the spitting image of Dom from Mr. Robot but with a sexy, curly 80s haircut.
hi- thing called love, have a heart Hey, shut up! Just listen to this album!
a grown-up album, warm and tender and wise, which opened the floodgates for the next huge wave of her career
I do love Bonnie Raitt, just more of her real blues sound. Appreciate how she needed this commercially, just a little toned down for me and feels very 1980's
I don't enjoy these musical styles at all individually (80s pop, country blues, etc.) but something about this combination really works for me.
Vraiment un bon album Country/Rock, je cmoprend que ca est eu un gros succès lors de la sortie, les musiciens sont incroyables et les arrangements sont vraiment bon. Bonnie Raitt a une très belle voix sur l'album et ne laisse pas ca place. C'est un album a réécouter dans le mood. 4
Thing Called Love. Me ha parecido un poco largo, y eso que no era largo. Aún así, le doy un 4.
Enjoyed this a lot. A lovely voice, some good beats. I do enjoy a bit of lady blues, country rock
Enjoyed this! Nice bit of blues and what a voice. Went down well on a drive back from Devon
There were a lot more genres in this than I expected at first glance. It’s still very much typical female folk/country but there’s also like ZZ Top guitars on one track and some blues rock influences on the others. Overall very nice listen
I love Bonnie Raitt and this album is one I owned when I used to collect records. Love how she went a mellower groove direction here but her signature grit and realness are still very present. She's a wonderful songwriter, a superb guitarist (too often overlooked in the male-dominated world of rock/pop/blues/country guitarists), and a great vocalist. It all comes together so nicely on this album. I remember the success that came to her thanks to this album, and reading about that again makes me happy. So well deserved.
Bonnie Raif’s comeback album is a laidback rock album with strong undercurrents of blues and Americana. The songwriting is strong and the music itself is very of its time, smooth with hints of grit.
I grew up on the singer songwriter sound, and this is pretty top tier as far as that goes. She’s able to cover the 80s powerhouse female while also venturing into the early 90s almost country sound, like Amy Grant. I like this album a lot and think it’s great listening.
Apparently my mom listened to this a lot after I was born. Not only that, Bonnie Raitt was my very first concert as a baby with cotton stuffed in my ears (slept through most of it apparently). Pretty sure that has something to do with how I feel about this album. It's got a comfort food quality for me. Slick af production, catchy songs. That said, still kinda cheesey sounding at times. It's pop-rock-country from 1989 after all. But it has a lot of charm and heart I feel. Or maybe that's just nostalgia. In either case, it's a solid 4 for me. Will listen again.
Thing Called Love. Me ha parecido un poco largo, y eso que no era largo. Aún así, le doy un 4.
Excellent album. A slightly too-80’s production, like a smooth jazz backing band around her great, smoky voice.
Some old 80s vibes. Decent beat but all very similar for the whole album. Not bad to stick one or two in a mix.
cute 80s adult contemporary album it’s basically just 80s pop with a country twist some of the songs felt pretty sexist (both misogyny and misandry) but yeah still fun 7/10
Maybe the production is too slick and of its time but her tender delivery sells the songs so well I can’t help but be charmed. Opening title track has the gem of a lyric “life gets mighty precious, when there’s less of it to waste”.
I love Bonnie but this album sounds very, very much like a stereotypical country/blues album in the 80’s. The guitar didn’t seem to be on fire.
Kinda sounds like Fleetwood Mac, just not as iconic. More folk-country
I thought I did not know this artist. But I know the song 'Have A Heart' from Bonnie Raitt. I like this song a lot. Found a good live version as well. This songs was still pressent in my memories. The live version sound more to how I remeber it, a little bit more raw. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cf3lbnz5sw)
Truly was dreading this but to say I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not above some good "mom rock" and this is a solid album top to bottom.
Alright Bonnie, you go on with your bad self. Some nice 80s ballads in here. I prefer the bluesier tracks on the second half of the album, as the acoustic guitar tracks
Actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Nothing to compare it to though. Couple catchy songs.
Why did I always just assume Bonnie Raitt was a straight up Country singer? This album is way more Blues than Country, though.
Good singing. Raitt is often praised for her vocal interpretation, and I agree with that.
I'm aware OF Bonnie Raitt but can't say I've ever heard her stuff before. Ok yeah, just soft country rock type stuff, nothing mind-blowing but still foot-tappable in places. No real staying power, though - can kinda see why no one remembers it today. 3/5.
Strong 3 stars. Not a bad listen. Her voice is good, and the chords have a little more color than I was expecting from this style
3, it's fine. Not my jam normally but an enjoyable dip into an unfamiliar style.
Poppy county blues. Pretty solid for what it is. Stronger vocally and lyrically than musically though. Pretty consistent and enjoyable throughout save for a couple of the twangier songs. The familiar Have a Heart and the title track are the standouts. Easy to listen to though and a nice change of pace, even if it's not something that I'd normally seek out.
Great voice. Good songwriting. But not a masterpiece... (5/10) FT: A Thing Called Love, Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt is pretty great. Excellent, gritty voice, good songs, well produced. Not something I would listen to often, but enjoyable when I do. 3 stars.
Decidedly, Not. For. Me. Look, I get it. I get why folks dig her thing, but I just...don't. Each song evokes a 90s sitcom intro. Did she have one of her songs used for a sitcom theme song? She must have, right? Personally? A 2 for me. Understanding her overall role in the greater aspect of music? A 3? Sure. A 3.