Released 40 years ago
Nine Lives
Bonnie Raitt · 1986
42 min · 10 tracks · blues
A blend of heartfelt ballads and blues-infused rock, showcasing Raitt’s emotive vocals and guitar prowess.
Top tracks — play these first
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No Way to Treat a Lady Start here — This track features a catchy melody paired with insightful lyrics about betrayal, encapsulating Raitt's ability to blend storytelling with compelling music.
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Runnin' Back to Me — The song highlights Raitt's signature bluesy guitar riffs and showcases her emotional vocal delivery, making it a standout representation of her style.
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Crime of Passion — With its driving rhythm and poignant lyrics about love's complexities, this track exemplifies Raitt's knack for merging personal narrative with musical depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album balances energetic blues-rock with introspective ballads, showcasing Raitt's vocal and guitar strengths.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks that blend rock and blues, while the second half shifts to slower ballads, creating a dynamic contrast.
- Raitt's guitar work is prominent throughout, with several tracks featuring extended solos that showcase her technical skill.
- The lyrics often explore personal relationships and emotional struggles, with a storytelling approach that invites listener engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- emotional storytelling and depth
- steady, consistent energy levels
- late-night contemplative moods
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Moderate success with personal themes; not a standout entry point for new listeners.
- Career context
- Released in 1986, Nine Lives was Bonnie Raitt's eighth studio album and came after her commercial peak with the Grammy-winning Nick of Time in 1989. At this stage, Raitt was solidifying her status as a leading figure in Americana and roots rock, balancing her established sound with contemporary influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lucinda Williams· Shawn Colvin· Mary Chapin Carpenter
Tracklist
- 1 No Way to Treat a Lady Start here 3:51
- 2 Runnin' Back to Me 4:16
- 3 Who but a Fool (Thief Into Paradise) 4:23
- 4 Crime of Passion 4:19
- 5 All Day, All Night 4:01
- 6 Stand Up to the Night 4:42
- 7 Excited 3:11
- 8 Freezin' (for a Little Human Love) 4:52
- 9 True Love Is Hard to Find 4:34
- 10 Angel 4:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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