Bonnie Raitt "Slipstream"

Last of the six female artists posts.  This was donated to the cause by Mr. Kilts.  In Bonnie Raitt's 40-year career, I haven't kept a single promo copy LP or CD by her, much less purchased one.  Won't keep this one as a whole either, but the opening track on the initial spin grabbed my ears and conjured up the possibility of "wow, maybe this will be the one."  Funky, funky song authored by a member of Sea Level (you young jambanders need to know them).  Then track two started...I didn't have a listing in front of me...but once she started singing I realized she had reggaed-up Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down The Line."  Nearly pulled the disc from the player to chuck it onto I-4.  I could die a happy man never hearing that song again for the 927,000,000th time...and a reggae take?  I'm not a musician but even I could get stoned out of my mind and play reggae........not a fan.  Honestly believe it dirtied my judgement of the remainder of the record.  However, I'm sure I'll be one of the very few to say anything negative about it. 

The break gave me a chance to check the album's credits and history in detail.  Two names jumped out at me.  The first was Mike Finnigan, a discovery from the vaults of WPRK in 1978.  He played a mean B-3 and had good vocal chops.  Didn't know at the time he had been on the early Dave Mason records and "CSN" by CS&N.  He hooked up with Mad Rocker fave Les Dudek for a few years, including Black Rose with Les' girlfriend at the time, Cher.  Since then he's played and/or sang with Dan Fogelberg, Joe Cocker and John Hiatt, to drop a few.  The second name to catch my eye was Joe Henry.  Became aware of him in 1990 with his album "Shuffletown" and began my true appreciation of his eclectic musical abilities in 1999 with "Fuse."  Four of the tracks from "Slipstream" were recorded in Henry's home studio, two that he penned and two from the only album I own by Bob Dylan, "Time Out Of Mind."  Henry's work as a producer has become his calling card over the past few years.  If you are like me and drawn to a record due to the production credits, add his name to your list of T-Bone Burnett, Daniel Lanois et al.  Raitt has stated that she may be inclined to release all of the  recording sessions at Mr. Henry's later in the year.  Now that I may keep.

A couple of other highlights contained aural illusions to Little Feat and one song that's tailor-made for Sheryl Crow.  The other standout was this song, performed here by its Texas-born, Nashville-based songwriter...

Raitt's version is just as simple.  A soft atmospheric bed with her plaintive guitar and warm vocals.  Beautiful.

So if you're scoring at home, let's give it three keepers out of twelve.  I know, I'm a hard ass, but the majors don't need my help.  Enough of you will buy this record so I don't have to...