Sweet Forgiveness

1977 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Sweet Forgiveness

Studio album by

Bonnie Raitt

Released

April 1977

Studio

Sunset Sound, Los Angeles

Genre

Rock

Length

37:37

Label

Warner Bros.

Producer

Paul Rothchild

Bonnie Raitt chronology

Home Plate
(1975)

Sweet Forgiveness
(1977)

The Glow
(1979)

Sweet Forgiveness is the sixth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1977. The single "Two Lives" was written by Mark T. Jordan of the Edison Electric Band.

Raitt's cover of the Del Shannon hit "Runaway" was issued as a single, reaching No. 57 on the U.S. singles chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	A−^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A ^[2]

Rolling Stone wrote that Raitt has "abandoned her flowing naturalness for a plodding roughness which, unfortunately, matches producer Paul Rothchild’s singular lack of imagination."^[4]

Track listing

Side one

"About to Make Me Leave Home" (Earl Randall) – 4:14
"Runaway" (Max Crook, Del Shannon) – 3:57
"Two Lives" (Mark Jordan) – 3:49
"Louise" (Paul Siebel) – 2:45
"Gamblin' Man" (Eric Kaz) – 3:27

Side two

"Sweet Forgiveness" (Daniel Moore) – 4:11
"My Opening Farewell" (Jackson Browne) – 5:20
"Three Time Loser" (Don Covay, Ron Miller) – 3:19
"Takin' My Time" (Bill Payne) – 3:37
"Home" (Karla Bonoff) – 3:28

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
J.D. 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

Charts and certifications

Chart (1977)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[5]	25


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[6]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Sweet Forgiveness at AllMusic
^ "Bonnie Raitt on the record". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-13.
^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Rolling Stone review
^ "Bonnie Raitt Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^ "American album certifications – Bonnie Raitt – Sweet Forgiveness". Recording Industry Association of America. October 24, 1980.