Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Track List: 4-6
4. Louise (0:00)
5. Gamblin' Man (2:45)
6. Sweet Forgiveness (6:13)
Part 1. youtu.be/typ0imcD69E
Part 2. youtu.be/HFexHxWs_k8
Part 3. youtu.be/uxfC1-WQZA4
Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkWvh9BoHZBqEdp9twoodergQ48H76R6D
'Sweet Forgiveness' Allmusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:
Since Home Plate brought Bonnie Raitt within shooting distance of the Top 40, thereby being the greatest chart success she yet attained, it made sense that she re-teamed with its producer Paul A. Rothchild for its follow-up, Sweet Forgiveness. Rothchild's modus operandi remains slickness, but he has backed away from his fondness for studio musicians, letting Raitt record the majority of the record with her touring band (who only were spotted occasionally throughout Homeplate). All this means is that the near-hit "Runaway" is almost a ringer, largely because it's a poor choice for Raitt's sweetly funky Californian rock that was obviously designed as a bid for a single, therefore it was slicked up more than the rest of the record (which remains slick, but not glossy). Sweet Forgiveness is actually looser than Homeplate, a little less constrained. Then why isn't it quite as successful, artistically? That comes down to a selection of songs that aren't quite as effective as those Raitt usually picks -- and, in that sense, "Runaway" was a good indicator of the album. However, the selection of material isn't bad. If the tunes don't happen to form into a whole, it's still filled with great moments, from Earl Randall's opener "About to Make Me Leave Home" to Karla Bonoff's closer "Home." Sweet Forgiveness may not be one of Raitt's unqualified successes (despite its hit status), it's still a solid record, one that's hard to deny if you're already a Raitt fan.
Personnel:
Bonnie Raitt – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, vocals, slide guitar
Norton Buffalo – harmonica
Rosemary Butler – vocals
Lester Chambers – vocals
Sam Clayton – conductor, conga
Freebo – bass, guitar, vocals, fretless bass
David Grisman – mandolin, mandocello
Jef Labes – keyboard
Maxayn Lewis – vocals
Michael McDonald – vocals
Will McFarlane – guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
Bill Payne – organ, synthesizer, piano, keyboard, vocals, Fender Rhodes
JD Souther – vocals
Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar, guitar, keyboard
Dennis Whitted – drums
Carlena Williams – vocals
Production:
Producer: Paul A. Rothchild
Engineers: John Haeny, Roger Mayer
Remastering: Keith Blake, Lee Herschberg
Series producer: Gregg Geller
Project coordinator: Jo Motta
Art direction: John Van Hamersveld
Photography: John Van Hamersveld
Track List: 4-6
4. Louise (0:00)
5. Gamblin' Man (2:45)
6. Sweet Forgiveness (6:13)
Part 1. youtu.be/typ0imcD69E
Part 2. youtu.be/HFexHxWs_k8
Part 3. youtu.be/uxfC1-WQZA4
Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkWvh9BoHZBqEdp9twoodergQ48H76R6D
'Sweet Forgiveness' Allmusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine:
Since Home Plate brought Bonnie Raitt within shooting distance of the Top 40, thereby being the greatest chart success she yet attained, it made sense that she re-teamed with its producer Paul A. Rothchild for its follow-up, Sweet Forgiveness. Rothchild's modus operandi remains slickness, but he has backed away from his fondness for studio musicians, letting Raitt record the majority of the record with her touring band (who only were spotted occasionally throughout Homeplate). All this means is that the near-hit "Runaway" is almost a ringer, largely because it's a poor choice for Raitt's sweetly funky Californian rock that was obviously designed as a bid for a single, therefore it was slicked up more than the rest of the record (which remains slick, but not glossy). Sweet Forgiveness is actually looser than Homeplate, a little less constrained. Then why isn't it quite as successful, artistically? That comes down to a selection of songs that aren't quite as effective as those Raitt usually picks -- and, in that sense, "Runaway" was a good indicator of the album. However, the selection of material isn't bad. If the tunes don't happen to form into a whole, it's still filled with great moments, from Earl Randall's opener "About to Make Me Leave Home" to Karla Bonoff's closer "Home." Sweet Forgiveness may not be one of Raitt's unqualified successes (despite its hit status), it's still a solid record, one that's hard to deny if you're already a Raitt fan.
Personnel:
Bonnie Raitt – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, vocals, slide guitar
Norton Buffalo – harmonica
Rosemary Butler – vocals
Lester Chambers – vocals
Sam Clayton – conductor, conga
Freebo – bass, guitar, vocals, fretless bass
David Grisman – mandolin, mandocello
Jef Labes – keyboard
Maxayn Lewis – vocals
Michael McDonald – vocals
Will McFarlane – guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
Bill Payne – organ, synthesizer, piano, keyboard, vocals, Fender Rhodes
JD Souther – vocals
Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar, guitar, keyboard
Dennis Whitted – drums
Carlena Williams – vocals
Production:
Producer: Paul A. Rothchild
Engineers: John Haeny, Roger Mayer
Remastering: Keith Blake, Lee Herschberg
Series producer: Gregg Geller
Project coordinator: Jo Motta
Art direction: John Van Hamersveld
Photography: John Van Hamersveld
