Release Date: 1992.
Recording Time: 100 minutes.
Recording Date: April 12, 1965 - April 14, 1965.
Release Info: CS 9217, 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered.
Note: The complete sessions were released as an album on June 18, 1992, by Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings. The original album (with fewer tracks) was released in 1965.
Father Of The Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions is a critically acclaimed album by Son House, capturing powerful performances from his "rediscovery" period in the 1960s with superior sound fidelity. The album features 21 tracks, including five alternate takes and seven previously unissued tracks, recorded in New York City in April 1965.
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According to legend, it was Son House's blistering bottleneck guitar that prompted Robert Johnson to pick up a six string. House's potent early recordings from 1930 and 1941 to 1942 showcased his raw, emotionally powerful style, but never received the acclaim of Johnson's. When he was rediscovered during the '60s blues revivalist movement, House's voice still possessed wall-shaking intensity and his idiosyncratic slide guitar still had bite. These 21 recordings (including five alternate takes) offer superior fidelity and significant room for House to stretch out. The first disc features his classic "Preachin' Blues," a stirring a capella "Grinning in Your Face," and a nine-minute "Levee Camp Moan," with Canned Heat's Al Wilson on harp. Disc two (outtakes and alternates) includes an odd homage to President Kennedy and a riveting version of the spiritual "Motherless Children." ~ Marc Greilsamer
After being rediscovered by the folk-blues community in the early '60s, Son House rose to the occasion and recorded this magnificent set of performances. Allowed to stretch out past the shorter running time of the original 78s, House turns in wonderful, steaming performances of some of his best-known material. On some tracks, House is supplemented by folk-blues researcher/musician Alan Wilson, who would later become a member of the blues-rock group Canned Heat and here plays some nice second guitar and harmonica on several cuts. This two-disc set features alternate takes, some unissued material and some studio chatter from producer John Hammond, Sr. that ocassionally hints at the chaotic nature inherent to some of these '60s "rediscovery" sessions. While not as overpowering as his earlier work (what could be?), all of these sides are so power packed with sheer emotional involvement from House, they're an indispensable part of his canonade. ~ Cub Koda
Credits: Design (Inner Sleeve) - Brian Shields; Guitar - Al Wilson (tracks: A5, D3); Harmonica - Al Wilson (tracks: B4, C2); Liner Notes - Dick Waterman, Lawrence Cohn; Photography By (Cover Photo), Cover (Cover Photo) - Dick Waterman; Producer (Produced By) - Frank Driggs, John Hammond; Resonator Guitar (Steel-bodied National Guitar), Vocals - Son House; Written-By - S. House.
Tracklist:
- A1. Death Letter [4:19]
- A2. Pearline [4:32]
- A3. Louise McGee [6:12]
- A4. John The Revelator [2:30]
- A5. Empire State Express [3:39]
- B1. Preachin' Blues [5:43]
- B2. Grinning In Your Face [2:06]
- B3. Sundown [6:12]
- B4. Levee Camp Moan [9:28]
- C1. Death Letter (Alternate Take) [5:51]
- C2. Levee Camp Moan (Alternate Take) [4:50]
- C3. Grinning In Your Face (Alternate Take) [3:12]
- C4. John The Revelator (Alternate Take) [2:15]
- C5. Preachin' Blues (Alternate Take) [5:27]
- C6. President Kennedy [3:42]
- D1. A Down The Staff [3:40]
- D2. Motherless Children [4:28]
- D3. Yonder Comes My Mother [3:38]
- D4. Shake It And Break It [2:42]
- D5. Pony Blues [5:22]
- D6. Downhearted Blues [7:08]