The very first song I ever heard by Bonnie Raitt was "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy." And it was by a fluke that I had even heard this song. I had rented a 70s compilation album from the local public library and this song was on it. I immediately fell in love with Ms. Raitt's voice and tracked this album down. This song is still my favourite off Takin'My Time. Other highlights for me include Let Me In, Guilty, and Kokomo Blues. But the whole album from the first to last track is superb. And it's refreshing to listen to an artist like Raitt where so many moods are captured on one album, blues, reggae, folk, jazz, pop, you name it she plays it, especially on albums like Takin'My Time.

The Band had the brown album, The Allman Brothers had their Live at the Fillmore recording,Elton John -Tumbleweed Connection. This Bonnie Raitt recording stands right up against some of the all-time classics.This features a classic line-up with Freebo on bass, Taj Mahal, the incredible John Hall(Orleans)who wrote many songs for Janis Joplin and others, the Little Feat gang including Lowell George, Paul Barrere,Bill Payne and Sam Clayton, not to mention Jim Keltner on drums.With songs by Mose Allison, Fred McDowell,Jackson Browne and Chris Smither to name just a few, it would be hard to"go south" with an outing such as this.Had I realized this had just been re-mastered, I would not have picked up my third copy off of e-bay! A favorite of mine when it first came out, it remains in constant rotation on my turntable(yes! They still make those!)

A decade and a half before Bonnie captured the public imagination with her 1989 album, Nick of time, she was already building a solid reputation with her blend of blues, rock and folk music, of which this album is a fine example although the blues are the dominant influence here. It may not have been what mainstream commercial radio stations were looking for at the time but, like Bonnie's other early albums, continues to sell steadily while many bigger-selling artists of the time are now represented only by greatest hits compilations.

One reason why Bonnie's music stands the test of time so well is her uncanny ability to pick great songs that suited her outstanding, bluesy voice. Bonnie was also able to persuade some of the finest musicians of the day to play on her albums. On this album, the musicians include members of Little Feat (Lowell George among them), Taj Mahal and the brilliant saxophonist, Ernie Watts.

The set opens with You've been in love too long, a cover of a brilliant but relatively unknown Motown song that Barbara Acklin and Martha Reeves recorded. Bonnie doesn't usually cover Motown but her choice here is impeccable. More predictably, Bonnie covers songs written by some of the finest blues and rock songwriters such as Mose Allison (Everybody's crying mercy), Eric Kaz (Cry like a rainstorm), Jackson Browne (I thought I was a child), Fred McDowell (Write me a few of your lines / Kokomo blues) and Randy Newman (Guilty).

Maybe this isn't the place to begin a collection of Bonnie's music but it should be a high priority if you are interested in collecting at least some of her original albums.

This album has been out now for over 25 years and still has a great, fresh, original sound. Listen to this right thru and you must wonder to yourself, how the hell did the musical community not get this great singer, guitarist activist and such a bluesdog for the music, this was her third album in as many years. She did love to pump out the music during the 70's. I love all these songs especially, Guilty, the Little Feat'ish, I feel the same, the playful, Let me In and the down & blues of Everybodys crying mercy and Write me a few of your lines/Kokomo blues and the opener we all danced in the isles at her concerts You've been in love to long and the folksy I gave my love a candle and the great jackson browne song I thought I was a child, the best!

The first Bonnie Raitt album I ever bought, and after over 30 years, still my favorite. It'll bring you to tears, and bring you to your feet. Listen to it and wonder why it took so darn long for Bonnie to become a major star. Music doesn't get much better than this.