Silver Lining

Bonnie Raitt

Reviewed by Todd Obermire

As I opened up Bonnie’s 16th release, I suddenly realized I was more excited about getting this CD than I was a few weeks ago when my tax refund came in the mail! If you can relate to that kind of obsession with Raitt’s music, then you are going to love this CD.

Produced by Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom, who also produced 1998’s Fundamental”, this CD takes you through many different styles of music and moods, which is something I have always loved about Bonnie’s albums. If you enjoy many different styles of blues mixed with sounds of the Big Easy, Funk, a little Caribbean tossed in for good measure, then hop on board and hang on baby! Of course Bonnie’s wicked slide guitar is always on the menu.

The interesting mix of song styles is attributed to the 15 guest artists and 5 guest vocalists who grace this release, in addition to her “house band” consisting of Hutch “The Touch” Hutchinson on bass, Ricky Fataar on drums, George Marinelli on guitar and the most recent addition of Jon Cleary on keyboards. I saw Jon with Bonnie’s band back in September at the Puyallup Fair show and was impressed with his playing ability, which captured some of the early Littlefeat style of Billy Payne.

Bonnie wrote or co-wrote 3 of the 12 songs on Silver Lining. The title track is a David Grey song, which is also on his 1999 release White Ladder. The CD jumps in headfirst with Track one - Fools Game, which has that Big Easy, Littlefeat groove to it. No Getting Over You, also continues the feel, with Bonnie and her incredible custom National Slide Guitar. I Can’t Help You Now was the first single released prior to the albums release date and is getting a lot of airplay locally. Bluesman Roy Rogers co-wrote and plays slide on Gnawin’ on it, which is a nasty, hot blues number. With lyrics like - “I got to get off early, I just got to get you home, Gonna show you, little woman, why a dog loves a bone”, Bonnie is indeed in her element, and loving every minute of it.

Other notable songs are the Motown-inspired Time of Our Lives, and Monkey Business, written by Keyboardist Jon Cleary. This one lays down the funk the way only Bonnie can do it. Then Bonnie takes you through two gospel-inspired numbers, Valley of Pain and Hear Me Lord. Habib Koite and Bamada lend some very interesting sounds to the acoustic mix of Back Around.

This is one of those releases that will quickly become a favorite. It is very obvious that Bonnie had a lot of fun putting this one out. She will be touring this summer and will be at the Chateau St. Michelle Winery in Woodinville on June 15th , 2002. Tickets go on sale on May 4th at Ticketmaster Outlets.