Luther's Blues [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Luther Allison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000059RVY
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,069 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The second of three Allison albums issued on Motown's Gordy subsidiary in the 1970s, Luther's Blues captures the guitarist's uncovered-wire sound in its full glory. The crescendo ending of "Let's Have a Little Talk," one of five Allison originals here, is more than another standard variation on crowd-pleasing clichés. It's an apocalyptic, blues-wailing roar, with Allison's pleading vocal at its core. Berry Gordy turns up in the composer credits for one tune, "Someday Pretty Baby," which, along with "Part Time Love," trawls the company's early raw-edged back catalog. Even the funk-flavored "K.T."--an attempted hit single?--fits the mood. The three bonus tracks on this exemplary remaster nearly double the original LP's length, with a raw version of Freddy King's "San-Ho-Zay" glowing alongside an alternate version of Allison's "Bloomington Closing" and a lengthy medley from the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, electric/electic 70's Chicago Blues, January 2, 2003

By 

Edward M. Green "skin flautist" (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luther's Blues (Audio CD)

The first couple of tracks display standard Luther Allison with his very distinct nervous, but soulful bending and vibrato. However, although this is first rate material this cd suprizes even a hardcore blues/jazz/funk fan with such songs as "You've Got It". This song is damn funky as well some other tracks on the orginal copy of this cd. Now the bonus tracks make the early parts of the cd seem like it was slowed down. The Freddy King cover and Bloomington Closing have so much out-of-control, on the edge energy that I kinda listen to these songs with my mouth wide open. It shows that Luther was foremost an excellent, over-the-top guitarist. Its almost like he caught the energy of someone like Hendrix and puts a very unique twist on it, more that SRV actually. And the final bonus track is live with the crowd not wanting him to stop playing. Funny how the first part of the jam sounds like the "One Way Out" by the Allman Brothers. If you like high energy, electric blues oyu should definately get is. If you play guitar, you better check out those instrumental bonus tracks.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic reissue, March 20, 2001

By 

R. sigler "kozmo99" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luther's Blues (Audio CD)

This is great 70's blues! It's not overproduced, and it's got a great funky & soulful vibe throughout the entire record. An excellent place to start your modern blues collection & the cd has been remastered with bonus tracks - over 70 minutes!!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I Don't Know Why She Treats Me So Bad...I've Been So Sweet And Kind...", February 10, 2009

By 

Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Luther's Blues (Audio CD)

This 2001 Universal CD was issued on Motown 440 013 409-2 in the USA and is part of their "Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited" Series.

Here's a detailed breakdown (70:32 minutes):

1. Luther' Blues
2. Someday Pretty Baby
[co-write between Berry Gordy and James Woodley, a Singin' Sam Ward cover]
3. Easy Baby [written by Willie Dixon, a Magic Sam cover]
4. Part Time Love [co-write between Janie Bradford and Richard Wylie, a Singin' Sam Ward cover]
5. Now You Got It
[co-write between Luther Allison, Gene Block, Gary Beam and Kenneth Miles]
6. K.T. [co-write between Luther Allison, Joseph Peraino and Benny Emerson]
7. Let's Have A Little Talk
8. Driving Wheel [Roosevelt Sykes cover]
9. Into My Life

10. San-Ho-Zay [Previously Unreleased Freddie King cover]
11. Bloomington Closing - Early Version [Previously Unreleased]
12. Medley: I'm Gonna Miss My Baby/Bad News/The Thrill Is Gone (Live)

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Luther's Blues" issued in February 1974 in the USA on Gordy G 967; tracks 10 to 13 are previously unreleased. All songs are written by Luther Allison, except where noted and the album was produced by JOE PERAINO.

The Band for the Sessions were:
LUTHER ALLISON - Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Stratocaster & Slide Guitars
BOB GOODMAN and GENE BLOCK - Rhythm Guitars
PAUL WHITE - Piano and Organ [TOM CURRY on "Easy Baby" only]
BOB BABETTE and GARY BEAM - Bass Guitars
K.J. KNIGHT and ANDREW SMITH - Drums

The first generation master tapes were remastered by SUHA GUR at Universal Studios and are typically muscular transfers - great punch out of every track. Musically, the album is like a meatier version of a Seventies B.B. King album with the guitar recorded more roughly. While most of it is straightforward blues, there are funkier moments on it like the wah-wah guitars and brass of "K.T." and the almost slinky soulful feel to "Into My Life".

The previously unreleased instrumental "San-Ho-Zay" sounds like a Stevie Ray Vaughan rehearsal from the "Couldn't Stand The Weather" period - it's a really fast & lively blues romp and features Allison letting loose on the fret boards with the band kicking away behind him. "Bloomington Closing" is another guitar blasting instrumental - an almost Johnny Guitar Watson funk blues workout with lovely brass fills - and again - really excellent.

The final Live Medley is over 19 minutes long and sounds like Taj Mahal's "Leaving Trunk" meets 1968 Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac - yum! It was recorded at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in September 1973 - and while it overstays its welcome a bit, and the recording is a bit rough and ready, it has blistering slide guitar work on it - with the crowd responding enthusiastically to his every flourish.

Probably because it was on the Motown label, it seems that this blues album got ignored at the time - hopefully this excellent reissue should rectify that.

Recommended.

PS: This CD is also part of the "Blues Classics - Remastered And Revisited" Series. For a list of 10 titles in the Series - see my posting in Listmania.