| Delta Blues and Spirituals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1970 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Label | Capitol Records [1] | |||
| Producer | Pete Welding | |||
| Son House chronology | ||||
| ||||
Delta Blues and Spirituals is a live album by the American blues musician Son House, released in 1995. [2] [3] It was part of the Capitol Blues Collection, a reissue series that eventually numbered around 20 albums. [4]
Production
The album was produced and organized by Pete Welding. [5] It was recorded at the 100 Club, in London, in 1970. [6] House played four spirituals and four blues songs, and provided monologues explaining the connections between the two forms. [7] Al Wilson performed on a couple of songs. [8]
The album liner notes are by David Evans. [9]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  
[6] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | 
[1] |
| MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide |
[10] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |
[9] |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
[11] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |
[7] |
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette considered the album "filled with the raw power and emotion that make [House's] music so memorable." [11] CMJ New Music Monthly deemed it "the best by far" of the 1995 Capitol blues reissues. [5] The Dallas Morning News noted the "somber material ... that showcases the religious face of Mississippi folk music." [12] The Richmond Times-Dispatch stated: "So honest as to convey an unnaturally solemn edge to the material, Son House's gritty release is as rich as Delta soil." [13]
AllMusic wrote that the album "remains one of the last vibrant documents of one of the most essential fathers of Delta blues at the top of his game." [6] The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings concluded that "House was galvanized by the enthusiasm of the audience ... In turn, the strength of his performance fired up the audience, creating an extraordinary feedback loop." [9]
Track listing
- Monologue - The B-L-U-E-S
- Between Midnight and Day (with Alan Wilson)
- I Want to Go Home on the Morning Train (with Alan Wilson)
- Levee Camp Moan
- This Little Light of Mine
- Monologue - Thinkin' Strong
- Death Letter Blues
- How to Treat a Man (with Delta Dave)
- Grinnin' in Your Face
- John the Revelator
References
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
- ^ "Blues Special - Son House". bostonphoenix.com.
- ^ Scheck, Fred (17 Aug 1995). "Record Labels Rediscover the Blues". The Christian Science Monitor. Music. p. 12.
- ^ DeVault, Russ (June 20, 1995). "Sound Shopping". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. D6.
- ^ a b Lien, James (Nov 1995). "Flashback". CMJ New Music Monthly (27): 51.
- ^ a b c "Delta Blues and Spirituals - Son House | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ a b Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (December 18, 2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
- ^ Point, Michael (24 Aug 1995). "The Blues with a Capitol `B'". Austin American-Statesman. p. 8.
- ^ a b c The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 286.
- ^ MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 382.
- ^ a b White, Jim (1 Oct 1995). "A Capitol collection of the blues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G10.
- ^ Minutaglio, Bill (August 3, 1995). "Texas Flood - Capitol Blues Collection highlights Lone Star talent". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
- ^ McCarty, Patrick (January 11, 1996). "A CAPITOL IDEA: AMBITIOUS SERIES BLANKETS THE BLUES BY THE MASTERS". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. D20.