Sunday, March 21, 2010

It's The Birthday of Son House

There are bluesmen, who are a major part of blues music, and Son House definitely was one of those guy, but I would go so far as to say that Son House is a musician, who is a major part of music as a whole. If we consider those he influenced, like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Stevie Ray Vaughan and those he played with, like Charley Patton and Willie Brown, then I'm willing to say that Elvis, the Beatles and any other musicians you can think of are probably influenced by him in some small way also.

"He was born Eddie James House, Jr., on March 21, 1902, in Riverton, MS. By the age of 15, he was preaching the gospel in various Baptist churches as the family seemingly wandered from one plantation to the next. He didn't even bother picking up a guitar until he turned 25; to quote House, "I didn't like no guitar when I first heard it; oh gee, I couldn't stand a guy playin' a guitar. I didn't like none of it." But if his ambivalence to the instrument was obvious, even more obvious was the simple fact that Son hated plantation labor even more and had developed a taste for corn whiskey. After drunkenly launching into a blues at a house frolic in Lyon, MS, one night and picking up some coin for doing it, the die seemed to be cast; Son House may have been a preacher, but he was part of the blues world now." ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide


Son House - Death Letter Blues


The Complete Library of Congress Sessions, 1941-1942
The Complete Library of Congress Sessions, 1941-1942 by Son House

This album, is a classic re-release of an item deleted in 1997 features 19 blues recordings from Mississippi Delta bluesman Son House recorded in 1941-42. He's on guitar & vocals, joined by Willie Brown, Fiddlin' Joe Martin & Leory Williams. A portion of this was recorded at Klack's Store, Lake Cormorant, Mississippi. You'll hear occasional railway noises in the background, as the store, which had the electricity necessary for the recording, was close to a branch-line between the lake & Robinsonville, which is where the remaining titles were recorded.

Track Listing;

1. Levee Camp Blues
2. Government Fleet Blues
3. Walking Blues
4. Shetland Pony Blues
5. Fo' Clock Blues
6. Camp Hollers
7. Delta Blues
8. Special Rider Blues
9. Special Rider Blues
10. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues
11. Depot Blues
12. Key of Minor
13. American Defense
14. Am I Right or Wrong
15. Walking Blues
16. Country Farm Blues
17. Pony Blues
18. Jinx Blues, Pt. 1
19. Jinx Blues, Pt. 2

Son House @SqueezeMyLemon

Son House @Amazon.com


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