Nick of Time

1	Nick of Time 3:52
2	Thing Called Love 3:52
3	Love Letter 4:04
4	Cry on My Shoulder 3:44
5	Real Man 4:27
6	Nobody's Girl 3:14
7	Have a Heart 4:50
8	Too Soon to Tell 3:45
9	I Will Not Be Denied 4:55
10	I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again 2:38
11	The Road's My Middle Name 3:31

Barnes & Noble

After a long, frustrating career as a musicians' musician -- that is, a musician who is underappreciated by the general public -- singer-guitarist Bonnie Raitt finally hit pay dirt in her late thirties with 1989's Nick of Time. Granted, the blues purists who had loved Raitt from the start may have been a bit taken aback when they first heard the album's title track, a smooth mid-tempo confection that fit perfectly into adult-contemporary radio formats. But Don Was' tastefully pop-savvy production never confuses Raitt with Carly Simon; from the rocking, John Hiatt-penned "Thing Called Love" to the graceful, reggae-laced "Have a Heart," these songs have bite and pluck, and all are excellent showcases for the unpretentious strength and sexiness of the singer's lovely, burnished mezzo-soprano. In one of rock 'n' roll's great sleeper victories, the album won Raitt four Grammys, each one richly deserved. Elysa Gardner

All Music Guide

Prior to Nick of Time, Bonnie Raitt had been a reliable cult artist, delivering a string of solid records that were moderate successes and usually musically satisfying. From her 1971 debut through 1982's Green Light, she had a solid streak, but 1986's Nine Lives snapped it, falling far short of her usual potential. Therefore, it shouldn't have been a surprise when Raitt decided to craft its follow-up as a major comeback, collaborating with producer Don Was on Nick of Time. At the time, the pairing seemed a little odd, since he was primarily known for the weird hipster funk of Was (Not Was) and the B-52's' quirky eponymous debut, but the match turned out to be inspired. Was used Raitt's classic early-'70s records as a blueprint, choosing to update the sound with a smooth, professional production and a batch of excellent contemporary songs. In this context, Raitt flourishes; she never rocks too hard, but there is grit to her singing and playing, even when the surfaces are clean and inviting. And while she only has two original songs here, Nick of Time plays like autobiography, which is a testament to the power of the songs, performances, and productions. It was a great comeback album that made for a great story, but the record never would have been a blockbuster success if it wasn't for the music, which is among the finest Raitt ever made. She must have realized this, since Nick of Time served as the blueprint for the majority of her '90s albums. Stephen Thomas Erlewine