| Streetlights | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1974 | |||
| Recorded | Mid-1974 | |||
| Studio | The Hit Factory, New York City | |||
| Genre | Pop, R&B | |||
| Length | 37:05 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Jerry Ragovoy | |||
| Bonnie Raitt chronology | ||||
| ||||
Streetlights is the fourth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1974.
Bonnie Raitt was allotted $10,000 by Warner Bros. Records to record Streetlights, which was the least amount of money she had received to record an album. [1] Warner Bros. was unhappy with the lengthy production surrounding her previous album, Takin' My Time , and the company limited her expenses. The two parties eventually agreed on an advance of more money, on the condition Raitt would choose a producer with a history of commercial success. [1] Raitt chose Jerry Ragovoy, who had worked with musicians such as Janis Joplin and Dionne Warwick. [1] Ragovoy felt Raitt's music was bogged down by blues music, and wanted to produce an album with a more slick and polished pop sound. [2] Raitt did not like Ragovoy's decision, but acquiesced, and Streetlights was recorded during mid-1974. [2]
Critics have described Streetlights as Raitt's first attempt to record music for a mainstream audience. [3] [4] In contrast to the eclectic and laid-back sound of her first three albums, Streetlights features simpler arrangements with more string instrumentation, influenced by pop and R&B music. [2] [4] It is Raitt's only album in which she does not play the slide guitar. [2] Session musician Freebo said Raitt was negatively affected by the more professional production of Streetlights. "The environment changed her singing. She was in a professional world with Streetlights, and had to act like one" said Freebo. [2] Nine of the ten tracks on the album are covers of songs by musicians such as Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and John Prine. [5] [6] The one original track, "Ain't Nobody Home", was written by Ragovoy. [7]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B [8] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B [9] |
| MusicHound Rock | 2/5 [10] |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | [11] |
Streetlights was released in September 1974, by Warner Bros. [12] Streetlights reached number eighty on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart and number 129 on the Cashbox Top 100 Albums chart. [13] [14] To support the album, Raitt went on a North American tour with Jackson Browne, from September 13 to November 24. [15] On two stops in Boston and Washington, D.C., Raitt was accompanied by blues musicians Roosevelt Sykes and Sippie Wallace. [16]
Side one
Side two
Credits adapted from Bonnie Raitt's official website. [5]
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [13] | 80 |
| US Cashbox 100 [14] | 129 |
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues rock 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.
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".
Bonnie Raitt is the debut album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1971.
Give It Up is the second studio album by American musician Bonnie Raitt. Released in 1972 by Warner Bros. Records, Give It Up is an amalgamation of various genres, including folk, blues, R&B, and soft rock. Seven of the ten tracks on the album are covers, and the tracks range from soft sentimental ballads to fast-paced folk rock pieces. Lyrically, Give It Up revolves around Raitt's femininity, relationships, and being comfortable with herself. Raitt recorded the album at Bearsville Studios with producer Michael Cuscuna.
Takin' My Time is the third studio album by American musician Bonnie Raitt. It was released in 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. The album is an amalgamation of several different genres, including blues, folk, jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and calypso. The 10 tracks on the album are covers, ranging from soft sentimental ballads to upbeat, rhythmic-heavy tracks. Lowell George was originally hired to handle the production, but was ultimately replaced by John Hall when Raitt became unhappy with his production.
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975.
Sweet Forgiveness is the sixth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1977. The single "Two Lives" was written by Mark T. Jordan of the Edison Electric Band.
The Glow is the seventh album by the American musician Bonnie Raitt, released in 1979. It was one of the first albums to be recorded and mixed digitally.
Nine Lives is the ninth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1986. It was Raitt's most difficult release, due to the poor sales, negative reviews, and general circumstances surrounding its release.
Luck of the Draw is the eleventh studio album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1991.
Longing in Their Hearts is the twelfth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1994. The album contained the mainstream pop hit, "Love Sneakin' Up On You," which reached #19 on the Billboard singles chart, and "You", which remains to date her only UK Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 31.
Fundamental is the thirteenth studio album by Bonnie Raitt, released on April 7, 1998, by Capitol Records.
Silver Lining is the fourteenth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 2002.
David Eldon Lasley was an American recording artist, singer, musician and songwriter. He was best known as a touring background singer for James Taylor, as a session singer on recordings by artists including Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Chic, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Cher, Dusty Springfield and Boz Scaggs; as a songwriter for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Maxine Nightingale, Rita Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, and Luther Vandross; and for his solo albums, albums with his 1970s vocal group Rosie, and for his early years in Detroit with his vocal group The Utopias.
Carasmatic is Irene Cara's third and final studio album released in 1987. It was her only album for Elektra Records. The album was mostly produced by George Duke. Many popular musicians also contributed to this album such as Luther Vandross, Lynn Davis, James Ingram, Patrice Rushen, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, John Farrar and Michael Bolton. The album, however, sold poorly and failed to make an impression on the charts.
Slipstream is the sixteenth studio album by Bonnie Raitt, released in April 2012. American Songwriter Magazine praised it as "her best album in years and one of the best of her 40-year career."
Edison Electric Band was a Philadelphia rock band of the 1970s. It was led by Mark T. Jordan and featured bass player Freebo, who later played for Bonnie Raitt's band. It released an album for Cotillion in 1970, "Bless You, Dr. Woodward". Jordan was writer for Raitt's 1977 single "Two Lives".
Dig In Deep is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt. The album was released on February 26, 2016, by Redwing Records the first in 14 years to contain original music written by Bonnie. The album once again primarily features her longtime band composed of Ricky Fataar on drums, George Marinelli on guitars and James "Hutch" Hutchinson on bass with newer member Mike Finnigan on keyboards.
"If I Had My Wish Tonight" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and Dave Loggins originally released in 1979 by Dave Loggins on his self-titled album. American singer-songwriter David Lasley covered the song on his Missin' Twenty Grand album, releasing it as the first single. The song debuted on March 13, 1982, and reached a peak position of 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1982.
Just Like That... is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bonnie Raitt. Released on April 22, 2022, it is her first studio album since 2016's Dig In Deep. The album was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Americana Album in 2023. Its title track won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best American Roots Song and lead single "Made Up Mind" won Best Americana Performance.
