B-Side Guys

John Hiatt

John Hiatt’s albums, ranked by what the critics we trust thought of each one. 8 have a B-Side Breakdown, averaging 73 (Keeper). See the discography in release order.

What is John Hiatt’s best album?

By the critics, it’s Bring the Family (1987), with a B-Side Breakdown of 86 (Heavy Rotation) from 9 reviews. 89% of them liked it.

Next best: Slow Turning (85) and The Eclipse sessions (77). Lowest rated: Overcoats (60).

John Hiatt albums ranked

Best to worst by B-Side Breakdown.

  1. 1. Bring the Family (1987): 86 Heavy Rotation
  2. 2. Slow Turning (1988): 85 Heavy Rotation
  3. 3. The Eclipse sessions (2018): 77 Keeper
  4. 4. Stolen Moments (1990): 77 Keeper
  5. 5. Hangin’ Around the Observatory (1974): 70 Keeper
  6. 6. Walk On (1995): 67 Mixed Bag
  7. 7. Master of Disaster (2005): 60 Mixed Bag
  8. 8. Overcoats (1975): 60 Mixed Bag

John Hiatt discography, in release order

The earliest here70Hangin’ Around the Observatory, 1974The critics' favorite86Bring the Family, 1987The latest77The Eclipse sessions, 2018. 7 points above Hangin’ Around the Observatory.

The career, by Breakdown

Every John Hiatt album with a B-Side Breakdown, in release order. Above the dashed line, most critics liked it.

5010070likedHangin’ Around the Observatory (1974): 70701974Overcoats (1975): 60601975Bring the Family (1987): 86861987Slow Turning (1988): 85851988Stolen Moments (1990): 77771990Walk On (1995): 67671995Master of Disaster (2005): 60602005The Eclipse sessions (2018): 77772018

Every John Hiatt studio album, oldest first. 2 don't have a Breakdown yet; each gets one once three critics' reviews turn up.

  1. 1974Album cover for Hangin’ Around the Observatory by John HiattHangin’ Around the Observatory70 Keeper
  2. 1975Album cover for Overcoats by John HiattOvercoats60 Mixed Bag
  3. 1987Album cover for Bring the Family by John HiattBring the Family86 Heavy Rotation
  4. 1988Album cover for Slow Turning by John HiattSlow Turning85 Heavy Rotation
  5. 1990Album cover for Stolen Moments by John HiattStolen Moments77 Keeper
  6. 1993Perfectly Good GuitarNo Breakdown yet
  7. 1995Album cover for Walk On by John HiattWalk On67 Mixed Bag
  8. 2000Crossing Muddy WatersNo Breakdown yet
  9. 2005Album cover for Master of Disaster by John HiattMaster of Disaster60 Mixed Bag
  10. 2018Album cover for The Eclipse sessions by John HiattThe Eclipse sessions77 Keeper

Which critics love John Hiatt, and which don’t

Each outlet’s scores set against the other critics on the same albums. Outlets that scored at least 3 John Hiatt albums.

Warmest on John HiattRecord Collector9 points above the other critics, on average, across 4 albums.Coolest on John HiattRobert Christgau10 points below the other critics, on average, across 4 albums.Warmed up over timeRobert Christgau21 points below the other critics in its reviews from 1987–1989, level from 2006.

Outlet by outlet

Average points above or below the other critics. Tap an outlet for its scores album by album.

Record Collector4 albums+9
  1. Hangin’ Around the Observatory 197475 vs 69 from 4 others +6
  2. Overcoats 197575 vs 56 from 4 others +19
  3. Bring the Family 1987100 vs 84 from 8 others +16
  4. Slow Turning 198880 vs 86 from 9 others −6

All Record Collector reviews

Rolling Stone4 albums+3
  1. Hangin’ Around the Observatory 197480 vs 68 from 4 others +13
  2. Overcoats 197560 vs 60 from 4 others 0
  3. Slow Turning 198880 vs 86 from 9 others −6
  4. Stolen Moments 199080 vs 75 from 2 others +5

All Rolling Stone reviews

AllMusic8 albums−4
  1. Hangin’ Around the Observatory 197460 vs 73 from 4 others −13
  2. Overcoats 197540 vs 65 from 4 others −25
  3. Bring the Family 198790 vs 85 from 8 others +5
  4. Slow Turning 198890 vs 85 from 9 others +5
  5. Stolen Moments 199070 vs 80 from 2 others −10
  6. Walk On 199560 vs 70 from 2 others −10
  7. Master of Disaster 200570 vs 55 from 2 others +15
  8. The Eclipse sessions 201880 vs 76 from 3 others +4

All AllMusic reviews

The Rolling Stone Album Guide4 albums−7
  1. Hangin’ Around the Observatory 197470 vs 70 from 4 others 0
  2. Overcoats 197560 vs 60 from 4 others 0
  3. Bring the Family 198770 vs 88 from 8 others −18
  4. Walk On 199560 vs 70 from 2 others −10

All The Rolling Stone Album Guide reviews

Robert Christgau4 albums−10
  1. Hangin’ Around the Observatory 197465 vs 71 from 4 others −6
  2. Overcoats 197565 vs 59 from 4 others +6
  3. Bring the Family 198759 vs 89 from 8 others −30
  4. Slow Turning 198875 vs 86 from 9 others −11

All Robert Christgau reviews

Missing an album? Our back catalog is still filling in, and every artist’s other studio albums are on the list to be added, so this page should be complete soon.

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