Producers include: John Prine, Jerry Ragovoy, Paul A. Rothchild, Peter Asher, Rob Fraboni.

Engineers include: Kendall "Do The Dog" Pacios, John Haeny, Harry Maslin.

This collection contains 20 selections. 19 from Raitt's nine Warner LPs spanning 71-86, and one previously unreleased live track from a 1976 KSAN (San Francisco) broadcast.

The booklet includes personnel information and track-by-track notes by Bonnie Raitt.

Since Bonnie Raitt didn't score any big hits during her nine-album tenure at Warner Bros., compiling a best-of from those records is largely a matter of taste, and after Raitt's commercial breakthrough on Capitol with Nick of Time in 1989, Warners decided to trust her own taste in choosing songs for this compilation. The artist's input is usually considered a good thing, but in this case it has resulted in an idiosyncratic selection that fails to be representative or to cull the real highlights from Raitt's Warners catalog. Basically, that catalog breaks down into three sections -- the first three solid albums, the second three good but uneven albums, and the last three mediocre, compromised albums. Raitt has opted to try to find at least a couple of tracks from each album, which means she necessarily slights her best work in favor of her weakest. Even by choosing four tracks from Give It Up, she still misses "Been Too Long at the Fair," and by restricting herself to two tracks from Takin My Time, she misses "Cry Like a Rainstorm" and "I Gave My Love a Candle." On later albums, the problem is more about selection than quantity. Why "Sugar Mama" from Home Plate and not "Run Like a Thief" and "I'm Blowin' Away"? Why "(Goin') Wild for You Baby" from The Glow and not the Grammy-nominated "You're Gonna Get What's Coming"? Why "Willya Wontcha" from Green Light and not "Me and the Boys"? Even taking into account differences in taste, Raitt's choices run in the face of the preferences of fans and critics to the point that the album fails to make the case for her Warners recordings as true expressions of her talents, a case that could have been made decisively with a better selection. ~ William Ruhlmann

After Bonnie Raitt's commercial breakthrough on Capitol with Nick of Time in 1989, Warner Brothers decided to trust her own taste in choosing songs for The Bonnie Raitt Collection, a best-of compiling songs from her nine-album tenure at Warners. ~ William Ruhlmann

Bonnie Raitt is one of the most respected crossover blues performers of her generation. Even when she plays repertoire that falls into the pop category, Raitt never sways too far from her bluesy roots. Because of this, she has been widely embraced by both adult-contemporary audiences and hardcore blues fans.

This compilation shows Raitt prodigious musical growth throughout two decades, ending before NICK OF TIME (1989) and LUCK OF THE DRAW (1991). So if you're seeking the big hits, you'll have to look elsewhere; the two aforementioned albums contain her biggest radio singles, and none of that material is included here. However, this collection is a fabulous survey of Raitt's earlier career, beginning in 1971 and ending in 1986 with the vocalist/guitarist's NINE LIVES release. Many superb songs are heard here, including the reggae tune "True Love Is Hard to Find," the down-home blues number "Give It Up or Let Me Go," and the jazzy ballad "The Glow." Also included on this compilation is an excellent concert recording of Raitt's classic "Angel from Montgomery," featuring John Prine.