Son House - Original Delta Blues
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Artist: Son HouseEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1998-06-30
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Death Letter
- Pearline
- Louise Mcghee
- John the Revelator
- Empire State Express
- Preachin' Blues
- Grinnin' in Your Face
- Sundown
- Levee Camp Moan
- Pony Blues
- Downhearted Blues
Free Music Notes for Original Delta Blues
Free Music Review: Review of this CD by a non-Blues-fan.
Hit: 5 Stars
I say I'm not a Blues fan because I'm not. I don't consider myself a fan of any particular style or genre of music because the overwhelming majority of artists representing the different genres are, in my opinion, totally dispensable and not at all interesting or compelling. I pick and choose like a connissuer among all of the artists the music world has and has had to offer.
With that said, I must share my thoughts on this Son House CD. For years I was waiting to hear "GREAT Blues" but never came across it until I discovered Robert Johnson's Complete Recordings and THIS SON HOUSE ALBUM, The Original Delta Blues.
I had gotten into Robert Johnson at first, and as accessible as I considered him to be (to people new to blues music like I was at the time) I think I consider Son House on this particular album to be even MORE accessible.
A little background info on the man: Son House was one of the old-time blues players from the late '20s and the '30s, and, famously, had taught the immortal (well at least more famous) Robert Johnson how to play the blues. He recorded three double-sided singles in 1930 and toured throughout the '30s. His next recordings weren't until 1941 when blues archivist Alan Lomax came by and recorded Son House with a small band on, I believe, the second story of a mom-and-pop store (providing the necessary electricity) near Lake Cormorant, Mississippi. They cut 6 songs there. Lomax returned the following year and recorded Son House -- this time solo -- playing 7 more songs and another song in two parts... And that was it for Son House until THIS ALBUM, The Original Delta Blues, was recorded in 3 days in mid-April 1965, in New York City, during the "blues revival" that was happening then.
Now, about this album: Rather than being a "past-his-prime" thing, Son House DOES sound better than ever, and I'm apparently not the only one who has this opinion.
I have the collection A Proper Introduction to Son House put out in 2004 by Proper Records, as it's the best CD to get if you want, like I wanted, virtually all of Son House's older material (the three double-sided singles from 1930, 6 songs from 1941 and 9 tracks from 1942)... I understand there may be a few more tracks from those times that were recorded, but I haven't seen them on CDs anywhere... in any case, while I am glad to have that collection, I find I still enjoy The Original Delta Blues -- featuring a much older Son House singing and playing his unique steel-stringed guitar -- a great deal more than I do the compilation of his older material. He had a stronger voice back then but, to my ears and sensibilities, it can't compare with the grief-stricken voice of old man Son House.
"Death Letter" and "Preachin' Blues", as found here especially, are certainly clasics.
"Sundown" and the musically/lyrically related "Downhearted Blues" I also like a lot.
"Pearline" and "Louise Mcghee" are more touching, sad tunes about women.
The a cappela "Grinnin' In Your Face" is another GREAT track. (Another a capella track, "John The Revelator", despite its gospel/religious implications which disagree with me, is still catchy.)
And the remaining tracks on this 11-song collection I like less but are still okay.
So that's what I think about this CD.
p.s. I have a hope that, with the help of Son House fans The White Stripes and other modern, popular acts who sing the praises of the man, more young people (especially the teenagers today) will discover Son House for themselves and hear something worth listening to... I hope that with Son House's help more kids can become more sensitive & thoughtful & sympathetic to human distress everywhere. As T.S. Eliot has written, "Youth is cruel and has no remorse / And smiles at situations it cannot see," and yet there is always room for maturity to be introduced in the hearts & minds of the hyper-modern, fast-living young people of today.
Original Delta Blues Poster
This Columbia Legacy reissue of the 1965 release is one of the few recordings available of one of the blues' founding fathers. It contains some of his best songs, which have unsurprisingly become classics of the Delta blues genre: "Death Letter," "Preachin' Blues," "Levee Camp Moan," "Pony Blues," and "Downhearted Blues" are all here. Though not as comprehensive as Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions, this CD is an excellent introduction to this seminal artist's work, revealing the creativity, passion, skillful guitar playing, and rich singing that helped form a whole new kind of music. --Genevieve WilliamsBlues Music CDs
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