I am 58 years old and have been listening to music since I used to break into my older brother' room to listen to his Victrola in 1958... This is my favorite tune of all time...No contest...One of my greatest regrets is that I never saw House in person..Maybe when I meet up with Robert Johnson someday House will be there too..
"I said farewell honey / I'll see ya judgment day" Chills. Absolute chills. This is such an enormously powerful song. Listening to this makes me forget that bad music even exists.
Coming of age in the 60's was very exciting, almost half the rock shows I went to had an old bluesman on the bill. Got to see Son House, Big Mama Thornton, Furry Lewis and many other of the great blues artist's that have had a continuing influence on the Blues Genre. Keep the blues alive. Go to your local clubs that have blues nights or just to a blues club.
Son is so amazing! I only recently discovered him and have listened to his music for 2 days! He is incredible! Let some of these wannabe players try that on for size!
Son House seems to accomplish the same warbling punctuation with his voice as he does on the guitar at the end of each musical phrase. Amazing blues artist, a real national treasure.
Stunning! Thank you for posting and showing everyone.... He is playing a 1930s ish National Style O single cone resonator guitar made in Los Angeles CA.
If someone who never heard music before asked me what it is, i would show them son house and no other...Son House truly is music in its best and truest form.
@JoeBlue727 Many of the blues artists from that era were what they were when the blues got popular so they tried to make a living from it. Today people try and become something they aren't or try to recreate a sound to appease the listeners but very few are actually speaking from their soul. which is what Son House among many other traditional blues artists did successfully. Which is why we still listen to them today. How many popular bands now will our grandchildren still listen to..?
Eddie "Son" House on " DEATH LETTER BLUES" absolutely proves beyond a shadow of a doubt , WE don't come up with these incredible ideas that happen. Sometimes though WE are blessed enough to be the conduit or medium through which they flow. The raw emotion & real conviction in his voice has and will continue to make me believe when you get it "right" , MUSIC CAN BE MAGIC, sometimes haunting, but STILL MAGIC!
I swear he is my favourite blues singer ever. He just pours his heart out. And there's some other amazing blues singers like Robert Johnson or Howlin Wolf but none top Son House... At least thats what I think
Oh my god. Son House was a great man. Maybe the most important man in the history of music (blues turned into rock n' roll and stuff) Son house has his own stle of playing, a great style and i bet nobody could perform this song like him. Jack White also said that he can't play like Son House. But you know what? That doesn't matter.
He's a gem and we southerners dont mind sharin one of the treasures we contributed to modern day rock, rock and blues, etc. But make no mistake, this is southern heritage artist that became the artist we all love because of our racial strife and economic pressure unique only to the southern United States of America, and YES I am 100% bias on the topic! LOL
This is wonderful! I never saw any video of Son House before, and it's really a treat! Whenever I listen to very early Bonnie Raitt, I think that she must be a big Son House fan -- you can hear some of his riffs and style in her playing.
Incredible story from Son House about Robert Johnson, Willie Brown...hangin out together smoking, drinkin, chasin...playing gigs at Dockery Mill and living through this era while inventing them Delta Blues. Wo.
this man is like an Elvis, or Beatles, caliber influence.. He and Robert Johnson basically invented the blues.. He made Jack White from the white stripes what he is today.. Which he is one of the greatest musicains out there today, and possibly the best guitarist playing right now.. check out his version of this song.
wow... im trying to play this song for just half an hour and I got a blister on my thumb! Haha ;) I play my guitar a couple of hours a day for years now haha ;) Respect for Son House! rikke
Amen my friend. Mr Patton and reverand House were friends back in the day. Goddam is there any better music than this? It's like a howl from the depths
The master. Jack White got his inspiration from Son house. He gets it right too. I listen to this and tears come to my eye's. This hardly ever happens to this old man but this one reallt strikes a cord in my soul. Thanks for the post.
@Dronemaker I think - could be wrong - but 'Dobro' was one of the first companies to make resonator guitars, hence the term 'Dobro' being used as a catch-all for that style of guitar. However, Dobro-style resonators are more often played with the guitar flat on the player's lap and the left hand holding the slide/bottleneck over the top of the neck, as you might expect of a country player. (You can even get resonators designed specifically for this style, with a square neck!)
The most important 12 bar blues ever, IMO. Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and Jimi's "Voodoo Chile" as well as Rory Gallagher's "Could Have Had Religion" all used this as a source. And that opera voice.. He'd have made a great Verdi's Othello if he'd had operatic training.and only John Lee Hooker came close to this level of darkness.
Thanks. Thanks a lot. Son House's legacy is huge. Don't matter who covers his songs, or how they do it. The really important fact is that they cover them. And made them known to many young people that would probably never know about Son House if it weren't by those who covers his music. Thanks for posting this video. Love it.
Son House was "rediscovered" in the mid-1960's, he'd been retired for years, and someone found him and brought him back. National guitar's are GREAT!! Heavy, but great. If you can't afford one, there are other good metla bodied guitars out there, but if you don't have a good resonator "cone" they're pretty easy to replace w/ a good one.
Marithe VanderAa: it was late 1964 or early 65. Son House had quit music but was rediscovered by a group of young record collectors who convinced him to become part of the American 'folk revival'. Apparently he had to relearn how to play guitar
I pretty much LOVE you. a.) for breakin into your brothers room to listen to music (I used to do this to my Uncle George when he lived with us, to play his Bass guitar and listen to his David Bowie records) b.) for posting this on websites that are usually perused by the Rap and Pop crowd Keep the blues coming friends!
Thanx samdavidow - got to appreciate the roots to appreciate the soul! I thought it was tuned in open D as I play a lot of Keef Richards tunes (in drop D tuning also). THANK YOU for the responses - only confirms what I see and hear is Quality to the max. Rec'd in '60s huh? wow...
Well put. I have also noticed some changes in radio in the past few years - I'm starting to hear more indie music and more stations showcasing that underground music. I'm not a fan of corporate-driven music machines because the music turns out to be just a mechanism in a franchise. A song should be a statement, something personal and real, and guys like Son House knew that. I'll check out Big L and I'm sure it'll be worthwhile.
A dobro is played with a slide and has very high action. Here he's playing a resonator guitar. They look similar and one could be setup as the other, but they are different.
It was Keef''s and Clapton's comments that turned me on to Son House... THAT's prime cut company! One of my local influences, Molten Mike, the Genuine Bluesman also has a National - all grey metal, and (I think) one painted. He can play too. Check his youtube site out - he calls it "porch music" - Thanks, I added as a subscriber to Doc.
I am 58 years old and have been listening to music since I used to break into my older brother' room to listen to his Victrola in 1958... This is my favorite tune of all time...No contest...One of my greatest regrets is that I never saw House in person..Maybe when I meet up with Robert Johnson someday House will be there too..
This still ranks as probably the coolest piece of footage I have ever seen.
+Tristan Tonkin-Galvin Yep, I've been coming back to this one for years. Real shit right here.
"WHEN I GOT THERE SHE WAS LAYIN' ON A COOLIN' BOARD" IS ONE HELLUVA BLUES LYRIC!
There is no rock music without the blues.
There is no music without the blues!
"I said farewell honey / I'll see ya judgment day"
Chills. Absolute chills. This is such an enormously powerful song. Listening to this makes me forget that bad music even exists.
Son House did something with his music that just hit you right in the heart.
Oh boy, this is it. You do this and you're there. This is it. But in essence for 99.9% of us, cant be had. This is a treasure.
Loving this in 2024.
Coming of age in the 60's was very exciting, almost half the rock shows I went to had an old bluesman on the bill. Got to see Son House, Big Mama Thornton, Furry Lewis and many other of the great blues artist's that have had a continuing influence on the Blues Genre. Keep the blues alive. Go to your local clubs that have blues nights or just to a blues club.
Son is so amazing! I only recently discovered him and have listened to his music for 2 days! He is incredible! Let some of these wannabe players try that on for size!
Son House seems to accomplish the same warbling punctuation with his voice as he does on the guitar at the end of each musical phrase. Amazing blues artist, a real national treasure.
This guy's voice always amazed me. Like Howlin' Wolf, his singing is like something from another world.
Stunning!
Thank you for posting and showing everyone....
He is playing a 1930s ish National Style O single cone resonator guitar made in Los Angeles CA.
My God! This pulls at every fiber of my soul. Soul wrenching like no other.
If someone who never heard music before asked me what it is, i would show them son house and no other...Son House truly is music in its best and truest form.
Good that this vid of Son was preserved...
BR/The Ghost of Elvis Video
CANADA
THIS IS GODLIKE.
This is so perfect
Son house is my 2nd favorite guitarist
Met him once in London at the AFBF. The ultimate blues performer.
Son House is as awesome as one man could possibly be.
Nasty, down and dirty like the Blues should be! This is some deep stuff.
More kids my age need to take a little time a listen to this. Real music.
that is one of the greatest performances i have ever sen. Wow.
He was singing straight from the soul...
LBVS!!!!!!
This is my favorite version of this tune..
Closest thing to Son House Jr. today is Seasick Steve. Been listenin' to Son House for 35 years and it never gets old.
What an incarnation! Such a beautiful Heart! Musicianship innovative and ethereal. Wondrous.
@JoeBlue727 Many of the blues artists from that era were what they were when the blues got popular so they tried to make a living from it. Today people try and become something they aren't or try to recreate a sound to appease the listeners but very few are actually speaking from their soul. which is what Son House among many other traditional blues artists did successfully. Which is why we still listen to them today. How many popular bands now will our grandchildren still listen to..?
No matter how many times I hear this song, it gives me goose bumps. There is nothing like the hypnotic sound of the delta blues.
Eddie "Son" House on " DEATH LETTER BLUES" absolutely proves beyond a shadow of a doubt , WE don't come up with these incredible ideas that happen. Sometimes though WE are blessed enough to be the conduit or medium through which they flow. The raw emotion & real conviction in his voice has and will continue to make me believe when you get it "right" , MUSIC CAN BE MAGIC, sometimes haunting, but STILL MAGIC!
My favorite of all the ones by son house
This song sticks in my head for weeks on end.
This is an amazing song!
I swear he is my favourite blues singer ever. He just pours his heart out. And there's some other amazing blues singers like Robert Johnson or Howlin Wolf but none top Son House... At least thats what I think
Oh my god. Son House was a great man. Maybe the most important man in the history of music (blues turned into rock n' roll and stuff)
Son house has his own stle of playing, a great style and i bet nobody could perform this song like him. Jack White also said that he can't play like Son House. But you know what? That doesn't matter.
Heavy man heavy.... I recon we all have a coolin' board waitn' fer us....
PURE SOUL AND EMOTION!!!
He's more than singing...he's confessing his soul ..with conviction.
the way he plays the guitar is soo cool!!!! hahaha!xx
Son House is hands down the king of Delta Blues......
He's a gem and we southerners dont mind sharin one of the treasures we contributed to modern day rock, rock and blues, etc. But make no mistake, this is southern heritage artist that became the artist we all love because of our racial strife and economic pressure unique only to the southern United States of America, and YES I am 100% bias on the topic! LOL
Man I dig Son, he's the man!
Rebellion, harsh realities, sorrow and pain is where this music comes from.
love his music...!!
This is wonderful! I never saw any video of Son House before, and it's really a treat!
Whenever I listen to very early Bonnie Raitt, I think that she must be a big Son House fan -- you can hear some of his riffs and style in her playing.
Do we even realise how amazing it is that this footage exist? Fantastic!
Incredible story from Son House about Robert Johnson, Willie Brown...hangin out together smoking, drinkin, chasin...playing gigs at Dockery Mill and living through this era while inventing them Delta Blues. Wo.
This is the True Word.
It's a message to us all from Son House: the blues will never die.
this man is like an Elvis, or Beatles, caliber influence.. He and Robert Johnson basically invented the blues.. He made Jack White from the white stripes what he is today.. Which he is one of the greatest musicains out there today, and possibly the best guitarist playing right now.. check out his version of this song.
wow... im trying to play this song for just half an hour and I got a blister on my thumb! Haha ;) I play my guitar a couple of hours a day for years now haha ;) Respect for Son House! rikke
the best version !!
Nothing like the blues!!!!
Amen my friend. Mr Patton and reverand House were friends back in the day. Goddam is there any better music than this? It's like a howl from the depths
Absolutely fantastic - it is almost frightening with its supernatural aura
The master. Jack White got his inspiration from Son house. He gets it right too. I listen to this and tears come to my eye's. This hardly ever happens to this old man but this one reallt strikes a cord in my soul. Thanks for the post.
Breathtaking.
Incredible!! A genious!!! Feel so fortunate to see this!
This is what I call music!
Great years for music! Great musicians and great souls.
Just Amazing!!!
@Dronemaker I think - could be wrong - but 'Dobro' was one of the first companies to make resonator guitars, hence the term 'Dobro' being used as a catch-all for that style of guitar. However, Dobro-style resonators are more often played with the guitar flat on the player's lap and the left hand holding the slide/bottleneck over the top of the neck, as you might expect of a country player. (You can even get resonators designed specifically for this style, with a square neck!)
The most important 12 bar blues ever, IMO. Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and Jimi's "Voodoo Chile" as well as Rory Gallagher's "Could Have Had Religion" all used this as a source. And that opera voice.. He'd have made a great Verdi's Othello if he'd had operatic training.and only John Lee Hooker came close to this level of darkness.
Walkin Blues is Son House's song, Robert Jhonson just covered it
@@pokemon2274 correct
Tune reminds me very much of Elvis Presley's MY BABY LEFT ME.
I like the way this takes me back to the time before I met This world.
Happy birthday Son House!
Love his guitar work. Very interesting way of strumming the guitar! Wish there were more videos like this
Man was the Source.
Long live Son House!
Son House tears me up! I like him the best!!
Flawless Avatar. This goes right to the Heart. Om Tat Sat.
Thanks. Thanks a lot. Son House's legacy is huge. Don't matter who covers his songs, or how they do it. The really important fact is that they cover them. And made them known to many young people that would probably never know about Son House if it weren't by those who covers his music. Thanks for posting this video. Love it.
Son House was "rediscovered" in the mid-1960's, he'd been retired for years, and someone found him and brought him back.
National guitar's are GREAT!! Heavy, but great. If you can't afford one, there are other good metla bodied guitars out there, but if you don't have a good resonator "cone"
they're pretty easy to replace w/ a good one.
Just the best!
Amazing video of an amazing bluesman. Nice work.
Well said. Very well said indeed.
Crikey. Outstanding performance from a master.
Marithe VanderAa: it was late 1964 or early 65. Son House had quit music but was rediscovered by a group of young record collectors who convinced him to become part of the American 'folk revival'. Apparently he had to relearn how to play guitar
I pretty much LOVE you.
a.) for breakin into your brothers room to listen to music (I used to do this to my Uncle George when he lived with us, to play his Bass guitar and listen to his David Bowie records)
b.) for posting this on websites that are usually perused by the Rap and Pop crowd
Keep the blues coming friends!
Truly one of the dark "polar" sides of blues. You have to have the sad to make the happy.
He was descovered in the 20s/30s by lomax,then rediscovered in the 60s (which is when this was recorded)by the folkies.
Thanx samdavidow - got to appreciate the roots to appreciate the soul! I thought it was tuned in open D as I play a lot of Keef Richards tunes (in drop D tuning also). THANK YOU for the responses - only confirms what I see and hear is Quality to the max. Rec'd in '60s huh? wow...
Well put. I have also noticed some changes in radio in the past few years - I'm starting to hear more indie music and more stations showcasing that underground music. I'm not a fan of corporate-driven music machines because the music turns out to be just a mechanism in a franchise. A song should be a statement, something personal and real, and guys like Son House knew that. I'll check out Big L and I'm sure it'll be worthwhile.
It's fantastic forever
still the greatest thing i've ever seen.
Never seen this clip, other just not this one in particular, awesome
aint nothing like it
There isn't a word that can describe how good this is..
Super wonderful! I am adding this to my laments playlist...
beautiful
Simply Son House....... great !!!!
Preach on, brother...
A fuckin genious! One of the greatest blues artists ever.
I also believe that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Most people dont though, even many musicians, i know.
Radio 6 bought me here. Thanks Gideon!
LEGENDARY
If any University offered a class in "Singing like you mean it", Son House would be one of the core curriculum subjects!
The opening is sooo badass
Son House, John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf, Lil Wayne.
Somewhere along the line something went terribly, terribly wrong.
Hypnotic i love this song
A dobro is played with a slide and has very high action. Here he's playing a resonator guitar. They look similar and one could be setup as the other, but they are different.
It was Keef''s and Clapton's comments that turned me on to Son House... THAT's prime cut company!
One of my local influences, Molten Mike, the Genuine Bluesman also has a National - all grey metal, and (I think) one painted. He can play too. Check his youtube site out - he calls it "porch music" - Thanks, I added as a subscriber to Doc.
Gaw dang! He gone done good the Son House!