Nick of Time (song)

Last updated

"Nick of Time"
Bonnie Raitt - Nick of Time single.jpg
Single by Bonnie Raitt
from the album Nick of Time
B-side "The Road's My Middle Name"
ReleasedMay 19, 1990 (1990-05-19)
Genre Pop-rock, blues
Length3:52
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Bonnie Raitt
Producer(s) Don Was
Bonnie Raitt singles chronology
"Have a Heart"
(1990)
"Nick of Time"
(1990)
"Love Letter"
(1990)

"Nick of Time" is a song by American blues musician Bonnie Raitt. Taken as the third single from her 10th solo album of the same name (1989), the song was released in May 1990. The song debuted at number 94 and reached its peak of 92 a week later on the Hot 100 chart. It also earned a top 10 placement on the Adult Contemporary Chart. [1]

Contents

Composition

Raitt wrote most of the song during a week-long cabin retreat in Mendocino, California, and she recorded a homemade demo on her own. [2]

The song was inspired by a culmination of observations about aging. The first verse ("A friend of mine, she cries at night...") was taken from a conversation Raitt had with a heartbroken friend who was nearing middle age and desperately wanting a baby, and the song also featured her singing about her own parents (“I see my folks, they’re getting old…”). [3]

The singer recalled: "In his vulnerable state I could see he was getting older and could really feel what it was like for a body to age. This whole idea of time and it being more precious as you age, I realized this would be what I'd write about." [2]

Chart performance

The song was popular on multiple formats of radio: it peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, and number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also placed at 82 on the UK Singles Chart. [4] Despite its limited commercial success, the record became one of Raitt's most defining songs.

Nominations and awards

Raitt won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards for her recording of this song. [5] Bonnie Raitt received three more wins at the ceremony, including Album of the Year. [6] In 2015 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [7]

Other versions

The song was covered by Lake Street Dive on Fun Machine: The Sequel . [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Raitt</span> American musician (born 1949)

Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk, and country. She was also a frequent session player and collaborator with other artists, including Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell.

<i>Nick of Time</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

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 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pointer Sisters</span> American family R&B vocal group

The Pointer Sisters are an American girl group from Oakland, California, which achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Their repertoire has included such diverse genres as R&B, pop, jazz, electronic music, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country, and rock. The Pointer Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. The group had 13 US top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985.

<i>Luck of the Draw</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Luck of the Draw is the eleventh studio album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be There (Jackson 5 song)</span> 1970 single by The Jackson 5

"I'll Be There" is the first single released from Third Album by The Jackson 5. It was written by Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Bob West, and Willie Hutch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Steady (Bonnie Raitt and Bryan Adams song)</span> 1995 single by Bonnie Raitt with Bryan Adams

"Rock Steady" is a song from American blues singer Bonnie Raitt's first live album, Road Tested (1995), written by Bryan Adams and Gretchen Peters. The song was written as a duet with Adams and Raitt for her Road Tested Tour, which also became one of her albums. The original demo version of the song appears on Adams' 1996 single "Let's Make a Night to Remember". The song reached number 17 in Adams' native Canada and entered the top 50 in the Flanders region of Belgium and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Russell</span> American singer-songwriter

Brenda Russell is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses R&B, pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations.

Delbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Got It</span> 1989 single by Roy Orbison

"You Got It" is a song from American singer Roy Orbison's 22nd studio album, Mystery Girl (1989). The song was released posthumously on January 3, 1989, after Orbison's death from a heart attack on December 6, 1988. The song was issued with "The Only One" as the B-side and was later released with "Crying". The single reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, returning Orbison to the top 10 for the first time in 25 years. "You Got It" also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and entered the top five in 10 other countries. Although it is an Orbison solo single, Orbison's fellow Traveling Wilburys bandmates Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne co-wrote the song and played instruments on the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When a Man Loves a Woman (song)</span> 1966 single by Percy Sledge

"When a Man Loves a Woman" is a song written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright and first recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. It made number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. Country singer John Wesley Ryles had a minor hit with his version of the song in 1976 while singer and actress Bette Midler recorded the song 14 years later and had a Top 40 hit with her version in 1990. In 1991, Michael Bolton recorded the song and his version peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Wanna Lose You</span> 1989 single by Gloria Estefan

"Don't Wanna Lose You" is a song by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released on June 21, 1989 as the first single by Epic Records from her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). The song is written by Estefan and produced by her husband, Emilio Estefan, Jr. It reached number one in the US, where it became her second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was also certified Gold.

"Don't Know Much" is a song written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow. Mann was the first to record the song in 1980, gaining a minor chart hit in the US. The song was made famous when it was covered as a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville in 1989. Their version was a worldwide success, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in several territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something to Talk About (Bonnie Raitt song)</span> 1991 single by Bonnie Raitt

"Something to Talk About" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Shirley Eikhard and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her 1991 album Luck of the Draw. It was serviced to US radio on June 3, 1991. Two single versions were released: a 7-inch single with the B-side "One Part Be My Lover" and a 12-inch single with these two songs and "I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again". In turn, this song was included on the EP version of Raitt’s 2000 single of "The Fundamental Things" taken from her 1998 album Fundamental. It was also included in 2003’s greatest hits compilation The Best of Bonnie Raitt. Live versions appear on 1995's Road Tested and 2006's Bonnie Raitt and Friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Loves Somebody</span> 1947 song by Sam Coslow, Irving Taylor and Ken Lane; 1964 hit by Dean Martin

"Everybody Loves Somebody" is a song written in 1947 by Irving Taylor and pianist Ken Lane, and made famous by Dean Martin who recorded and released his version in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Her Cry (song)</span> 1994 single by Hootie & the Blowfish

"Let Her Cry" is a song by American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from their debut album, Cracked Rear View (1994), and became a top-10 hit in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United States. The song received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Make You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Bonnie Raitt

"I Can't Make You Love Me" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her eleventh studio album, Luck of the Draw (1991). Released as the album's second single in 1991, "I Can't Make You Love Me" became one of Raitt's most successful singles, reaching the top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top-10 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Raitt discography</span>

This article lists the discography of American blues and rock singer and songwriter Bonnie Raitt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half of My Heart</span> 2010 single by John Mayer featuring Taylor Swift

"Half of My Heart" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mayer featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is the third single from Mayer's 2009 album, Battle Studies. Mayer was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2011 for his solo version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Sneakin' Up On You</span> 1994 single by Bonnie Raitt

"Love Sneakin' Up On You" is a song by American blues singer Bonnie Raitt. Released in March 1994 from her 12th album, Longing in Their Hearts (1994), the song topped Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart for three weeks and reached number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also charted in Germany and the United Kingdom. In 1995, it was nominated for both the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Meiert Avis directed the song's music video.

"Just Like That" is a song by American singer and multi-instrumentalist Bonnie Raitt and is the title track of her eighteenth studio album, Just Like That..., which was released on April 22, 2022, by Redwing Records. The song was written and produced by Raitt and lyrically details the story of a woman who is visited by the recipient of her son's heart, which he received in a life-saving organ donation operation.

References

  1. Sexton, Paul (April 7, 2020). "'Nick Of Time': Bonnie Raitt Beats The Clock To Win Grammy Glory". Udiscoovermusic. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Songfacts of 'Nick of Time'". Songfacts.com. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  3. Weiner, Natalie (March 21, 2019). "30 Years of 'Nick of Time': How Bonnie Raitt's 'Underdog Record' Swept the Grammys & Saved Her Career". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  4. "BONNIE RAITT - Official UK Charts". Official Charts. May 25, 2012.
  5. "32nd Annual Grammy Awards – 1992". Rock On The Net. February 21, 1990. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. "1989 GRAMMY WINNERS". The Recording Academy. February 21, 1990. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  7. https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#n
  8. Major, Michael (July 27, 2022). "VIDEO: Lake Street Dive Release 'Nick of Time' Performance Video". BroadwayWorld .