The 10 Best Bonnie Raitt Songs of All-Time

Bonnie Raitt

My personal music tastes tend to lean towards female musicians such as Mariah Carey, Sade, and Aretha Franklin. That doesn’t mean that I don’t like male singers because I have always loved listening to Bob Dylan and the likes of Hank Williams. However, I often forget about Bonnie Raitt, who also happens to be my mom’s favorite female singer. For this reason, my family has a massive connection to her music. Her root-influenced albums of the 1970s, which featured some blues elements are some of the best music I have heard in my life. Her album, Nick of Time, is a timeless classic that we enjoy to this day. If you love Bonnie Raitt, you will definitely enjoy our list of her ten best songs.

10. I’m In the Mood

The number ten song on our list of the best Bonnie Raitt songs is a duet that she did alongside John Lee Hooker. According to Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt had been performing the song way before they did a duet. The duo later recorded this song in a dimly lit studio, which Bonnie Raitt described as the most erotic experience of her life. The duet was quite impressive, earning Bonnie Raitt a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Blues Recording in 1989.

9. Too Long at the Fair

“Too Long at the Fair” is a song that is deeply moving and quite reflective. “Too Long at the Fair” is the sixth song from her 1972 album, Give It Up, and it is about someone who reacts with regrets and is now ready to settle for less. If you want a soulful song that will give you a sense of direction anytime you are struggling with life, “Too Long at the Fair” will do just that.

8. Love Sneakin’ Up on You

“Love Sneakin” Up on You” is a funky song that features a guitar solo by Bonnie Raitt that will remind you of Eric Clapton. The song was a massive commercial success in Canada, where it topped the charts for three consecutive weeks. The song peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also managed to chart in the UK and Germany. The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Rock Performance.

7. Angel from Montgomery

This song was initially written and recorded by John Prine in 1971. However, it wasn’t until Bonnie Raitt did a cover of the song that it gained widespread recognition. The two have performed the song over the years, and it was John Prine’s most beloved ballad before his death due to Covid-19 complications in 2020. Although the original song was quite incredible, there was no doubt that Bonnie Raitt sang the best version and made it famous.

6. Not the Only One

Coming in at number six in our countdown of the top ten Bonnie Raitt songs is the classic song from her 1991 album, Lucky of the Draw. The song features fantastic lyrics and fantastic guitar work as well. The song also contains some catchy melodies and exceptional instrumentation that complement Bonnie Raitt’s vocals perfectly. “Not the Only One” topped Canada’s Adults Contemporary Charts and reached position 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

5. Nick of Time

According to Bonnie Raitt, the inspiration behind this song was a fiend’s heartbreaking experience at running out of time to have a child. The song also features lines such as, “I see my folks getting on and I watch their bodies change,” which was her seeing his father aging and becoming vulnerable. In another verse, she sings, “No matter what you tell yourself, it’s what we all go through,” meaning that despite all her thoughts and self-talk, we are all bound to get old, and it is something that we cannot avoid.

4. Thing Called Love

The number four song on our countdown of the top ten Bonnie Raitt songs features a flirty video Bonnie Raitt did with Dennis Quaid. In the video, Dennis Quaid acts as Bonnie Raitt’s boyfriend, something which Bonnie Raitt was quite comfortable with since they were already friends. The song is quite fun, and you will absolutely love how she struts her electric guitar.

3. Something to Talk About

“Something to Talk About” was written by Shirley Eikhard and later recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1990. The song was initially supposed to be recorded by Anne Murray, but her producers never thought it would succeed. As it turned out, Bonnie’s version was quite brilliant and won her a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, beating the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The song was also quite popular on radio in the US and across Canada. The track peaked at position five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart.

2. Have a Heart

“Have a Heart” is the seventh song from Bonnie Raitt’s hit album, Nick of Time. Like most of the songs in the album, “Have a Heart” is such a smooth and groovy track that you would listen to on one of your long drives to the countryside. Along with the number one song on our list, “Have a Heart” is widely considered as one of Bonnie Raitt’s greatest songs.

1. I Can’t Make You Love Me

The top song on our list of the greatest Bonnie Raitt hits of all time is the third song from his Grammy Award-winning album, Luck of the Draw (1991). The track is arguably Bonnie Raitt’s most successful single, with the lyrics written from the perspective of someone experiencing one-sided love. The song was recorded in just one take in the studio, with Bonnie Raitt saying that she could never recapture the emotion. The song has entered many lists of the greatest songs ever, and it is Bonnie Raitt’s best song.

You can also read:

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.