Slow Turning (1988)

The Wikipedia article for John Hiatt’s ninth album offers such a basic and even admirably composed microcosm of his career that I am taking the easy way out and quoting at length: “[Slow Turning] provided Hiatt's only significant radio hit with the title track [although it didn’t make any Billboard Top 40]. The single ‘Slow Turning’ was also featured in the 2002 motion picture drama The Rookie which starred Dennis Quaid. ‘Feels Like Rain’ was later covered by Buddy Guy on an album of the same name and was featured in the 2004 Kate Hudson movie Raising Helen. Aaron Neville also covered ‘Feels Like Rain’ on his 1991 album Warm Your Heart. ‘Drive South’ became a No. 2 country hit for Suzy Bogguss in early 1993. ‘Icy Blue Heart’ was covered by Emmylou Harris on her 1989 album Bluebird, with backing vocals by Bonnie Raitt, and was covered later by Linda Ronstadt on her 1998 album We Ran. Ilse DeLange recorded ‘It'll Come To You’ and ‘Feels Like Rain’ on her live album Dear John. During the barroom scene in the film Thelma and Louise, the band is playing ‘Tennessee Plates’ (Charlie Sexton recorded the song for the soundtrack album).” Hiatt has made a career of writing songs that others record and once in a while having small hits with his own recordings of them. The album closer on Slow Turning, “Feels Like Rain,” comes up a lot in the list above and was my favorite on recent visits, moody and beautiful and introspective. But the whole album was a pleasure for me in 1988 and it still is. The album opener “Drive South” is a great start to a road trip and the whole album is a good soundtrack for one too. Take it all the way. I used to go back and forth with a friend over which Hiatt album was best, Slow Turning or Bring the Family. I stumped for Bring the Family, and would still, but there’s no question Slow Turning is another great set and one I have ended up spending significant time with. Half the songs at least have pedigrees of being covered by artists we know, as you can see, and/or finding their way into movies we also know. Don’t be surprised. If you’re going to buy any two John Hiatt albums, make Slow Turning your second. Or let me know if you’ve got any more good ones.