| "Death Letter" | |
|---|---|
 1985 Edsel reissue | |
| Song by Son House | |
| from the album Father of Folk Blues | |
| Released | 1965 |
| Recorded | April 12–14, 1965 |
| Studio | Columbia, New York City[1] |
| Genre | Delta blues |
| Length | 4:19 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Son House |
| Producer(s) | John Hammond, Frank Driggs[1] |
"Death Letter", also known as "Death Letter Blues", is the signature song of the Delta blues musician Son House. It is structured upon House's earlier recording "My Black Mama, Part 2" from 1930. House's 1965 performance was on a metal-bodied National resonator guitar using a copper slide. One commentator noted that it is "one of the most anguished and emotionally stunning laments in the Delta blues œuvre."[2] Of House's several songs titled "Walking Blues", the 1942 recording[3] is actually yet another version of "Death Letter".
- ^ a b Cohn, Lawrence (1992). Father of the Delta Blues: The Complete 1965 Sessions (Album notes). Son House. New York City: Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings. pp. 9–11. C2K 48867.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Musicwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ not to be confused with 1930 (78 rpm) or 1941 (six minutes long) recordings of the same name