Track Listing

1. You Got the Silver
2. Soul of a Man
3. Lord Protect My Child
4. Tired of My Tears
5. Share Your Love with Me
6. Evidence
7. Sweet Forgiveness
8. Security
9. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
10. Magnificent Sanctuary Band
11. Follow
12. Danger Zone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8073 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
The sweet, husky mix of sugar and sandpaper in two-time Grammy nominee Susan Tedeschi's voice breathes sultry life into the art of classic soul singing on Hope and Desire, her fourth album. It's somewhat disappointing that she's chosen to defer her own songwriting in favor of classics and obscurities by Ray Charles ("Tired of My Tears"), Dylan ("Lord Protect My Child"), the Rolling Stones ("You Got the Silver"), and others. She's also left her guitar at home, assigning the exceptional playing to Clapton sideman Doyle Bramhall, Jr., and her husband, the Allman Brothers' Derek Trucks. But it's thrilling how Tedeschi applies her gospel-trained vocalizing to these 12 numbers, all tales of hope and desire, delivered at an unhurried pace so the delicate filigrees of her phrasing make them resonate with absolute emotional conviction. By the time the album closes with the gut-bucket blues "The Dangerzone," Teseschi's easily made the case for her third Grammy nod. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews

Soul Of A Woman
The idea of a woman rockin' the blues always seems to grab attention and Tedeschi got it in spades with her spunky debut "Just Won't Burn". It was an undeniably good blaze of blues-rock that made her a star. Her followup, "Wait For Me", showed she's more of a Bonnie Raitt gal than a Janis Joplin. Moreso, like all soulful females, she's been influenced by Aretha Franklin and that's more apparant on this set. She opens up the soul/R & B playbook for inspiration as evidenced by her steadfast vocal on "Share Your Love With Me" and her torchy shouts on "Soul Of A Man". Most impressive is her confident exhibition on the snappy R & B "Tired Of My Tears". Drummer Jay Bellerose is deep in the pocket here and gospelish backups by Jean McClain, Niki Harris and the Blind Boys Of Alabama are a delight. Derek Trucks (husband) plays some fine Dobro on the stripped down "Lord Protect My Child" (Bob Dylan). Other than digging the rootsy-blues opener "You Got The Silver", which features some tart guitar licks from Doyle Bramhall 2 , fans of her tough barrelhouse blues may feel a little disengaged with the direction Tedeschi is heading but she's a talent that can't be limited to mere bluster and boogie.

I Believe to My Soul!!
Susan Tedeschi(-Trucks) is one of the brightest lights on the modern blues landscape. Thus far it has been impossible to listen to her without at least briefly being put in mind of Bonnie Raitt. Most of the time Susan works with her own band, playing a tangy lead guitar and singing her own material. Here she eschews it all-- the guitar, the pen, the band. The result is less Bonnie Raitt, more Otis Redding-- but all Susan.

On Hope and Desire, producer Joe Henry (I Believe to My Soul; Solomon Burke; the last Aimee Mann and Ani DiFranco releases) assembles a crack, empathetic and soulful studio band, featuring Doyle Bramhall II on guitar. Susan serves as vocalist, and every song is a cover of an under-appreciated soul chestnut, or a song re-interpreted through the lens of R'n'B. The album seems less like a typical Susan Tedeschi record, and more like a classic soul album from the early 70s, like an Al Green record.

"You Got the Silver," a Stones album track, sets the tone right off, Susan's earthy soulful voice inhabiting the song in a new way, making it all her own. She does this with each track on the record. Maybe the best is the Dylan cover, "Lord Protect My Child," which is so deeply steeped in gospel and blues that its hard to remember its a Dylan song.

Husband Derek Trucks guests on three tracks; as usual, his playing is electrifying and precise, and you know its him 2 notes in.

Joe Henry is a great producer for Susan. Give a listen to the Solomon Burke record he produced recently, or to I Believe to My Soul, a multi-artist set (Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Ann Peebles etc.) he produced in '05. These show where he's coming from on this record, and Susan is a perfect foil, tapping into the same wellspring that has long informed the work of Thomas, Toussaint, Peebles and Burke.

Presumably Susan will be back with the boys in the band next time out. But Hope and Desire will prove to be a timeless and essential addition to her canon.

Would sound good in the CD changer on shuffle with: Songlines (Derek Trucks Band, 2006); I Believe to My Soul (various; 2005)

Soulfully Refreshing!
What a talent Susan Tedeschi is, both on vocals and guitar, and on this new CD Hope and Desire Susan concentrates on showcasing her brilliant vocals on twelve obscure, soulful gems. The songs on this CD are quite varied and contain interesting and catchy lyrics that Tedeschi phrases with power, conviction, soul and tender grace ... be sure to read the exceptional lyrics while listening to this CD the first time through. An example of wonderful lyrics contained in this CD are found in the touchingly soulful ballad "Sweet Forgiveness":

Sweet Forgiveness, dear God above
I say we all deserve, a taste of that kind of love
Someone who'll hold onto your hand
And whisper "I understand, and I still love you"

The high energy standouts that showcase Tedeschi's trademark vocal prowess and soulfulness are the woman-cheating songs "Evidence" and Ray Charles' "Tired of My Tears", both of which contain terrific background vocals, as well as the Otis Redding/Etta James classic "Security".

Other great tracks include the opener, a Rolling Stones song "You Got the Silver", and a song by one of Tedeschi's influences - Bob Dylan - "Lord Protect my Child".

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at first because this CD doesn't feature Tedeschi on guitar or her regular touring band who are wonderful, but the studio artists featured on this CD (including Clapton guitarist Doyle Bramhall, Jr., husband Derek Trucks, the Blind Boys of Alabama) are terrific and provide a very upbeat and soulful sound. Tedeschi couldn't have chosen a better producer of this CD ... the acclaimed singer/songwriter Joe Henry, who has worked Grammy magic recently with Solomon Burke.

This CD is soulfully refreshing and Tedeschi fans as well as those who enjoy soulful music with moving lyrics will love this CD. The versatile Tedeschi has more than succeeded in putting her personal spin on heartfelt songs from diverse sources that are all soulful and prove to be a perfect match for her incredible vocal talents.