Thing Called Love

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to Thing Called Love by Bonnie Raitt from her iconic album Nick of Time! This track, a cover of John Hiatt’s 1987 song from his album Bring the Family, was transformed by Raitt into a bluesy, flirtatious anthem that helped propel her to mainstream stardom. Hiatt wrote the song for his wife, capturing the raw, imperfect beauty of love with lines like “Baby, you know you ain’t no Prince Charming,” which Raitt flipped to reflect her perspective, singing she’s no queen and her lover’s no prince. The song’s music video, featuring Dennis Quaid as her romantic interest, was a game-changer. Raitt, initially uneasy about shooting videos, invited her friend Quaid to ease her nerves, and their chemistry—complete with Raitt blushing and Quaid sucking on a toothpick—made the video a hit, boosting the album’s success. Fun fact: despite its popularity, the single didn’t crack the Billboard Hot 100, but it set the stage for Nick of Time’s chart-topping triumph, selling over five million copies.

Another tidbit from the Zoo Crew’s vinyl vault: Raitt performed Thing Called Love at the 1990 Grammy Awards, where she won big, including Album of the Year for Nick of Time. The song’s gritty slide guitar and infectious rhythm, backed by musicians like drummer Ricky Fataar and bassist Hutch Hutchinson, gave it a live, barroom feel that resonated with fans. Raitt has shared in interviews that the song’s raw energy came from her love for the funky, authentic grooves of bands like The Fabulous Thunderbirds, whose style influenced her approach to the track. Posts on X from her official account, like one on February 14, 2024, highlight the video’s “flashback heat and fun,” celebrating its enduring appeal. The song’s legacy lives on, with Raitt noting in a 2019 Billboard oral history that its success was unexpected, given the modest budget and expectations for the album.

Bonnie Raitt, born November 8, 1949, in Burbank, California, was destined for music. Daughter of Broadway star John Raitt and pianist Marge Goddard, she grew up surrounded by performance. By age eight, she was teaching herself guitar, inspired by folk and blues records. In her teens, she dove into the blues, idolizing artists like Muddy Waters and Fred McDowell. While attending Radcliffe College in the late 1960s, Raitt began performing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, coffeehouses, blending her bluesy guitar skills with her soulful voice. Her big break came when promoter Dick Waterman spotted her, leading to gigs opening for blues legends like Howlin’ Wolf and Sippie Wallace. In 1971, Warner Bros. Records signed her, and she released her self-titled debut album at 22, kicking off a career that’s spanned over five decades.

Raitt’s journey wasn’t always smooth. Despite critical acclaim for her early albums, commercial success eluded her until Nick of Time in 1989. Her struggles with addiction, which she overcame by getting sober in 1987, and being dropped by Warner Bros. in 1983, shaped her resilience. Today, she’s a 13-time Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and a beacon for roots music. Connect with her on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can also join the vibrant community at Bonnie’s Pride and Joy, a fan site packed with news and updates, or engage with fellow Zoo Freaks in the Bonnie Raitt Fan Club on Facebook, where devotees share stories and celebrate her timeless music.