Son House Vinyl Records Lps For Sale
Check out these new and used Son House vinyl records LPs for sale. We recommend starting your Son House vinyl collection with the essential albums Raw Delta Blues, Father Of Folk Blues – 1965 and Father of the Delta Blues. Our inventory is always changing, so check back often, or browse our list of vinyl records for sale from blues musicians.
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In the crucible of the Mississippi Delta, where the blues was forged with the raw intensity of life’s struggles, one figure stands as a beacon of unbridled passion and musical genius: Eddie James “Son” House. Born on March 21, 1902, in Riverton, Mississippi, House would become a towering presence in the Delta blues scene, influencing generations of musicians with his visceral vocals, searing slide guitar, and emotionally charged performances. This article delves into the life, music, and profound impact of Son House, a cornerstone of American blues.
The Delta Roots:
Son House’s journey into the blues was deeply entwined with the soil of the Mississippi Delta, a region that birthed a musical genre that would reverberate worldwide. Raised in a family of sharecroppers, House grew up surrounded by the rhythmic cadences of work songs, the moans of spirituals, and the wailing cries of the blues that echoed through the cotton fields.
The Delta, with its oppressive history of racial injustice and economic hardship, became a crucible for the blues. It was in this cauldron of struggle that House found his voice, his guitar becoming an instrument of defiance and catharsis. The haunting landscapes of the Delta and its complex history would indelibly shape the raw, emotive quality of House’s music.
Early Musical Influences:
As a young man, Son House soaked in the sounds of the Delta, learning from local musicians and absorbing the diverse musical tapestry of the region. He was particularly drawn to the bottleneck slide guitar technique, a style characterized by sliding a glass or metal tube along the strings to create a distinctive, soulful sound. This technique would become one of House’s defining features, setting him apart in the blues landscape.
Influenced by fellow Delta blues legends like Charlie Patton and Willie Brown, House began honing his craft, transforming the pain and hardship of his surroundings into an expressive form of art. His guitar playing, marked by slashing slide work and percussive attacks, showcased a unique approach that would inspire countless musicians.
The Genesis of a Blues Legend:
Son House’s journey into the blues took a pivotal turn when he encountered the enigmatic Robert Johnson. House, who had moved to Lula, Mississippi, in the 1920s, became a mentor to the young Johnson. The relationship between the two musicians would become a legendary chapter in blues lore, further elevating House’s status as a guiding force in the Delta blues tradition.
House’s impact on Robert Johnson was profound, influencing the younger artist’s guitar style and vocal delivery. However, as Johnson’s star ascended, House faced personal challenges that led him to temporarily step away from music. He became a preacher in the Baptist church, a period of his life that would significantly shape his later performances.
Rediscovery and the Legendary 1964 Sessions:
Son House’s music had largely faded into obscurity when a group of blues enthusiasts and researchers embarked on a mission to rediscover the Delta’s lost legends. In the early 1960s, these enthusiasts, including folklorist Alan Lomax, tracked down Son House, who was then working as a railroad porter in Rochester, New York.
The rediscovery of Son House marked a turning point in the history of the blues revival. In 1964, House was persuaded to return to the recording studio, resulting in a collection of sessions that would become legendary in their own right. The recordings captured House’s raw, unfiltered performances, showcasing the same intensity that had captivated audiences in the Delta decades earlier.
The Resurgence of Son House:
The 1964 recordings brought Son House back into the spotlight, introducing a new generation to the power and authenticity of Delta blues. His voice, weathered by time and experience, carried the weight of a life lived on the fringes of society. Songs like “Death Letter Blues” and “Grinnin’ in Your Face” revealed the emotional depth and stark beauty of House’s artistry.
The blues revival of the 1960s embraced Son House as a living testament to the roots of the genre. His performances at folk festivals and college campuses drew enthusiastic crowds, as audiences connected with the unvarnished truth embedded in his music. House’s resurgence also inspired a wave of young musicians eager to delve into the Delta blues tradition.
The Uncompromising Artistry:
Son House’s music was a reflection of his uncompromising approach to the blues. His voice, a raw and fervent instrument, conveyed the pain, joy, and complexities of life in the Delta. The bottleneck slide guitar, a technique House mastered with unparalleled skill, added a haunting quality to his performances, enhancing the emotional impact of his songs.
House’s lyrics were often deeply personal, drawing on his experiences with love, loss, and the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South. In “Death Letter Blues,” he confronts the profound grief of losing a loved one, and in “Preachin’ Blues,” he weaves together his religious background with the unbridled passion of the blues.
The Legacy and Influence:
Son House’s impact on the blues cannot be overstated. His recordings, spanning the 1930s to the 1960s, serve as a crucial link to the Delta blues tradition. House’s influence extends far beyond his own era, reaching into the fabric of American music.
Countless artists, from blues purists to rock icons, have drawn inspiration from Son House. His slide guitar technique, marked by its expressive phrasing and emotional intensity, became a cornerstone of the blues and left an indelible mark on subsequent generations of musicians. Artists like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Eric Clapton all acknowledged House’s influence on their own musical journeys.
The Final Years:
Son House continued to perform and record into the 1970s, maintaining a presence in the blues community until the end of his life. In 1976, at the age of 84, House passed away in Detroit, Michigan. His passing marked the departure of a Delta blues legend, but his legacy lived on through the timeless recordings and the enduring impact he had on the blues and American music.
Conclusion:
Son House, the Delta blues architect and revered master, transcended the boundaries of time and space with his unbridled passion and musical genius. From the cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta to the folk festivals of the 1960s and beyond, House’s music echoed the profound experiences of a life steeped in struggle and resilience.
His bottleneck slide guitar, impassioned vocals, and deeply personal lyrics made Son House a singular force in the blues landscape. Through periods of obscurity and rediscovery, his legacy endures, carried forward by the countless artists who have been touched by the unyielding spirit of the Delta blues as channeled through the incomparable Son House.
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