Tuesday
Jan312012
Listen: Bonnie Raitt - "Right Down the Line"
Forty years after her remarkable, groundbreaking debut album, Bonnie Raitt returns with her first new studio recordings in seven years with Slipstream, due April 10. With multiple Grammys under her belt -- most for her multi-platinum Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw success -- Raitt continues to skillfully fuse folk/blues and pop melodies with the greatest of ease. Lead track "Right Down the Line" is simply classic Raitt, a slinky, slightly funky track with a slippery reggae beat and fuzz-tinged slide guitar work. Like the best covers, she gently, inventively bends Gerry Rafferty's 70's chestnut into a version that's distinctively all her own. More DC on Slipstream here.
Bonnie Raitt - "Right Down the Line" (from Slipstream)
tagged 
Bonnie Raitt, Right Down the Line, Slipstream
Bonnie Raitt, Right Down the Line, Slipstream
Reader Comments (15)
having grown up with the rafferty version, i find raitt's take about as appealing as i found madonna's version of american pie. terrible. the butcher heads to baker street in search of the candlestick maker...
i disagree. i grew up with the rafferty version too, and i love it. but this is something else and sooooo good.
Ohhh Ms. Raitt! I love your music and your soul now more than ever! curtsey ;-)
1LOVE!
"Lilith Crane" is green. You go Music Girl Friday!
Faith is not a pawn. Love is not a possession Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
- Whilden Street Pioneer
love you jeff!
This is a terrible remake. No honor to the original. Rafferty is turning in his grave.
What an awesome retelling of the Gerry Rafferty masterpiece "Right on down the line", Rafferty one of my very favorites, as is Bonnie, two Scottish classic artists, couldn't be a better soulful right to the heart remake. Bonnie has been covering the likes of Hiatt, Browne, Prine, Dylan and so many others, this song is right up her alley, she know how to bite into these tuneful memories left by Gerry Rafferty. What a groove with the regaee, slide and vocals. If you can't find something(to like) in this song, maybe its time to go back in time... thank you Bonnie for stiring up such a brilliant artist as Gerry, I hope people will look him up,his music is also wonderful....
Bonnie has done it! She lends the SOUL of her voice, her dedication to music from her fellow musicians, and her undying love of truth with harmonious grace to this track. I look forward to listening to the rest of the album. And I look forward to watching the Rock N Roll fairy tale unfold. You have helped light a fire in the hearts that believe in true love and it's power thru the music. I have had a crush on you for years and now I know why. Keep rockin' Bonnie!
rock n' roll fairey-tale! that's hot!
I love this version. It has a reggae edge to it that is classic Raitt-gae... I can't wait for the CD and seeing her in person on May 3. The Rafferty version is also classic in a more smooth/mellow way. I prefer Bonnie's take.
I'm surprised to read the disparaging remarks here, considering how good Bonnie's vocals and guitar playing continue to be. She has remade this excellent tune in her own image and it works well. It's not Rafferty's version, but it's not supposed to be. Raitt is an artist. She doesn't make carbon copy covers.
Her version doesn't work well. Willie Nelson could cover Supertramp's Fool's Overture and that wouldn't work well, either. A 'carbon copy cover,' whatever the hell that is, besides being oxymoronic, wouldn't stand up to the original, either. Masterpieces should be left alone. Cover Bon Jovi or something. Don't tamper with greatness. To me, it's the height of arrogance.
@jawn How about rally up hundreds of musicians and get them to write songs about YOUR grievances. And I'll stick to the millions of musicians that write about how GRATEFUL I am.
Sing on Bonnie...
Stick close to Bonnie's version. She's ubber-epic cool. Rafferty knew what he was doing when he cut this jam. It was waiting for Bonnie to revive it. Any other versions are thumbs down. Thumbs up for Bonnie.