Home Plate [Remaster] (CD - 1975)

Personnel: Bonnie Raitt (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Emmylou Harris (vocals); John Hall, Fred Tackett, Will McFarlane (guitar); John Sebastian (autoharp); Bill Payne (accordion, keyboards); Jerry Jumonville (tenor saxophone); Jim Gordon (baritone saxophone); Dick Hyde (bass trumpet, trombone); George Bohanon (trombone); Jai Winding (piano, Clavinet); William "Smitty" Smith (piano); Freebo (bass); Gary Mallaber, Dennis Whitted (drums); Joe Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro (percussion); Venetta Fields, Robbie Montgomery, Maxayn Lewis, Rosemary Butler, Terry Reid, Debbie Green, Greg Prestopino, John Herald, Willow Van Der Hoek, Tom Waits (background vocals).

Recorded at Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles in 1975.

Digitally remastered by Patrick Kraus.

Homeplate takes Bonnie Raitt even further down the path toward mainstream production than the unjustly maligned Streetlights, but, ironically, it works better than its predecessor. Perhaps that's because producer Paul A. Rothchild has helped Raitt craft a record that's unapologetically pitched at the mainstream, where Streetlights often seemed to be torn between two worlds. The great thing about that is, regardless of the production, the essentials of Raitt's music have not changed. It remains a wonderful hybrid of American music, built on a thoroughly impressive set of songs, all delivered with Raitt's warm, expertly shaded, and undeniably sexy singing. She's such an accomplished singer, she sells these songs through productions that are much slicker than those that graced her earlier records, plus with a supporting crew of studio musicians. This production will undoubtedly dismay listeners that just like the earthiness of Give It Up, but Homeplate is still a success because, even though the recording is glossier, Raitt and her music remain the same and, if you're looking for that, it's still irresistible. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

On HOME PLATE, Raitt had plenty of superstar help, including appearances by Jackson Browne, John Sebastian, Tom Waits and Emmylou Harris. Her interpretations of Allen Toussaint's "What Do You Want The Boy To Do," and J.D. Souther's "Run Like A Thief" showed her stylistic range to be as broad as ever. Like her first four albums, HOME PLATE had no hit singles, but Raitt's large following kept album sales high. minimize