Son House

House nació en Riverton, localidad cercana a Clarksdale, Misisipi, siendo el hermano mediano de 17. A los ocho años de edad, y tras la separación de sus padres, se trasladó a Tallulah, Luisiana, junto a su madre. Durante su adolescencia, quiso convertirse en un predicador bautista, iniciándose a los quince años. Inspirado por el trabajo de Willie Wilson, House se vio atraído por el blues, a pesar de la oposición de la Iglesia acerca de este estilo musical por los pecados que lo rodeaban, comenzando a tocar la guitarra a mediados de la década de 1920. Trabajó hasta 1942 en Robinsonville, Misisipi, con músicos como Charley Patton, Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Fiddlin' Joe Martin y Leroy Williams.
Tras asesinar a un hombre, en supuesta defensa propia, pasó un tiempo en la Prisión del Estado de Misisipi, durante los años 1928 y 1929.
Son House realizó grabaciones en 1930 para la compañía discográfica Paramount Records y para Alan Lomax (perteneciente a la Biblioteca del Congreso) en 1941 y 1942. Posteriormente desapareció de la escena musical hasta la década de 1960 (periodo caracterizado por el resurgir del country blues), cuando, tras una búsqueda iniciada por Nick Perls, Dick Waterman y Phil Spiro en la región del Delta del Misisipi, fue "redescubierto" en 1964 en Rochester, Nueva York, localidad en la que vivía desde 1943; House estaba retirado de la escena musical y trabajaba para la New York Central Railroad, siendo completamente ajeno al entusiamo internacional que reinaba por la reeedición de sus primeras grabaciones. Debido a ello, inició una serie de giras musicales por Estados Unidos y Europa, realizado grabaciones para la compañía CBS. Al igual que Mississippi John Hurt, actuó en el Newport Folk Festival en 1964, en el New York Folk Festival de 1965, en la gira europea del verano de 1970 junto a Skip James y Bukka White y en el Festival de Jazz de Montreux de ese mismo año.
Los últimos años de su vida estuvieron caracterizados por la enfermedad, volviendo a retirarse de la escena musical en 1974 trasladándose a Detroit, Michigan, lugar donde residiría hasta su fallecimiento debido a un cáncer de laringe. Fue enterrado en el Mt. Hazel Cemetery. Los miembros de la Sociedad de Blues de Detroit, realizaron una serie de conciertos benéficos para recaudar dinero con el fin de construir una estatua en la tumba de Son House.
El estilo musical innovador de House se caracteriza por utilizar ritmos fuertes, marcados y repetitivos, junto a una forma de cantar que recuerda los lamentos de las chain gang (grupos de prisioneros). House influenció ampliamente a Muddy Waters y Robert Johnson, siendo este último el que llevaría la música de House a otras audiencias; fue precisamente House quien, en una conversación con admiradores en la década de 1960, expandió la leyenda de que Johnson había vendido su alma al diablo a cambio de poder tocar la guitarra de forma magistral. House ha influenciado a músicos actuales como White Stripes, quienes realizaron una versión de su canción "Death Letter" en el disco "De Stijl", interpretando dicha canción en la ceremonia de entrega de los premios Grammy de 2004. Los White Stripes también incorporaron secciones de la canción tradicional de Son House "John the Revelator" en la canción "Cannon" de su disco "The White Stripes".

Las grabaciones de Son House se engloban en cuatro categorías: un número pequeño de canciones (de 6 a 10) fueron grabadas en 1930 para la compañía discográfica Paramount Records, grabando muchas de ellas con el mismo nombre, como por ejemplo las dos partes de la canción "My Black Mama". 19 canciones grabadas por Alan Lomax en 1941 y 1942, sin carácter comercial, grabaciones de estudio desde 1965 y grabaciones en directo, del mismo periodo.

Victalia

1965 - Death Letter

01. Death Letter [00:04:17]
02. Pearline [00:04:30]
03. Louise Mcghee [00:06:09]
04. John The Revelator [00:02:29]
05. Empire State Express [00:03:39]
06. Preachin' Blues [00:05:41]
07. Grinning In Your Face [00:02:08]
08. Sundown [00:06:11]
09. Levee Camp Moan [00:09:27]

Victalia

1969 - The Vocal Intensity Of Son House

01 - Son's Blues [00:20:45]
02 - Yonder Comes My Mother [00:01:55]
03 - Shetland Pony Blues [00:03:46]
04 - Preachin' The Blues [00:07:25]
04 - Sun Goin' Down [00:07:11]
05 - Empire State Express [00:08:50]
06 - Grinnin' In Your Face [00:03:48]

Victalia

1990 - Son House And The Great Delta Blues Singers

01. Son House - My Black Mama (Part I) (3:11)
02. Son House - My Black Mama (Part II) (3:19)
03. Son House - Preachin' The Blues (Part I) (3:06)
04. Son House - Preachin' The Blues (Part II) (2:54)
05. Son House - Dry Spell Blues (Part I) (3:11)
06. Son House - Dry Spell Blues (Part II) (3:15)
07. Son House - Walking Blues (3:00)
08. Willie Brown - M & O blues (3:11)
09. Willie Brown - Future Blues (3:02)
10. Kid Bailey - Mississippi Bottom Blues (2:50)
11. Kid Bailey - Rowdy Blues (3:01)
12. Garfield Akers - Cottonfield Blues (Part I) (2:53)
13. Garfield Akers - Cottonfield Blues (Part II) (3:16)
14. Garfield Akers - Dough Roller Blues (3:11)
15. Garfield Akers - Jumpin' And Shoutin' Blues (3:10)
16. Joe Calicott - Fare Thee Well Blues (3:12)
17. Joe Calicott - Traveling Mama Blues (3:16)
18. Jim Thompkins - Bedside Blues (3:07)
19. Blind Joe (Willie) Reynolds - Outside Woman Blues (2:56)
20. Blind Joe (Willie) Reynolds - Nehi Blues (3:16)
21. Blind Joe (Willie) Reynolds - Married Man Blues (3:18)
22. Blind Joe (Willie) Reynolds - Third Street Woman Blues (2:42)
23. Rube Lacy - Mississippi Jail House Groan (3:23)
24. Rube Lacy - Ham Hound Crave (2:53)

Victalia

1990 - The Complete Library Of Congress Sessions: 1941 - 1942

01. Levee Camp Blues [00:03:48]
02. Government Fleet Blues [00:06:52]
03. Walking Blues [00:06:43]
04. Shetland Pony Blues [00:03:30]
05. Fo' Clock Blues [00:03:50]
06. Camp Hollers [00:02:29]
07. Delta Blues [00:05:21]
08. Special Rider Blues [00:00:44]
09. Special Rider Blues [00:03:07]
10. Low-Down Dirty Blues [00:04:57]
11. Depot Blues [00:02:56]
12. The Key Of Minor [00:01:34]
13. American Defense [00:02:55]
14. Am I Right Or Wrong [00:01:48]
15. Walking Blues [00:02:59]
16. County Farm Blues [00:02:12]
17. The Pony Blues [00:04:15]
18. The Jinx Blues - Part 1 [00:03:28]
19. The Jinx Blues - Part 2 [00:04:22]

Victalia

1991 - Delta Blues - Original Library Of Congress Field Recordings

01. Levee Camp Blues [00:02:11]
02. Government Fleet Blues [00:06:41]
03. Walking Blues [00:06:44]
04. Shetland Pony Blues [00:03:24]
05. Delta Blues [00:05:19]
06. Special Rider Blues [00:03:08]
07. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues [00:05:02]
08. Depot Blues [00:02:58]
09. American Defense [00:02:56]
10. Am I Right Or Wrong [00:01:47]
11. Walking Blues [00:03:02]
12. Country Farm Blues [00:02:10]
13. The Pony Blues [00:04:10]
14. The Jinx Blues [00:03:23]
15. The Jinx Blues [00:04:14]

Victalia

1992 - Father of the Delta Blues The Complete 1965 Sessions

CD 1

01. Death Letter [00:04:21]
02. Pearline [00:04:33]
03. Louise McGhee [00:06:13]
04. John The Revelator [00:02:32]
05. Empire State Express [00:03:41]
06. Preachin' Blues [00:05:45]
07. Grinnin' In Your Face [00:02:08]
08. Sundown [00:06:14]
09. Levee Camp Moan [00:09:27]

CD 2

01. Death Letter (Alternate Take) [00:05:53]
02. Levee Camp Moan with Al Wilson (Alternate Take) [00:04:51]
03. Grinnin' In Your Face (Alternate Take) [00:03:14]
04. John The Revelator (Alternate Take) [00:02:17]
05. Preachin' Blues (Alternate Take) [00:05:29]
06. President Kennedy [00:03:44]
07. A Down The Staff [00:03:41]
08. Motherless Children [00:04:30]
09. Yonder Comes My Mother (with Al Wilson) [00:03:40]
10. Shake It And Break It [00:02:43]
11. Pony Blues [00:05:24]
12. Downhearted Blues [00:07:07]

Victalia

1995 - Delta Blues And Spirituals

01. Monologue - The BLUES [00:03:23]
02. Between midnight and day [00:06:32]
03. I want to go home on the morning train [00:03:29]
04. Levee camp moan [00:07:07]
05. This little light of mine [00:01:00]
06. Monologue - Thinkin' strong [00:04:18]
07. Death letter blues [00:03:59]
08. How to treat a man [00:16:22]
09. Grinnin' in your face [00:01:58]
10. John The Revelator [00:02:17]

Victalia

1995 - Legendary 1969 Rochester Sessions

01. Son's Blues [00:20:40]
02. Yonder Comes My Mother [00:01:54]
03. Shetland Pony Blues [00:03:45]
04. I'm So Sorry, Baby [00:02:38]
05. Plantation Song [00:00:48]
06. Mister Suzie-Q [00:02:49]
07. Evening Train [00:04:51]
08. Sundown [00:07:26]
09. Preachin' The Blues [00:07:23]
10. Empire State Express [00:08:49]
11. Never Mind People Grinnin' In Your Face [00:03:47]
12. Sun Goin' Down [00:07:10]
13. A Spoken Message [00:07:06]

Victalia

1998 - The Original Delta Blues

01. Death Letter [00:04:21]
02. Pearline [00:04:34]
03. Louise Mcghee [00:06:13]
04. John The Revelator [00:02:32]
05. Empire State Express [00:03:41]
06. Preachin' Blues [00:05:45]
07. Grinnin' In Your Face [00:02:08]
08. Sundown [00:06:14]
09. Levee Camp Moan [00:09:30]
10. Pony Blues [00:05:19]
11. Downhearted Blues [00:06:03]

Victalia

2000 - Live At Gaslight Cafe, NYC, January 3, 1965

01. Pony Blues [00:04:27]
02. Motherless Children [00:04:10]
03. Preachin' The Blues [00:04:59]
04. This Little Light Of Mine [00:03:53]
05. Son's Blues [00:06:53]
06. Death Letter Blues (Incomplete) [00:05:20]
07. I Shall Not Be Moved [00:03:16]
08. Levee Camp Moan [00:08:32]
09. Empire State Express [00:04:29]
10. Pearline [00:04:00]
11. Yonder Comes My Mother (When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder) [00:03:35]
12. Louise Mcghee (Incomplete) [00:04:22]

Victalia

2002 - Revisited (2 CD)

CD 1

01. Introduction by Dick Waterman [00:02:36]
02. Monologue by Son House [00:04:35]
03. Levee Camp Moan [00:06:35]
04. Monologue by Son House [00:02:35]
05. Death Letter [00:04:13]
06. Monologue by Son House [00:05:06]
07. Empire State Express [00:03:08]
08. Monologue by Son House [00:00:53]
09. Grinnin' In Your Face [00:01:56]
10. Monologue by Son House [00:01:26]
11. Preachin' The Blues [00:08:44]
12. Monologue by Son House [00:00:29]
13. Son's Blues [00:10:13]
14. Levee Camp Moan Version 2 [00:09:48]
15. Monologue by Son House [00:00:19]
16. John The Revelator [00:02:06]

CD 2

01. Pony Blues [00:04:28]
02. Motherless Children [00:04:10]
03. Preachin' The Blues [00:04:59]
04. This Little Light of Mine [00:03:53]
05. Son's Blues [00:06:53]
06. I Shall Not Be Moved [00:03:16]
07. Levee Camp Moan [00:08:32]
08. Empire State Express [00:04:34]
09. Pearline [00:04:00]
10. Yonder Comes My Mother [00:03:35]
11. Louise McGhee [00:04:24]

Victalia

2003 - Heros Of The Blues: The Very Best Of Son House

01. My Black Mama Part 1 [00:03:07]
02. Walking Blues [00:02:57]
03. Dry Spell Blues [00:03:09]
04. Country Farm Blues [00:02:11]
05. Levee Camp Blues [00:02:11]
06. Walking Blues [00:06:45]
07. Shetland Pony Blues [00:03:26]
08. Delta Blues [00:05:20]
09. Special Rider Blues [00:03:09]
10. Depot Blues [00:02:59]
11. American Defense [00:03:00]
12. Am I Right Or Wrong [00:01:48]
13. Walking Blues (Death Letter) [00:03:03]
14. Grinnin' In Your Face [00:02:08]
15. Empire State Express [00:03:07]
16. Jon The Revelator [00:01:44]

Victalia

2003 - Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Son House

01. My Black Mama, Pt. 1 [00:03:07]
02. Preachin' Blues, Pt. 1 [00:03:04]
03. Dry Spell Blues, Pt. 1 [00:03:12]
04. Levee Camp Blues [00:03:47]
05. Walking Blues [00:06:41]
06. Special Rider Blues [00:03:07]
07. Pony Blues [00:04:15]
08. Death Letter [00:04:21]
09. Pearline [00:04:33]
10. John The Revelator [00:02:31]
11. Preachin' Blues [00:05:45]
12. Empire State Express [00:03:41]
13. Levee Camp Moan [00:09:30]
14. Grinnin' In Your Face [00:02:06]

Victalia

2010 - Country Farm Blues

01. Walking Blues [00:03:01]
02. Government Fleet Blues [00:06:51]
03. Delta Blues [00:05:07]
04. Depot Blues [00:03:00]
05. American Defense [00:03:01]
06. Country Farm Blues [00:02:11]
07. Levee Camp Blues [00:02:11]
08. Special Rider Blues [00:03:09]
09. Am I Right Or Wrong [00:01:49]
10. My Black Mama [00:03:07]
11. Dry Spell Blues [00:03:11]
12. Shetland Pony Blues 1 [00:03:24]
13. Shetland Pony Blues 2 [00:04:09]

Victalia

2011 - Raw Delta Blues (2 CD)

CD 1

01. Death Letter Blues [00:03:29]
02. Special Rider Blues [00:03:06]
03. Delta Blues [00:05:11]
04. American Defense [00:02:54]
05. Government Fleet Blues [00:06:50]
06. Depot Blues [00:02:55]
07. My Black Mama [00:03:12]
08. Shettland Pony Blues [00:03:27]
09. Am I Right Or Wrong [00:01:47]
10. The Jinx Blues 1 [00:03:26]
11. The Jinx Blues 2 [00:04:24]
12. Contry Farm Blues [00:02:11]
13. Dry Spell Blues [00:03:10]
14. Levee Camp Blues [00:03:45]
15. Preachin The Blues [00:04:39]
16. Walkin Blues [00:06:40]

CD 2

01. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues [00:04:57]
02. Four O'clock Blues [00:03:48]
03. Walking Blues [00:02:58]
04. The Pony Blues [00:04:13]
05. Clarksdale Moan [00:02:58]
06. John The Revelator [00:01:32]
07. Camp Hollers [00:02:27]
08. I Shall Not Be Moved [00:03:06]
09. Louise Mcghee [00:04:23]
10. Motherless Children [00:03:54]
11. Pearline [00:03:44]
12. Son's Blues [00:06:45]
13. This Little Light Of Mine [00:02:47]
14. Yonder Comes My Mother [00:03:25]
15. Empire State Express [00:04:23]
16. The Pony Blues (Alternate Version) [00:04:31]