[6] House played four spirituals and four blues songs, and provided monologues explaining the connections between the two forms.

[9] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette considered the album "filled with the raw power and emotion that make [House's] music so memorable.

[5] The Dallas Morning News noted the "somber material ... that showcases the religious face of Mississippi folk music.

"[12] The Richmond Times-Dispatch stated: "So honest as to convey an unnaturally solemn edge to the material, Son House's gritty release is as rich as Delta soil.

"[13] AllMusic wrote that the album "remains one of the last vibrant documents of one of the most essential fathers of Delta blues at the top of his game.