For many blues lovers, the discovery and release of these long-forgotten tapes recorded by Son House, one of the titans of the Delta blues, is like finding the winning Powerball ticket in your back pocket. Born Eddie James House Jr. in 1902 in Lyon, Mississippi, he would go on to ramble with Robert Johnson and Willie Brown. At the time of these 1964 recordings, House had not played music in over two decades, having moved to Rochester, New York, where he would work as a Pullman porter. However, the reissue of his original Paramount 78s from 1930, as well as his 1942 field recordings made by the Library of Congress, sparked interest within the growing number of blues aficionados in the 1960s. Within months of his rediscovery by Dick Waterman, who became his agent, the once obscure musician began making a series of performances at folk festivals at college campuses. Forever On My Mind was recorded at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana in 1964 and the tracks are the earliest taped solo recordings since House began his belated second music career. In terms of power and intensity, House displayed a sharp musical focus which sadly diminished rapidly in later recordings and concert appearances. Five of the songs here were later released on House’s acclaimed 1965 Columbia LP Father of Folk Blues. The spellbinding title track, “Forever On My Mind,” was never recorded in a studio although it was a staple of House’s live performances. Neither was House’s interpretation of Charley Patton’s standby “Pony Blues.” House’s “Levee Camp Moan” can only be tagged as one of the classic Delta blues performances of all time. The clarity of these tapes is especially amazing considering that they were recorded on a portable quarter-inch tape recorder. With every verse and note House plays, there is a revelation—the man sings and plays as if he’s in a trance. Forever On My Mind is a compelling listen from beginning to end. No filler here. Definitely a release to put on your radar.

—Jeff Hannusch