Customer Reviews

Songs From The Road

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I had the privilege of seeing Luther Allison back in 1972 at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin. Believe it or not, he opened up for two greaser bands, Bill Haley & The Comets and a band called Sha Na Na. There was some motorcycle gang up front harassing Mr. Allison while he was playing. I was kind of amazed that he didn't walk off stage but apparently the band wasn't entirely intimidated by those clowns. I had never seen anyone play the blues like THAT and needless to say, we split the coliseum right after Luther left the stage. I saw Luther Allison twice after that, both time on the East Coast. The last time I saw him was on 6/12/1997. He died on 8/12/1997 from lung cancer and brain tumors. There's no way that he knew he had cancer on that warm June night because he played like a man possessed for more than 3 hours. I've seen lots of great guitarists but Luther Allison was a pure joy to watch. The guy was drenched with soul and he always played his heart out. So many fantastic musicians (Jimi Hendrix, Hound Dog Taylor, SRV, Jim Morrison, Duane Allman, Barry Oakley, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, John Lennon, George Harrison, Richard Wright) have passed away over the years and I miss them all, but I miss Luther Allison the most. I highly recommend that you buy Soul Fixin' Man, Blue Streak, Reckless, and Live in Chicago. If you listen close enough, you'll see why I believe that Luther Allison was the true king of the blues.

There were few performers in any genre as riveting as the late Luther Allison. having been a fan since his debut Delmark recordings, I remember going to catch him at Oberlin College in 1970 and almost tore off the roof of the Chapel he was playing at. From playing an one-string guitar in Mississippi to taking over Freddie King's gig and band in Chicago he brought a hold no prisoners approach to his performances, throwing everything into his singing and his guitar playing. One can point to B.B. King as a primary inspiration, but Elmore James and Freddie King seem even most important influences in Allison's music. He struck me in his earlier days as a cross of the two Kings instrumentally with james' impassioned vocals. I was privileged to see Luther a number of times in the last decade of his life including when he performed for a DC Blues Society show for the "Soul Fixing Man" tour. I am not sure if the last time I saw him was at Wolf Trap when they still put on a Jazz and Blues Festival, and I remember this gentleman who had seen James Brown, Otis Redding, Miles Davis and others stating that Luther was as great a live performer as anyone he ever witnessed.

"Songs From the Road" (Ruf Records) presents on disc and DVD one of Luther's last performances at the Montreal International Jazz Festival on July 4, 1997. Shortly after this performance, he would be diagnosed with the disease that in August 2007 would take this wonderful person away from the world. This was a representative performance with his great band of James Sjoberg, rhythm guitar; Ken Faltinson, bass guitar; Mike Vlahakis, keyboards; and Rob Stupka, drums. It was a band that played hundreds of gigs together, toured globally for several years and played with a tightness that reflected this experience.

Luther, of course, held nothing back this night from the opening moments of "Cancel My Check," to his brief encore on "Serious." There are several extended performances that never falter unlike most of his contemporaries (Otis Rush being one of the few exceptions) who could neither sustain such inspired playing and vocals that Luther could, and Sjoberg's solos add another exciting voice while maintaining the fervor of the performances. Much of this are his originals including the rocking B.B. King styled shuffle "Will It Ever Change," where he tells his woman to listen to him (with Sjoberg taking the opening B.B. King styled solo while Allison takes the longer break later), while he takes a Magic Sam recording,"What Have I Done Wrong," and places his own stamp on it.

"(Watching You) Cherry Red Wine," was always one of the climatic parts of any Allison performance as he sings about this woman destroying herself drinking herself into oblivion, while "There Comes a Time," is a soulful number as Luther confesses to be a good man who went astray and begging to be taken back by his woman, with another killer solo here. His vocal here is a standout here. Luther takes out the slide for "It Hurts Me Too" (as well as Bernard Allison's "Low Down and Dirty"), doing Elmore James memory proud with his fervent rendition of the classic.

The DVD contains 7 of the songs from the CD ("Will It Ever Change" is not listed but present) and adds "Move From the Hood." The 59 minutes of the performances on the DVD video are electrifying with great camera work catching all sweat and passion that he put in his performances. The Montreal Jazz Festival has recorded and filmed records many if not all of the performances in the past couple decades and generally do excellent work. The DVD also includes a 23 minute interview and a ten minute excerpt "Tribute to Luther Allison," from a documentary. This writer understands that a 50 minute CBC broadcast was compiled from this performance This CD/DVD makes all of the music from that day available.

What a joy to listen and watch previously unissued performances by Luther Allison after all these years. It doesn't get much better than this release which is quite reasonably priced.

This review was written originally for Jazz & Blues Report (where it will hopefully appear) and has been posted on my blog, [...].

As great as the music is in New Orleans, and as lucky as we are that this city serves as a magnet for out-of-town music of all genres, it's a shame Chicago's Luther Allison never performed in New Orleans. Allison was a blues guitarist and singer of the highest order, and this live set from 1997 recorded in La Belle Province testifes to that fact. Allison certainly does his share of testifying here, beginning with the frantic opening shuffle "Cancel My Check," where he really takes the bull by the horn. A well-paced set, he follows with a down-in-the-alley slow burner, "I Can't Live in the House of the Blues." Allison doesn't hog all the solos as there's a very attractive organ present here very reminiscent of the small combo sound on B.B. King's mid-'60s classic Blues is Boss album. A crowd favorite in Montreal, Allison cleverly attracts audience participation in a couple of songs, in particular on "There Comes a Time." There's a great cover of Magic Sam's "You Belong to Me," and Elmore James gets sampled on "It Hurts Me Too." A fine DVD from this show accompanies this CD, so you can double your pleasure here.--OffBeat Magazine, April 2010 issue

One of the reviewers was searching for a song list and times. Not easily found. This was pulled from the All Music Guide. Good Luck.

Tracks 11 thru 17 are the songs found on the live DVD.

Tracks

Title Composer Time

1 Cancel My Check Solberg 6:41

2 Living in the House of Blues 6:38

3 What Have I Done Wrong 8:03

4 Will It Ever Change Solberg 7:04

5 You Can, You Can Solberg 4:30

6 There Comes a Time Solberg 11:01

7 (Watching You) Cherry Red Wine 11:53

8 Low Down and Dirty Allison 4:49

9 It Hurts Me Too Whittaker 7:51

10 Serious 3:18

DVD

11 Cancel My Check Solberg

12 Living in the House of Blues

13 You Can, You Can Solberg

14 (Watching You) Cherry Red Wine

15 Low Down and Dirty Allison

16 It Hurts Me Too Whittaker

17 Move from the Hood Solberg

Releases

Year

Type

Label

Catalog #

2009 Ruf Records 1157

Luther was always one of my favorite blues guitarists. He was also a great vocalist who sang with soul and grit that just got better as he got older. Allison died of a brain tumor in 1997. He went downhill fast, once he was diagnosed, and this live album was recorded at one of his final shows. I saw Luther on this tour, and he performed one of the best blues shows I had ever seen in my life. 3 hours of non stop sweat and swagger without an intermission. For a man who was in his 60's, and only a few short months from death, it was a remarkable achievement. "Songs From The Road" is the ultimate look at a blues man who was at the top of his game. Luther's studio albums are all good, but live is where he really shines. Live versions of Allison classics like "Cherry Red Wine", "Living In The House Of The Blues", and "Low Down And Dirty" stretch out from their shorter studio versions allowing Luther to really show what he can do with the guitar. Allison throws in several covers as well including a rousing version of "It Hurts Me Too." Overall this is an exceptional live album from a blues man who left us way too soon. Luther Allison was one of the all time greats. This album is a must for any serious fan of blues guitar.

Wow!!! Just back from a road trip where I listened and watched (twice) the live music from Luther Allison in Montreal. As I watched I had to keep reminding my self that this was over 10 years ago, it seemed so vital and so current. The concert, recorded in 1997 for Canadian television show, was simply put: AMAZING. The band is tight, the audience engaged and in a worshipping mood, the song-set is top-shelf and best of all Luther Allison is on his game. Ever a world class blues showman, Luther Allison couldn't have known that his flame would be stopped within the next 3 weeks in Wisconsin where he succumbed to cancer and a tumor. If he did know, it makes this show an even more awesome moment in time. I only knew Luther to play and give 110% on stage and that is what you get. He and the band (5 in all; including keys, drums, bass, rhythm-2nd lead James Solberg) rip thru Luther favs, blues classics and a few surprises in a 56 minute made-for-TV set. By the 4th cut the blues legend is dripping with sweat. He changes guitars a few times, and thanks the audience between cuts, but this is all about pouring his heart out thru the tunes and giving his all. There are many show-stopping moments, including his classic. 11-minute "Cherry Red Wine", but for me I also can't help but get chocked up listening to Luther's fine turn on the oft-covered blues chestnut, "It Hurts Me So". Great guitar lines, especially the bubbly twin leads of Solberg and Allison are impressive. At one point Luther moves away from the microphone and quite simply pleads with the audience acapella and mic free. Woe, doctor! I get chills and choked up every time. Call me a sentimental old fool, but I like the old songs, as Bogart once said. Pretty remarkable when you think about the effort it takes to walk up a flight of stairs let alone play blistering lead for an hour within a dyeing body.

The CD/DVD features, beyond the music and concert, a 30 minute interview & a neat little documentary at the end, showing Luther, his son Bernard, and friend mostly on the road in Europe in the 1990s (this brief doc is part of a larger full-length film done by Chicago's school of the arts, Columbia College). All in all "Songs from the Road", is a captivating live show, not a cash-grab put out by Thomas Ruf's label. It is a worthy addition to the Allison collection and a worthy addition to any blues collectors music library. I can't recommend it more.

.

So long, baby, I've got to go

Because you don't love me now,

Darlin', I know you don't

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,

it hurts me so, it hurts me too

It's hard to believe that shortly after this ripping performance, Luther was diagnosed with the cancer that took his life. That being said, this is smokin' stuff. Luther and his crack band tore the joint up. If you had the good fortune to see Luther live, you know what I'm saying. This is a great representation of Luther and the guys getting the job done. RIP, Luther!

So glad to finally have a DVD of a Luther performance. The quality and sound are good. And, it's Luther....how could it not be great!

i have a studio album by luther and it is pretty good but not one of my all time favorites but when i see this was 4.99 i said what the heck i will take a chance. well glad i did this is amazing luther really shines on this live album. now i see what was special about luther. i will be looking for more of his live albums after listening to this one and if they are even half as good as this it will be money well spent

hooray for Ruf Records again - but as with a lot of anybody's releases there are mistakes which I don't know

are from carelessness or just hurried or misinformation - anyway, for for the anal detailed enthusiast

like myself i researched the date of this since the broadcast video I had of it said it was 6-jul i found on

the official montreal jazz fest site that indeed 6-jul (not 4-jul as stated in the liner notes) is

the correct date it seems (it also states that he was the opening act for Buddy Guy and that they also

played the 5th)

also, "move from the hood" is mentioned in liner notes as being one of the songs on the 80 minute CD

but the CD is about 73 min and is missing that song (it is on the DVD)

p.s. also real nice that the DVD has two nice interview segments tacked on the end - thanx Rocky & Ruf!