Son House

2-CE SET

This newly remastered 2-CD release contains Son House’s earliest tunes, including “My Black Mama,” “Preachin’ the Blues,” and “Dry Spell Blues,” among other masterpieces. The set opens with an early recording of House’s signature song, the soulful “Death Letter Blues”. The set contains three different sessions recorded by the blues giant in 1930, 1941, and 1942, respectively. The oldest session was captured in Wisconsin, and subsequently issued as 78rpm sides by Paramount Records. The other two dates were taped in Mississippi by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress and Fisk University, including 7 tracks where House performed accompanied by other bluesmen, such as Willie Brown, Fiddlin’ Joe Martin and Leroy Williams.

These sensational recordings are a treasure of incalculable value, which would form the basis of Son House’s legend and secure his reputation asone of the greatest blues fi gures of that classic era. It is truly an indispensable set for any folk-blues devotee.

PERSONNEL:

Solo recordings by SON HOUSE, vocals and guitar.

With the exception of CD1, tracks 12-18, accompanied by Willie Brown (vocals and guitar), Fiddlin’ Joe Martin (vocals and mandolin), and Leroy Williams (harmonica).

Recorded in Wisconsin and Mississippi, between 1930 and 1942.

CD 1

01 DEATH LETTER BLUES
02 SPECIAL RIDER BLUES
03 LOW DOWN, DIRTY DOG BLUES
04 AM I RIGHT OR WRONG?
05 THE JINX BLUES – part 1
06 THE JINX BLUES – part 2
07 THE PONY BLUES
08 WALKING BLUES – 1942 version
09 DEPOT BLUES
10 COUNTY FARM BLUES
11 AMERICAN DEFENSE
12 GOVERNMENT FLEET BLUES
13 LEVEE CAMP BLUES
14 DELTA BLUES
15 WALKING BLUES – 1941 version
16 SHETLAND PONY BLUES
17 CAMP HOLLERS
18 FOUR O’CLOCK BLUES

CD 2

01 EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS
02 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
03 YONDER COMES MY MOTHER
04 PEARLINE
05 JOHN THE REVELATOR
06 SON’S BLUES
07 I SHALL NOT BE MOVED
08 LOUISE MCGHEE
09 MOTHERLESS CHILDREN
10 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY FARM BLUES – 1930 version
11 CLARKSDALE MOAN
12 PREACHIN’ THE BLUES
13 MY BLACK MAMA
14 DRY SPELL BLUES
15 SPECIAL RIDER BLUES – alternate take (test)
16 THE PONY BLUES – LIVE

TOTAL TIME: 56:17