In the 1980s, while guitarslingers Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan were taking electric blues to new horizons, artists such as Bonnie Raitt and R.L. Burnside were exploring a return to the music's Mississippi roots. Son House was a big influence on this generation of players - indeed Raitt was partly taught by him - and elements of his style can be heard in much of the acoustic blues of this period.

This track is one of the three songs recorded by Son House on his first session for Paramount in 1930. His rich voice combines with a chunky, driving bass line and stinging slide guitar licks to create a well blended and powerful sound. Versions of 'My Black Mama' were later recorded by Robert Johnson (as 'Walkin' Blues') and John Lee Hooker (as 'Burnin' Hell').

Links

http://www.nationalguitars.com/part3.html
Read about Son House's use of the National Guitar.

http://www.thebluehighway.com/
Useful blues resource, with essays, radio, links, photos and blues chat.

http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/
International US-based mail order record catalogue, specializing in roots music.

http://www.jazznblues.co.uk/
UK-based jazz and blues record specialists.