Bonnie Raitt is back. Performing last night at the Grammys with Alicia Keys, she honored the late Etta James with a rendition of “Sunday Kind Of Love,” and on April 10, the nine-time Grammy winner will release Slipstream, her first new studio album since 2005’s Souls Alike. It also marks the debut of Raitt’s own label, Redwing Records.

Like many of Raitt’s previous albums, Slipstream will include a mix of covers and original material. Four songs were produced by Joe Henry (Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Bettye LeVette), with Raitt handling the rest (as she did on Souls Alike). “I’m in the slipstream of all these styles of music,” she says of the album’s title. “I’m so inspired and so proud to continue these traditions, whether it’s reggae or soul or blues. I’m in the slipstream of those who came before me, and I’m leaving one for those behind me. I’m holding up the traditions of the music that I love.”

The first single from Slipstream is a cover of Gerry Rafferty’s “Right Down The Line,” a 1978 solo hit for the Scottish singer-songwriter, previously of Stealers Wheel. The lite-rock original spent four weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and now Raitt gives “Right Down The Line” a reggae lilt.

Now I don’t care much for reggae, so maybe I’m completely blinded by my love for Raitt, but I dig what she’s done. The bluesy guitar puts it over the top, and I’m beyond thrilled that she’s back. If Rafferty was still around to hear Raitt’s cover (he passed away in January 2011), I bet he’d be beyond thrilled too.

Not only has Raitt returned to recording with Slipstream, she’s also gearing up to tour again. I’ve only seen her twice, but she’s a great live performer, and I hope to catch her this time when she comes around to California.

Purchase Bonnie Raitt – “Right Down The Line” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.