IndiePulse Reviews: Luther’s Blues- new album by Bernard Allison

By Joseph Timmons, IndiePulse Music Journalist

As Ruf Records celebrates its 30th anniversary, it is proud to release Luther’s Blues, the new album by Bernard Allison. Bernard’s father, Luther Allison is a true legend of the Chicago blues and a central figure in the label’s history. The two-disc set features 20 stellar tracks from Bernard Allison, each one a Luther Allison composition previously released on one of Bernard’s many albums. Allison himself hand-picked the songs for the collection, which have been lovingly remastered by Pauler Acoustics, a renowned address in the audiophile scene.

Bernard Allison knows how important it is to keep his father’s musical legacy alive. “I made a promise since day one – that I’d always include at least one or two of my dad’s songs on every album I record,” and he has kept that promise.

on Luther’s Blues, you’ll hear 20 Luther Allison songs reinvented for the 21st century by a member of the blues generation that followed him. “They’re not necessarily Luther’s most famous tunes; when putting together any new album”, says Bernard, he often goes for “songs that were overlooked on each [of my father’s albums and then put my own twist on them.”

In Review: With a devout reverence to his father’s musical genius and legacy, Bernard Allison captures the original energy and power of his father’s music, and yet adds his own distinct sound, making each song wholly new with vibrancy and passion.

The 2 CD Album Luther’s Blues starts out with Hang On, with the sound of solid, flawless guitar work and power chords, this song is just a strong and solid groove, followed by Reaching Out, a love song that takes us over to the softer and smoother side of the blues infused rhythms and compositions, this is 20 sizzling tracks of steadfast magic.

Tracks on this album that really grabbed my attention, Into My Life is top of my list, the sound is just so moving and takes you deep into the groove. Midnight Creeper is just a got to move tune, the upbeat tempos and the sexy vibe is fantastic. Help, fast and driving, like a sportscar on highway 66, can’t stand still. Life Is A Bitch, is a two sided song, yeah, life is rough, and sometimes it will be to much to bear, but you can’t keep a good man down and if that good man is a bad ass brother, well, you know he gonna win. You’re Gonna Need Me, this right here is a classic blues style of song, dripping with a man’s pain of a love gone wrong, and just before he walks out the door, he turns to educate because he knows the truth.

I could go on and on, every track is a win, Bernard Allison has truly done his father’s legacy proud with Luther’s Blues. As lifelong musician who soaked up blues traditions during his youth in Chicago, Bernard Allison later followed his dad to Europe, became the leader of the Luther Allison Band and eventually made his own way, creating exciting new sounds for a new generation.

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