"Bonnie Raitt" by BONNE RAITT – November 1971 US Debut Album on Warner Brothers Records featuring Willy Murphy of Willie & The Bees with guests Junior Wells, A.C. Reed and Paul Pena (October 2001 UK Reissue in the Warner Remasters CD Series with a Patrick Kraus Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Since I Fell For You..."

 

As a lifetime fan (I'm nearly 64) and for an artist so steeped in the Traditions of the Blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues - I have to admit that our hero's self-titled debut album "Bonnie Raitt" is (in the main) something of a disarmingly ordinary affair. 

 

It was an import in Blighty and Ireland originally - in fact, the UK wouldn't see a Vinyl issue of "Bonnie Raitt" until June 1976 when WEA finally gave it a release on the Warner Brothers Kinney Series K 56255 (her second and third studio LPs from 1972 and 1973 "Give It Up" and "Takin' My Time" were also issued in June 1976 in the UK in that series).

 

Sure, as you would expect from a class act like her, there are moments on 'BR' - the fantastic Harmonica chug provided by Junior Wells in "Finest Lovin' Man" accompanied by her slide acoustic and cool piano fills by Willie Murphy of Willie & The Bees - plus a brilliant unplugged-type cover of Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues" where she trashes the slide with sexy abandon with Junior Wells on Harmonica and Peter Bell hand-slapping the Ham Bones. "Since I Fell For You" is tasty too. But as an overall groove or an opening statement, 'BR' underwhelms more than it uplifts (a four-star affair). 

 

Still, at least this Warner Remasters CD Reissue Series from 2001 sounds better than my battered American Tan Label vinyl LP copy. Here are the heartbreaks and dangers, dead ahead baby...

US released August 2001 - "Bonnie Raitt" by BONNIE RAITT on Warner Brothers/Rhino R2 783277 (Barcode 081227837723) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster in the Warner Remasters Series (the UK CD reissue is Warner Brothers 8122-78377-2 - Barcode 081227837723) that plays out as follows (37:44 minutes): 

1. Bluebird Revisited [Side 1]

2. I'm A Mighty Tight Woman 

3. Thank You 

4. Finest Lovin' Man 

5. Any Day Woman 

6. Big Road [Side 2]

7. Walking Blues 

8. Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead 

9. Since I Fell For You 

10. I Ain't Blue 

11. Women Be Wise 

Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Bonnie Raitt" - released November 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1953 (eventually issued June 1976 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56255). Produced by WILLIE MURPHY (recorded August 1971) - it didn't chart. 

MUSICIANS: 

BONNIE RAITT - Lead Vocals, Acoustic and Slide Guitar 

PETER BELL - Electric Guitar 

WILLIE MURPHY (of Willie & The Bumblebees) - Piano 

A.C. REED - Tenor Sax - DOUGLAS "Toad" SPURGEON - Trombone

JUNIOR WELLS - Harmonica 

FREEBO - Fretless Bass 

 

The Bumblebees: 

Russell Hagen - Electric Guitar 

Steven Bradley - Drums 

Voyle Harris - Trumpet 

Maurice Jacox - Baritone Sax and Flute 

Eugene Hoffman - Tenor Sax (Tracks 4, 8 and 9) and Cowbell (Track 1)

John Beach - Piano (Tracks 2 and 10)

Paul Pena - Bass Vocals only on "Bluebird"

Reeve Little - Backing Vocals on "Bluebird"

Chris Rhodes - Backing Vocals on "Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead"

The 8-page inlay is a basic affair offering only the original LP's liner notes, a center black and white photo of her fifteen-or-so-strong musical crew and some reissue credits - GREGG GELLER for the Warner Remasters Series with PATRICK KRAUS carrying out the actual Remaster from original tapes. This CD sounds great - daintiness in the piano notes and drum shuffles for "Any Day Woman" - her slide playing up in the mix of "Walking Blues" - all tasty. To the tunes... 

Her debut album opens with "Bluebird" - a cover of the Stephen Stills song on the second Buffalo Springfield album from October 1967 originally on Atco Records ("Buffalo Springfield Again"). It features A.C. Reed, brother of the legendary Blues Shouter Jimmy Reed playing Tenor Sax with deep 'Bass' vocals from Paul Pena towards he end that practically makes the funky little number. Warner Bros tried it in January 1972 as her debut US 45-single with Side 2's finisher "Women Be Wise" on the flipside - but Warner Brothers WB 7554 didn't make too many waves and that was it as far as 7" singles went for the BR album. 

 

Bonnie delves back into the Blues for her version of "I'm A Mighty Tight Woman" by Sippie Wallace, but it's only OK to me. Prettier is the first of two originals - a taught-me-how-to-love-you sweetheart melody called "Thank You" - the tune unfortunately a little let down by weedy Flute and Trombone playing. The album then offers up what has to be the first of its two best Bluesy-Funk crackers - her own "Finest Lovin' Woman" - Junior Wells giving it some on the slinky Harmonica while Willie Murphy pinkers on the old Johanna to great effect. I'm not so convinced by the Dixieland Jug Band approach to the Tommy Johnson tune "Big Road" – but I love her frantic cover of the Robert Johnson classic "Walking Shoes" – feel like blowing my lonesome horn. Junior Wells plays an absolute blinder on Harmonica warbling in the left speaker while Bonnie attacks a Slide Acoustic like her life depends on it. Great stuff. 

 

She goes back to Motown in July 1965 for a brassy Seventies Blues and R&B cover of The Marvelettes "Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead" (Tamla 54120), but I prefer the softer and pretty Buddy Johnson song "Since I Feel For You" - a late-night on the dancefloor shuffler that let's her stretch out vocally - misery and pain sounding enticing and not dicing. "Spider" John Koerner and Willie Murphy had done "I Ain't Blue" on their June 1969 cult Elektra Records LP "Running Jumping Standing Still" - Bonnie keeping it simple with Acoustic, Flute and Fretless Bass - each instrument in-yer-face with a very clear Remaster. The record ends on another Sippie Wallace cover - "Women Be Wise" - John Beach on Piano - but it feels like an anti-climax to an album that is just too sedate for its own good.

 

Her May 1972 "Give It Up" and November 1973 "Takin' My Time" LPs would improve and refine her Blues Rock with Soul formula better, but if you want a sweet sounding start to her extraordinary career - this Warner Remasters CD is the wise choice...