Son House is a very very very fine House

I mean, wow. This clip is exceptional across the board, for the performance itself, for its value as an archival record, for the close-ups of the guitar playing (guitarists will appreciate the separate detailed looks at each hand’s work), and for House’s narrative too.

He starts playing around 2:20, but the opening soliloquy is worth listening to as well. And don’t bail out before 6:50, when he finishes and talks about the next number. You get a feel for the raw physicality of the playing. Then you get treated to an a capella gospel song, “John The Revelator.”