(Verve/Universal) 4 stars

If they held a blindfold test for `Hope and Desire’, you’d swear it was Bonnie Raitt singing.

Susan Tedeschi has that same, frayed-edge, gospel-inflected vocal style, a stinging electric guitar attack and covers the blues-roots spectrum.

Tedeschi has several fine albums to her name — plus a Grammy nomination, but this super-soulful effort should earn her the broad appeal she deserves.

With Joe Henry producing, Doyle Bramhall II (ex-Double Trouble) and husband Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers Band) shouldering guitar duties, Tedeschi lets rip on a dozen covers, including the Stones’ `You Got the Silver’ (a killer opener), Bob Dylan’s `Lord Protect My Child’, Otis Redding’s `Security’ and Percy Mayfield’s `The Danger Zone’.

Pride of place goes to (Dorsey Burnette’s) `Magnificent Sanctuary Band’, backed by gospel super-group The Blind Boys of Alabama, and a blue-infused rendition of Iris DeMent’s `Sweet Forgiveness’.

Tedeschi’s guitar technique is also given full rein in that excellent concert DVD series `Live From Austin, Texas’ (New West/Shock), also highly recommended.