Angel from Montgomery, duet with John Prine

Various Artists, Tribute to Steve Goodman, 1985

In a live performance, Bonnie Raitt sings her trademark Angel From Montgomery with the song's writer, John Prine. This duet shows up on a number of releases including The Bonnie Raitt Collection, but the Goodman tribute concert is the source. The latest release is on Coal Country Music in 2009. 


Prine writes about the song in the notes for his Great Days anthology, where the duet also shows up. His buddy, Eddie, he says, " always used to tell people that I was writing about the Montgomery Ward building in Chicago, which has an angel on top that sticks out on a flagpole. I didn't know that, but that's where Eddie thought I got the idea." So there's a little trivia for Bonnie Raitt fans in Chicago.
       
Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Angel From Montgomery  

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, duet with Jackson Browne

Various Artists, Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Peter Seeger, 1998

If you like your Bonnie sweet with a hint of reggae, you'll love this Pete Seeger ballad that she and Jackson Browne perform together. If you don't want to invest in the double-CD Pete Seeger tribute, you can get just this song from your favorite digital music source.  

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (duet with Jackson Browne)  

It's a Blessing, duet with Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur, Richland Woman Blues, 2001

Here's a different sound: Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur, a guitar and a Delta Blues spiritual. The song came to Maria, as she tells the story, from an old recording of Bonnie Raitt's mentor, Mississippi Fred McDowell singing it with his wife, Annie Mae. It's such a gem that it appears on 3 other recordings: Where We Live (2003), 30 Years of Maria Muldaur: I'm a Woman (2004), and Blues Guitar Women (2005).  

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• It's A Blessing (duet)  

Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, duet with Ray Charles

Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company, 2004

Here's another great Bonnie Raitt duet, this time with Ray Charles on his last album before his death. Great track.  

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (duet)  

Merry Christmas Baby, duet with Charles Brown

Various Artists, A Very Special Christmas 2, 1992

For Bonnie Raitt fans, Christmas music doesn't get any than this duet with Charles Brown. It'll warm you up faster than eggnog and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Between Merry Christmas Baby and Someone to Love, Raitt's other duet with Charles Brown, this one is more engaging. Clip below, full song over on YouTube.

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Merry Christmas Baby (duet with Charles Brown)  

Baby I Love You, duet with B.B. King

B.B. King, Deuces Wild, 1997

Baby I Love You is a pretty lightweight song with none of the punch of, say, The Thrill is Gone, but, hey, it's B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt showing off their distinct guitar styles. Who cares about the lyrics? The first minute is all Bonnie--on the sweeter side--before B.B. joins in. BTW, if you're a B.B. King fan too, you'll love the whole album.   

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Baby I Love You (duet)

I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town, duet with Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown, R+B=Ruth Brown (1997), and
Ruth Brown, Ms. B's Blues: Essential Recordings (2011)

This is a fun bluesy duet with R&B legend Ruth Brown. Great humor. The original 1997 release appears again on Rounder's 2011 compilation. Brown has a MySpace page where you can hear the whole track.

The '97 album was nominated for a Grammy.

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• I'm Gonna My to the Outskirts of Town (duet)

I'm in the Mood, duet with John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker, The Healer, 1989

In in the Mood appears on too many albums to keep track of them all, but the first time was in 1989 when Bonnie Raitt and John Lee Hooker recorded it for The Healer.  It's one her best five duets.

There are several versions on YouTube, for example this one. Amazon doesn't sell the 1989 version singly as an MP3. If that's what you're looking for, iTunes sells the same track from Hooker's Best of Friends.

Some albums with I'm in the Mood

• The Healer (1989): studio version
• John Lee Hooker, The Ultimate Collection (1992, Rhino): Live version recorded in February, 1990, from A Tribute to Roy Orbison: A Concert to Benefit the Homeless.
• Best of Friends (1998): Re-release from The Healer
• Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues (2003, Hip-0): This is a big anthology that comes in various releases and media. The 1989 version is included in the 5 CD box set, as is a live version of Round and Round. 
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vol. 1: 1986-1991 (Live): Yet another live version.

Women Be Wise and more with Sippie Wallace

Sippie Wallace, Sippie, 1982

A gem of a recording from 1982 and since re-released. Bonnie & Sippie perform 2 duets and Bonnie plays guitar on a third track. The CD liner notes tell the heartwarming story of Sippie and Bonnie's friendship and there's a marvelous picture of the two of them.

For another version of Mama's Gone, Goodbye, check out Separation Blues with Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt. Maria sang this song with Sippie Wallace too.

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Women Be Wise (duet)
• Suitcase Blues (guitar)
• Mama's Gone, Goodbye (duet)

Three duets with her father, John Raitt

John Raitt, Broadway Legend, 1995

Bonnie sings three show tunes with father, John Raitt, on this 1995 reprise of his Broadway career. The songs bring out a side of Bonnie's voice that you don't otherwise hear. She also writes a touching tribute to him in the liner notes. It's all very charming. So is this brief appearance on Dave Letterman.

All three songs are excellent, but Anything You Can Do is the warmest and most fun, so it get's a spot on my 10 best duets list.

Neither Amazon nor iTunes has the album available for MP3 download, but used copies of the CD are easy to come by. 

Tracks with Bonnie Raitt

• Anything You Can Do (duet)
• They Say It's Wonderful (duet)
• Hey There (duet)