PREACHIN' THE BLUES

Created on 26/10/2000
Latest update on 07/01/2023

Artist: Son House
Author: James McCoy
Label: Paramount
Year: 1930

Learned it from James McCoy of Lyon, MS, just like My Black Mamma (see there). If the title Preaching The Blues sounds contradictory: Son House was a preacher, keeping church music and the devil's music strictly apart: when Saturday night became Sunday morning, his blues became gospel. Besides, House had been doing time at Parchman, two years for murder (in self defense).

Covers:

1971:

Fleetwood Mac [BBC recording]

1992:

John Hammond [who also recorded Robert Johnson's Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)]

1995:

Rory Block [as Preaching Blues; she also recorded a version of Robert Johnson's Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)]

1997:

Corey Harris

1998:

Derek Trucks Band

2000:

Colin Linden [as Preaching Blues]

2001:

Steepwater Band

2007:

Dion [as Preaching Blues]

2017:

Larkin Poe [as Preachin' Blues]

Son House was like an example to Robert Johnson, as guitar player and as a singer. They lived less than two miles apart when House was released from prison in 1930. See My Black Mamma and Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil).

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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