My Top 3 Songs, Plus the Important People and Stories You Need to Know

Thirty years ago, in June of 1991, Bonnie Raitt released her critically acclaimed, commercially successful, and award-winning album, Luck of the Draw. I purchased this CD soon after its release, on the strength of its first single, with no knowledge of Bonnie Raitt’s history or body of work. 30 years later it remains as one of my favorite albums in my collection. If you are a millennial or Generation Z, you may be asking, “Bonnie who???” Before jumping into my top 3 songs from Bonnie Raitt’s 30-year-old timeless classic album, allow me to introduce you!

Who is Bonnie Raitt?

Multi-Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt is a blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Raitt was born in Burbank, California in November of 1949 to two musically gifted parents. Her mother was a pianist and her father, John Raitt, was a TV actor and musical theater performer from the 1940s through 1960s. He is mostly known for his roles in the Broadway musicals Carousel, Oklahoma, and The Pajama Game. Raitt’s parents encouraged her, and her two brothers, to pursue music. While attending Radcliffe College, she was the lead singer of a campus music group. While in college she met a blues promoter, Dick Waterman, who encouraged her. After two years of college, she moved to Philadelphia to pursue a career in music.

One of the Top 100 Guitarists of all Time

Taking her mother’s lead, Raitt started her musical training on the piano. By the age of 8 she fell in love with and started playing the guitar. Mostly self-taught, she learned by imitating the music her parents were listening to. In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine published their list of “100 Greatest Guitarists.” Raitt is one of only two female guitarists on the list, ranked at number 89. The other female is Joni Mitchell, who ranked at 75.

Raitt’s Most Successful Albums

In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut. She would go on to release 17 more albums, with 2016’s Dig in Deep as her most recent work. Although she was consistently praised by fans and critics since the beginning, she did not earn commercial success until almost 18 years later. Her most successful albums were Nick of Time from 1989 and Luck of the Draw from 1991. In addition to multi-platinum sales, they earned seven Grammy awards, collectively.

Raitt’s album, Luck of the Draw, was released in June 1991, as a follow-up to her album, Nick of Time. Both albums, produced by Don Was (more on him later), were her biggest commercial successes. Although Luck of the Draw peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, it went seven times platinum. In comparison, Nick of Time reached the number one spot, but went 5 times platinum. An album reaches RIAA’s platinum status when it sells one million copies.

Influence of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Raitt’s Close Friend and Hero

Raitt dedicated Luck of the Draw to her friend and personal hero, Stevie Ray Vaughn, who died in a helicopter crash. In 1990, Vaughn performed with Eric Clapton’s band at the Alpine Valley Resort in Wisconsin. After their performance, they boarded a helicopter heading to Midway International Airport in Chicago and crashed shortly after takeoff.

Raitt credits her sobriety to Stevie Ray Vaugh, who also struggled with alcohol and substance abuse. They both feared sobriety would stifle their creativity, which seems to be a common fear among writers and artists struggling with addiction. Raitt was present during the first show that Vaughn performed sober and, to her astonishment, he performed better than ever. Inspired by Vaughn’s strength and success, Bonnie Raitt started her own path to sobriety and has been sober since 1987.

Luck of the Draw

The Producer: Don Was

Bonnie Raitt’s albums, Luck of the Draw and Nick of Time, were produced by Don Was (real name, Don Edward Fagenson). Was, a musician, producer, and record executive, has been a prolific figure in the music industry since the 1970s. In 1979 he founded the group Was (Not Was), along with David Was (real name, David Weiss). Was (Not Was) is most well known for their 1987 hit, “Walk the Dinosaur.” In addition to Raitt, he contributed his talents to some of the most influential artists in music, including Bob Dylan, Elton John, The B-52s, Willie Nelson, The Rolling Stones, and John Mayer. He also served as a musical director or consultant on many films, including Thelma & Louise, Hope Floats, Days of Thunder, and Toy Story. Today, Don Was serves as president of jazz record label, Blue Note.

The Top 3 Songs You Need to Know

Below I will dive in to my top top 3 songs from Bonnie Raitt’s 30-year-old timeless classic album and share the important people and stories behind them:

“Something to Talk About”

“I Can’t Make You Love Me”

“All at Once”

“Something to Talk About”

“Something to Talk About”, the first single from Luck of the Draw, is a great upbeat opener. Written by Shirley Eikhard, the song is about two friends who become the talk of the town: “People are talking, talking ‘bout people… they think we’re lovers, kept under cover.” A rumor is going around that the two friends are secretly lovers. They seem to be blind to their own love for each other, until the narrator begins to admit her feelings. She dreams about him, thinks about him, and she hopes the feeling is mutual. They decide to put the rumors to the test and really give people a reason to talk.

Interesting Side Note on Songwriter Shirley Eikhard (and Cher):

Shirley Eikhard, a Canadian singer and songwriter, also wrote songs for Cher, Emylou Harris, and Anne Murray. One of two songs Eikhard wrote for Cher is “Lovers Forever”. The song appears on Cher’s 2013 album, Closer to the Truth. It was originally written for the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire but was never included.

Cover Versions of “Something to Talk About”

Other artists who covered “Something to Talk About” include actress (and sometimes singer) Jennifer Love Hewitt in 2012, for The Client List soundtrack, Scary Pockets in 2018, and even Britney Spears, during her Piece of Me Las Vegas residency.

Important musician on “Something to Talk About”

“Something to Talk About” features session bassist James Hutchinson. Hutchinson grew up in Massachusetts and moved to San Francisco after graduating high school in the early 70s. While living there, he played with jam bands and Latin bands all over the Bay Area. Eventually, he met and was mentored by band members of Quicksilver Messenger Service and Grateful Dead. He started working with Bonnie Raitt in 1989 and recorded eight albums with her and continues to play in her band. During his storied career, he recorded with many artists including Etta James, Willie Nelson, Ziggy Marley, Ringo Starr, Roy Orbison, and Elton John.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me”

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” is the third track (and second single) from Luck of the Draw. One of my favorite songs of all time, it is a beautiful, melancholic ballad about unrequited love. The narrator of the song is deeply in love, but the relationship is failing. She realizes he doesn’t love her as much as she loves him and there is nothing she can do to change his feelings. She recognizes it is time to let go, but she would love nothing more than for him to hold her close in the dark, one last time, before she has to say goodbye.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” Songwriters

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” was written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. Before his country music career, Reid played football for the Cincinnati Benglas from 1970 to 1974. After football, Reid pursued music, collaborating with other artists such as Marie Osmond, Tanya Tucker, and Alabama. During the 90s and 2000s he wrote for musical theater and released three solo albums. Allen Shamblin worked in real estate before becoming a full-time country music songwriter in 1987. In addition to Bonnie Raitt, he wrote songs for Randy Travis, Rascal Flats, Miranda Lambert, and Keith Urban.

Cover Versions of “I Can’t Make You Love Me”

Many artists have covered this beautiful song including Prince, George Michael, Patti LaBelle, Boys II Men, Priyanka Chopra (she sings???), and Adele. Adele sang a beautiful cover of this song for Live at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. Next to George Michael’s version, it’s one of the best.

Important Musician on “I Can’t Make You Love Me”

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” features Bruce Hornsby on piano. Hornsby is a singer, songwriter, and pianist who was born in Virginia in 1954. He may be best known as the front man for his band, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, which he formed in 1984. Their most successful song, “The Way It Is” (1986), is about civil rights, homelessness, and racism. A handful of rap artists, including Tupac, E-40, and Mase, sampled the song on their own records.

Bruce Hornsby’s Connection to Spike Lee and the Grateful Dead

Hornsby’s talent, musicianship, and dedication to civil rights led him to work on many of Spike Lee’s projects. Spike Lee enlisted Hornsby to provide piano music for his films Clockers, Bamboozled, Kobe Doin’ Work, She’s Gotta Have It, and BlacKkKlansman. In addition to his work with Spike Lee and Bonnie Raitt, he collaborated with many other artists including the Grateful Dead. He regularly performed and recorded with the Grateful Dead from 1988, until Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.

“All at Once”

Last but not least of my top 3 songs from Bonnie Raitt’s 30-year-old timeless classic album! My third favorite track from Luck of the Draw is “All At Once,” a song about a mother’s complicated relationship with her daughter. The daughter blames her mother for her father leaving, a source of contention in their relationship. While the mother watches her daughter leaving to spend time with her father, she can’t help but feel a bit hurt because “the time we spend together is harder than the time between.” She feels like a failed wife and mother and silently wishes her daughter would find space in her heart for forgiveness.

What inspired “All at Once”?

“All at Once” is one of four songs written by Bonnie Raitt on Luck of the Draw. The sincerity of this song is what I love about it. Raitt emotes loss, regret, and yearning, which makes me wonder if it is autobiographical. Raitt was once married to actor Michael O’Keef from 1991 to 1999, but they never had children. Was the song inspired by her relationship with her parents? Aside from a mention of her parents’ divorce, I have not found any stories about their relationship. If given a chance, this is a question I would ask her.

Important Musician on “All at Once”

“All at Once” features a string section. One of the viola players, Novi Novog, credited as Novi, is a cousin of Lauren Wood (singer of “Fallen” from the Pretty Woman soundtrack). Novi recorded a lot of sessions with many artists including her cousin, The Doobie Brothers, 10,000 Maniacs, Scott Weiland (of Stone Temple Pilots), Michael Jackson, and Prince. Prince recruited Novi to record with Sheila E and The Time, as well as for his own songs. She can be heard playing viola on “Raspberry Beret,” “Take Me With You,” and “Baby I’m a Star.”

Another Important Musician on “All at Once”

“All at Once” features Brazilian percussionist Paulinho da Costa, who also plays on “I Can’t Make You Love Me”, plus two other tracks from the album. Da Costa, who was born in Brazil in 1948, became one of the most renowned musicians to come out of the Samba Schools of Brazil. After touring all over Europe and the Middle East with Brazilian ensembles, he moved to Los Angeles in 1972. He released three solo albums under Pablo Records, after being introduced to label head, Norman Granz, by jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie.

In addition to his session work with Dizzy Gillespie, he also played percussion for many artists across several genres, including Ella Fitzgerald, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, The Eagles, Extreme, Madonna, and Mary J. Blige. He is one of the most recorded musicians of all time. You can check out his impressive body of work on his website: Paulinho.com

30 Years Later, Luck of the Draw Still Deserves a Place in Your Collection

There you have it – my top 3 songs from Bonnie Raitt’s 30-year-old timeless classic album and the important people and stories you need to know! Whether you are a music collector or an aspiring musician, this album deserves a spot in your library! Bonnie Raitt is a musician’s musician. Her impressive body of work stands out among her male peers and this album, Luck of the Draw, is probably her best. It is 30 years old, but it is truly a timeless classic that bucks the trends and belongs in every musician’s and music collector’s library.

One of My Favorite Things in Music

Aside from listening to and absorbing music, I love looking up the creatives behind the creations. Discovering all the important stories and connections behind songs is one of my favorite things. The creation of music often involves a lot of work and collaboration between artists. As consumers, we tend to overlook and take for granted the people who make all those wonderful sounds. This is my way of recognizing them while educating myself and spreading the knowledge.

Subscribe to my blog to follow my discoveries! And use the comments section to let me know what’s on your mind or share some knowledge with me!