Showing posts with label Bernard Allison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bernard Allison. Show all posts

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Bernard Allison - Luther's Blues (2 CD)

Album: Luther's Blues
Size: 106,2 + 109,3 MB
Time: 45:56 + 47:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues/Rock/Soul mix
Art: Full

CD 1:
1. Hang On (3:35)
2. Reaching Out (4:57)
3. Too Many Women (4:16)
4. Into My Life (4:26)
5. Serious (5:28)
6. Bad Love (5:23)
7. Now You Got It (3:48)
8. Love Is Free (5:31)
9. Midnight Creeper (4:40)
10. Help (3:48)

CD 2:
1. Back Down South (4:11)
2. I Gave It All (4:56)
3. Life Is A Bitch (4:12)
4. Let's Try It Again (6:19)
5. Change Your Way Of Living (4:10)
6. You're Gonna Need Me (4:38)
7. Compromising For Your Needs (4:11)
8. A Change Must Come (4:55)
9. Move From The Hood (6:13)
10. Castle (3:28)

Arriving as Ruf Records marks its 30th anniversary and more than three decades since blues guitar master Bernard Allison debuted on record, Luther’s Blues celebrates the music of Bernard’s father Luther Allison, 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.

Anyone who’s ever attended a Bernard Allison concert or listened to his recordings knows how much it means to him to keep his father’s musical legacy alive. “I made a promise since day one – to myself and to my mom Fannie Mae Allison – that I’d always include at least one or two of my dad’s songs on every album I record,” he says. Bernard has delivered on that promise throughout his career, performing Luther’s songs both at concerts and on record, while forging a funky and more rock-oriented style that differs from the traditional blues he grew up around. His dad supported him while he was still finding his own musical voice, openly encouraging him to “play it how you feel it” rather than copy what came before.

Thus, 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.”

The track list spans exactly 30 years, from “Hang On” – recorded in Paris in the summer of 1992, when Allison was in his mid-20s – to a pair of cuts from his most recent studio album Highs & Lows, which hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart in 2022 and earned a Blues Rock Album of the Year nomination at the Blues Music Awards. His interpretations of enduring Luther Allison-penned tunes like “Bad Love,” “Life Is A Bitch” and “Let’s Try It Again” are included, and while we may think of these songs as classics today, Bernard Allison has played a huge role in keeping them in our collective consciousness. That’s especially true of “Serious,” a Luther Allison favorite first released in 1987. His son calls it “that special song that I perform every night” and believes it is his father’s most popular song across the world.

The 20-song Luther’s Blues is not the first album to pay tribute to the late, great Luther Allison. It’s not the first album to bear that simple two-word title. What makes this collection different is that it comes from Luther’s own progeny – Bernard Allison, a lifelong musician who soaked up blues traditions during his youth in Chicago, 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. All along, he has never once lost sight of where he came from. /Blues Magazine

Luther's Blues (2 CD) mc
Luther's Blues (2 CD) gofile

Monday, April 11, 2022

Bernard Allison - Storms Of Life

Size: 357 MB
Time: 52:03
File: Flac
Released: 2002
Styles: Blues, funk, reggae, rock
Art: Full

1. Slip Slidin' (1:43)
2. Storms Of Life (5:03)
3. Down South (4:13)
4. Just Do me Anyway You Want (5:03)
5. I Think I Love You Too Much (3:56)
6. Mean Town Blues (3:07)
7. Speed Slide (3:08)
8. I Wanna Drive You Home (4:10)
9. Snake Bit Again (3:41)
10. Reaching Out (4:59)
11. Fistful Of Dirt (3:44)
12. Help Me Through The Day (4:49)
13. Goodbye Little Girl (4:20)

The storm that Bernard Allison currently seems to be weathering is one involving a crisis of identity. Storms of Life, Allison’s second album for Tone-Cool Records, explores funk, reggae, rock, and a variety of blues styles. There are also compositions by such varied and well known artists as Mark Knopfler, Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, Anders Osborne, and Allison’s father, the late great bluesman, Luther Allison. Unfortunately, there is no cohesive agent holding it all together. Allison’s frail vocal stylings and potent guitar playing change with the territory in chameleon like fashion, leaving the listener confused and ultimately bored, as if having spent the evening in a local bar listening to a competent cover band. In the press release for Storms of Life, and in a number of interviews, Allison says that his father once told him, “Don’t be afraid to go outside of the blues; don’t let them label you like they did me.” It seems Allison has taken this bit of paternal advice to an almost paranoid level.

Storms Of Life FLAC

Friday, March 11, 2022

Bernard Allison - Highs & Lows

Size: 106.0 MB
Time: 45:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues Rock, Blues Jazz
Art: Full

01. So Excited (3:23)
02. Highs & Lows (3:32)
03. Strain On My Heart (4:03)
04. My Way Or The Highway (3:59)
05. Side Step (4:21)
06. Hustler (4:01)
07. Now You Got It (3:49)
08. I Gave It All (4:56)
09. My Kinda Girl (4:00)
10. Satisfy Her Needs (4:24)
11. Last Night (4:41)

There's nothing like the sound of a world-class bluesman getting back to business. Last October, when son of the late blues legend Luther Allison, Bernard Allison, returned to his old haunt of Bessie Blue Studios, Tennessee, to be greeted by fabled producer and career-long collaborator Jim Gaines, it felt like coming home. And when Allison fired up the amps, counted in the band and embarked upon his latest studio album, Highs And Lows, everything felt right with the world. "Just to be able to create music again after the pandemic," he says of that long-awaited rebirth, "was incredible."

Highs & Lows MP3
Highs & Lows FLAC

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Bernard Allison - The River's Rising

Size: 127.7 MB
Time: 54:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. The River's Rising (3:44)
02. I Just Came Back To Say Goodbye (3:45)
03. Coming Back (Across The Water) (4:38)
04. Feels Kinda Funny (3:19)
05. There's No Higher Love (4:07)
06. I've Been Down (6:38)
07. Slip Slidin' (1:43)
08. Down South (4:13)
09. I Think I Love You Too Much (3:56)
10. Mean Town Blues (3:07)
11. Speed Slide (3:08)
12. Snake Bit Again (3:41)
13. Fistful Of Dirt (3:44)
14. Help Me Through The Day (4:49)

If the name sounds familiar it’s because Bernard is none other than the son of the late great Blues guitarist, Luther Allison. The younger Allison has spent years honing his skills to become a great guitarist in his very own right, as well as a fine vocalist and gifted songwriter. From his remarkable duet with Allison senior at the 1983 Chicago Blues Festival, to his years playing behind Koko Taylor and with Willie Dixon band, Bernard matured into a self-assured and imposing front man. With the torch handed from one generation to the next, Allison’s blend of traditional Blues delivered with a Rock attitude prove that he is a worthy heir apparent.

The River's Rising MP3
The River's Rising FLAC

Friday, January 29, 2021

Bernard Allison - The Next Generation

Size: 106.7 MB
Time: 45:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Low Down And Dirty (3:39)
02. Master Of Disaster (3:47)
03. Help (3:49)
04. Walkin' (3:21)
05. Baby Child (5:45)
06. Next Generation (4:48)
07. Wonderful Site (3:49)
08. Trav'lin' (7:23)
09. B.A.'s Knocking At Your Door (3:54)
10. Boogie Woogie Boy (5:16)

Bernard Allison's inaugural effort bristled with the urgency and blues-rock guitar chops that distinguished his late father, Luther Allison. The pair played together for much of the '80s before Bernard recorded this album with his father's musicians -- including keyboardist Michel Carras, who pulls down some good barrelhouse piano parts. The mood is feisty and assertive, especially on "B.A.'s Knockin' at Your Door" and "Low Down and Dirty," which poses the gleeful question, "And you think I'd change my style?" Of course not; fans knew exactly what they were getting, such as the Hendrix-flecked string-bending that drives "Help." (Bernard even dabbles on drums and keyboards.) Other highlights include the title track's party blues, complete with sassy horns; "Baby Child," a hilarious recounting of how Bernard began his career; and "Travlin'," a slower, yet frank look at the road's ups and downs. While hardly the deftest lyricist, Bernard's breezy self-assurance on guitar and can-do musical ethic should overcome most objections. ~Ralph Heibutzki

The Next Generation MP3
The Next Generation FLAC

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Bernard Allison - Kentucky Fried Blues (Live)

Size: 134.2 MB
Time: 57:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Introduction ( 0:29)
02. Buzz Me ( 2:05)
03. Going Down ( 5:25)
04. Bad Love (14:08)
05. Life Is A Bitch ( 4:52)
06. Midnight Creeper ( 6:34)
07. Leave My Girl Alone (18:12)
08. Good Time Woman ( 6:01)

More than a few musicologists have noted the parallels between hip-hop and the blues -- both involve first-rate storytelling, both can be sexually candid, and both have been known to use dark humor. But there is one major difference between hip-hop and the blues: while hip-hop is extremely youth-driven, the blues world is a lot more receptive to people who are 30 and over. Blues fans realize that someone might have more to say at 35 than he/she did at 20; consequently, blues artists are encouraged to grow and develop, which is a good thing for someone like Bernard Allison. The singer/guitarist showed promise all along, but Kentucky Fried Blues finds a thirtysomething Allison continuing to grow as an artist. This CD isn't called Kentucky Fried Blues because Allison is from Kentucky -- Allison gets most of his electric blues inspiration from Chicago and Texas. Rather, the name Kentucky Fried Blues stems from the fact that this CD was recorded live at the WC Handy Blues Festival in June 1999 in Henderson, KY, where a 33-year-old Allison is sounding more and more confident -- not only as a bluesman, but also as a soul singer. The blues are the album's main focus, and a blues-oriented approach serves him well on the instrumental "Buzz Me," Buddy Guy's "Leave My Girl Alone," and father Luther Allison's "Life Is a Bitch." But he has no problem getting into soul-singer mode on "Midnight Creeper," which is also by the late Luther Allison. For Bernard Allison, being blues-oriented doesn't mean excluding soul, funk, and rock influences -- and it doesn't mean that he can't have some fun with a '60s-like soul tune. All things considered, Kentucky Fried Blues paints an appealing picture of Allison at 33. ~Alex Henderson

Kentucky Fried Blues (Live) MP3
Kentucky Fried Blues (Live) FLAC

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Bernard Allison - No Mercy

Size: 127.4 MB
Time: 54:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Rock Me Baby ( 7:30)
02. Don't Go To Sleep On Me ( 4:24)
03. Break'in Up Somebody' Home ( 4:59)
04. Change Your Way Of Living ( 3:50)
05. Driven Wheel ( 8:27)
06. Next Generation ( 5:32)
07. Boo Boo's Boogie ( 1:20)
08. Tin Pan Alley (13:23)
09. Help ( 5:12)

When it comes to the blues, it seems like there are two different camps -- those who are staunch authentic blues enthusiasts, and those who like their blues amped up with a decidedly rock approach. On his 1996 live release, No Mercy, singer/guitarist Bernard Allison certainly falls under the latter category. As with the majority of modern-day blues-rockers, Allison focuses mostly on covers of vintage blues tunes, with the odd original (or more accurately, one lone original -- "Next Generation") thrown in for good measure. With Allison backed by a group of studio pros, No Mercy captures blues at its most well-honed -- the complete opposite of the grittiness of the original bluesmen -- especially on such tracks as the album-opening "Rock Me Baby" and "Breakin' Up Somebody's Home." Also included are a pair of tributes to Bernard's father, Luther Allison ("Change Your Way of Living" and "Help") as well as a reading of "Tin Pan Alley," which is very reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughan's version (on his classic Couldn't Stand the Weather release). If you're an admirer of modern-day blues-rock, then No Mercy is certainly worth a spin. ~Greg Prato

No Mercy MP3
No Mercy FLAC

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Bernard Allison - Songs From The Road

Year: 2020
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:01
Size: 175,2 MB
Styles: Electric blues, funky blues
Scans: Full

1. Night Train (4:58)
2. Stay With Me Tonight (4:47)
3. You're Gonna Need Me (9:54)
4. I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind (4:54)
5. Call Me Momma (6:03)
6. Feels Kinda Funny (3:23)
7. Cruisin For A Bluesin (6:00)
8. Same Ole Feeling (5:27)
9. Let's Try It Again (9:56)
10. Meet Me Half Way (3:56)
11. Backdoor Man (5:02)
12. Something's Wrong (5:55)
13. Slide Master (5:40)

The great Chicago bluesman Luther Allison lived by a simple philosophy that he was happy to share (“Leave your ego, play the music, love the people”). Now, twenty-three years after Luther’s passing, the great man would surely be thrilled to hear Bernard Allison‘s Songs From The Road, and proud to find that his ferociously talented son is sworn to the same mission, bringing soul-soaked, all-guns-blazing blues to audiences who need it more than ever.

Songs From The Road is a live snapshot so raw and real that hearing it feels like hanging off the security barrier of Dortmund’s Musiktheater Piano club when Bernard and his crack-squad band hit town last October 23rd. With an A-list crew on-hand – and a dynamic mix from industry legend Jim Gaines this immersive recording catches every last flash of virtuosity, bead of sweat and drop of atmosphere. Since he embarked on his acclaimed solo career with 1990’s The Next Generation, Bernard’s studio catalogue has been heavy with highlights, and that night in Germany, every fan in the house got something off their wish-list.

This prolific songwriter reminded us that his recent output is his strongest to date, with five cuts from last year’s acclaimed Let It Go. But Bernard is happy to embrace his past glories, too, on a setlist that spans from 1998’s Times Are Changing to 2015’s In The Mix – and gives long-standing fans a treat with Let’s Try It Again, borrowed from his father’s classic 1984 album, Life Is A Bitch. You might know the songs – but you don’t know these interpretations. With Bernard leading the lineup on vocals and searing lead guitar, backed by Dylan Salfer (guitar), George Moye (bass), Mario Dawson (drums) and José James (sax/percussion), this is a live band whose chemistry lets them stretch out and shake up these classic songs.

On Songs From The Road, the result is a glorious exchange of energy between band and crowd – and evidence that Luther’s old philosophy is burning brighter than ever. “Our shows aren’t like going to the movies and staring at the big screen,” Bernard considers. “We’re there for the people to enjoy each other’s stories for the evening.”

Songs From The Road mc
Songs From The Road zippy

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Chris Kramer - Blues 'N' Beyond Vol. I

Size: 106,0 MB
Time: 44:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric/Acoustic Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. I Ain't Got No Home (Feat. John Kirkbride) (3:38)
02. Backwater Blues (Feat. Long John Baldry) (4:31)
03. Maggie Bell (Feat. Long John Baldry) (3:33)
04. You Gotta Change Your Ways (Feat. Albie Donnelly) (5:12)
05. Been Your Dog (Feat. John Kirkbride) (3:54)
06. Mastercook (3:05)
07. Gangster Blues (3:36)
08. Messin' With The Kid (Feat. Bernhard Allison) (4:09)
09. The One You Love (Feat. Roger Sutcliffe) (3:39)
10. Train, Sweet Train (Feat. Frank Diez) (3:32)
11. Apetite Blues (Feat. Tom Shaka) (5:58)

Chris Kramer and the blues have been found - and have changed. Whoever thinks that the blues is only a low-pitched suicide, Kramer has never seen live. Because he lives the blues with a huge portion of self-irony and humor, Chris gives the genre a new own note. Apart from the high musical demands, this makes his concerts highly entertaining, entertaining, and sometimes drives the audience into the eye. He talks about how the beak has grown in the Ruhr area, he plays and sings with his own song material, which reflects the problems of everyday life, cariculates them and gives the amused listener often a new, casual and always entertaining view the things.

The "German Blues Award" is awarded in two-year-olds. The winner of the German Blues Award is Chris Kramer, who is a true songwriter, as well as a singer and a virtuoso instrumentalist on harmonica, guitar and dobro. Peter Maffay and his blues-harp were involved several times for CD recordings and concert tours. Chuck Leavell (pianist of the Rolling Stones) says about Chris: "Oh, what an amazing harp player!". Cream-bassist Jack Bruce called him a "master of the blues-harp.", "Simple Minds" -Drummer Mel Gaynor praised his versatility and he was a musical guest both at Jürgen von der Lippe and at Götz Alsmann.

In addition, the sympathetic Ruhrpottler has worked with countless national and international musicians, wrote harmonica books, given workshops and several television stations as musicians - on WDR television, even with his own "planet knowledge" broadcast on America, the blues And Chris Kramer ...

The Hohner instrument maker, world market leader in the production of tongues such as harmonicas and accordions, gave Kramer a special honor: Hohner produced a Chris-Kramer "Signature" harmonica, a personalized model according to its specifications. This recognition by Hohner was previously, for example, John Lennon and Bob Dylan, who also received their "Signature" performance, which highlights the importance of Kramers in the "Blues-Harp" division. ~google translation

Blues 'N' Beyond Vol. I

Monday, July 22, 2019

Swiss Blues Authority - Just point it

Size: 97.5 MB
Time: 42:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

1. Gimme A Break [2:44]
2. Put Me To The Test [2:58]
3. Right Time For The Blues [3:34]
4. Better Stay In Bed [3:12]
5. Just Point It [4:08]
6. Will She Come Home [2:45]
7. Enuff Is Enuff [3:17]
8. Number One [2:56]
9. The Shuffle [3:35]
10. Easy Money [5:05]
11. You Dont Love Me [4:03]
12. Never Did Or Never Will [4:10]

Just Point It" by the Swiss blues band Swiss Blues Authority is modern blues at its best, lots of power and drive! The album "Just Point It" features blues greats Popa Chubby and Bernard Allison, as well as the famous Swiss rock star Polo Hofer. Bandleader Chris Gora is one of the best blues and rock guitarists in Europe, certainly the best in Switzerland..

Just point it

Thursday, June 13, 2019

VA - 25 Years Anniversary Ruf Records

Source: CD
Size: 123.8 M
Time: 53:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01 Ally Venable - Texas Honey (2:28)
02 Jeremiah Johnson - Straitjacket (4:12)
03 Bernard Allison - Backdoor Man (3:50)
04 Samantha Fish - Chills & Fever (3:19)
05 The BB King Blues Band - Lown Down (4:41)
06 Big Daddy Wilson - Deep In My Soul (4:38)
07 Mike Zito - First Class Life (4:03)
08 Vania Sky - Hard Working Woman (2:54)
09 Sandy Brown - Why Did You Hoodoo Me (5:13)
10 Michael Lee - Weeds (2:52)
11 Ina Forsman - Get Mine (3:59)
12 Victor Wainwright - Boogie Depression (3:31)
13 Katarina Peiak - She's Coming After You (3:30)
14 The Ragtime Rumours - Faker (4:11)

Pop the champagne: Ruf Records is 25. A lot has changed in rock ‘n’ roll since 1994. We’ve seen a thousand bands rise and fall. We’ve watched a hundred rock scenes blow up and burn out. All the while, Ruf has steadily evolved, from its roots as one man’s vision, to the most respected blues/rock label around, with a roll-call of talent to top any independent on the planet. And if that sounds like a bold statement, you’re holding the proof in your hands…

Of course, Thomas Ruf didn’t expect any of those accolades back in 1994. Back then, Ruf’s charismatic founder and leader created the label simply to give the legendary Chicago bandleader Luther Allison a platform to release some of the best albums of his career. Tragically, Luther himself was lost to cancer in 1997, but Ruf Records never missed a beat, continuing to develop some of the brightest talent in America, Britain, Europe and beyond, while always retaining its fearsomely independent spirit.

Walter Trout, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Mike Zito, Jeff Healey, Savoy Brown, Dana Fuchs, Bernard Allison, Samantha Fish and many more. To anyone with even a passing interest in quality blues, the Ruf roster since 1994 reads like a hall of fame, taking in legends, supergroups and bright young talents. As such, when it came to compiling this special 25th anniversary release, the songs selected by Thomas across these CD and DVD Sampler are all killer, no filler.

Twenty-five years. It’s been quite a ride, with one hell of a soundtrack. So here’s to the story so far – and the next twenty-five years...

25 Years Anniversary

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Mike Zito, Vanja Sky, Bernard Allison - Blues Caravan 2018

Size: 168,5 MB
Time: 72:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Low Down And Dirty ( 4:49)
02. All Night ( 4:23)
03. Do You Wanna ( 3:35)
04. Married Man ( 5:35)
05. Keep Coming Back ( 4:35)
06. Wasted Time ( 4:21)
07. Make Blues Not War ( 7:49)
08. In The Open ( 5:15)
09. Rocket 88 ( 7:26)
10. The Way Love Was Ment To Be (10:30)
11. Life Is A Bitch ( 4:38)
12. Serious (As A Heart Attack) ( 9:11)

This was no ordinary club tour. This was the Blues Caravan 2018. On this year's Blues Caravan, you'll not only find one young gun with a dazzling career ahead of her, but also two heavyweights with a sky-high reputation. Let's welcome them to the stage.

This CD/DVD release revives a unique Blues Caravan! A unique live piece to experience the Blues Caravan of 2018 again and again!

The accompanying DVD was recorded on 27.01.2018 at Café Hahn in Koblenz!
Ruf's tireless dedication to the blues means it hunts far beyond the US and UK for its new signings and the label has struck gold with Croatian gunslinger Vanja Sky. On this CD/DVD she presents songs from her first studio album "Bad Penny".
Some surnames command instant respect on the blues scene. As the son of the mighty Luther Allison the late Chicago blues titan who was Ruf's first signing back in 1994 Bernard Allison has added to the family legend and carved out his own mythology as a world-class songwriter and performer. For this year's Blues Caravan, he'll be drawing on an acclaimed back catalogue that includes 1997's US debut Keepin' The Blues Alive and 2000's classic Born With The Blues, and slipping between genres as only a master can.
If you're remotely serious about modern blues, you'll have followed the twists and turns of Mike Zito's fascinating career 'I have long wanted to join the Blues Caravan and run away, so I'm excited, he says'. My shows are energetic and passionate: I try hard to give everything I've got and make every note count. You can expect rocking blues guitar, with a dose of soul vocals, and a mix of my best songs.

Blues Caravan 2018 MP3
Blues Caravan 2018 FLAC

Friday, February 2, 2018

Bernard Allison - Let It Go

Size: 123,8 MB
Time: 53:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Crusin For A Bluesin (4:55)
02. Same Ole Feeling (4:04)
03. Backdoor Man (3:48)
04. Let It Go (5:16)
05. Night Train (3:48)
06. Kiddeo (4:44)
07. Leave Your Ego (5:13)
08. Blues Party (4:47)
09. Hey Lady (4:48)
10. Look Out Mabel (3:33)
11. You're Gonna Need Me (4:38)
12. Castle (3:28)

Bernard Allison is unstoppable. He's the face on the magazines and the voice on the radio. He's the showman roaming the open road on the 2018 Blues Caravan tour, bringing it to the people each night with compadrés Mike Zito and Vanja Sky. He's the visionary songwriter whose latest studio release Let It Go is already tipped as an album of 2018. It?s a work ethic that would leave most musicians gasping, but for this creative dynamo now entering his fifth decade at the head of the blues pack it's all in a days work. Starting the blues calendar with a bang in January 2018, Let It Go feels like a homecoming. After all, this latest studio album sees Bernard return to Ruf Records: the iconic German label that was created in 1994 to serve as a home for his father, the much-missed Chicago heavyweight, Luther Allison. Just as significant, Let It Go also found Bernard recording in the birthplace of the blues Tennessee and returns his sound to its raw fundamentals, on 12 songs that hold up without embellishment. Let It Go was recorded at Bessie Blue Studio, Stantonville, Tennessee, with legendary music producer Jim Gaines, recalls Bernard. We made the decision to not flood the CD with keyboards or horns, to go back to the true basic rhythm section sound ? and to show more mature songwriting. As a questing artist who once noted that blues is about experimenting, Bernard isn't afraid to twist the blueprint on Let It Go, evidenced by moments like the jazzy scuttle of Kiddio, or the closing acoustic lament of his fathers Castle. Yet the bandleader still wears his love for the genre proudly, most notably on Blues Party, where he imagines a celestial jam session with a house band including fallen titans from John Lee Hooker to Robert Johnson (They'll be hangin out in heaven/A blues party that never ends). It's an auspicious catalogue by an acclaimed genre heavyweight but Let It Go is a potent reminder that for Bernard Allison, there's always another gear. We all just came together as a group to create this album, he considers, to show our chemistry as friends and bandmates. My favourite memory was watching the faces of everyone involved in the session. Everyone came to lay it on down and gave 110%...

Let It Go

Monday, October 9, 2017

Lucky Peterson - What Have I Done Wrong: The Best Of The JSP Sessions

Size: 131,0 MB
Time: 56:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. After The Dance (3:40)
02. Til' My Dyin' Day (Feat. Andy Aledort) (6:17)
03. Age Ain't Nothing But A Number (Feat. James Peterson) (3:48)
04. Strange Things Happening Every Day (Feat. Tamara Peterson) (4:29)
05. Lost The Right (3:07)
06. What Have I Done Wrong (3:36)
07. Never Coming Back (3:13)
08. Where's Lucky (Feat. Bernard Allison, Larry McCray & Carl Weathersby/) (7:16)
09. Have You Ever (Could Have Been You) (4:41)
10. From Me (Previously Unissued Track) (6:51)
11. Back To Sing The Blues (Previously Unissued Track) (4:29)
12. I'm Lucky Man (Feat. Tamara Peterson) (Previously Unissued Track) (4:31)

Multi-instrumentalist Lucky Peterson cements his position as one of the era's leading Bluesmen with this Best of the JSP sessions. Features various special guests and this edition comes with 4 bonus unreleased tracks.

A protege of Willie Dixon's he performed at the age of five on the Ed Sullivan show. Acclaimed as a child prodigy, he consolidated his musical skills at Buffalo Academy, before bowing to the inevitable and playing guitar and keyboards for the likes of Etta James. Bobby Bland and Little Milton. That pedigree is evident in every track here. We hear Lucky evolving from assurance to sheer mastery. And that's to say nothing of his singing, songwriting, and band leading skills.

What Have I Done Wrong

Friday, December 23, 2016

Bernard Allison - Born With The Blues

Year: 1997
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:38
Size: 121,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Baby Chile (4:42)
2. Tell Me Why (4:26)
3. Walkin' (3:28)
4. Young Boy's Blues (6:30)
5. In The Open (4:17)
6. You Gave Me The Blues (4:34)
7. Home Goin' (5:43)
8. When I'm Lonely (3:21)
9. A Change Must Come (4:58)
10. Rocket 88 (3:43)
11. Garbage Man (6:51)

Born in Chicago on November 26th, 1965 the youngest of nine children Bernard Allison was first introduced to the roots of black music and the art of the electric guitar by his father, the late great Luther Allison. Bernard Allison made his first appearance on record at age 13, when he played on a live LP his father recorded in Peoria, IL.

Soon after graduating from High School, he began a three-year guitar apprenticeship in Koko Taylor's high-flying Blues Machine. Bernard Allison also played in the late Willie Dixon's Blues All-Stars and performed with Luther Allison at the 1983 Blues Festival - one of the event's highlights. Along the way, Bernard Allison picked up slide guitar tips from Johnny Winter and in the 80's also learned from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.

With those experiences under his belt, Bernard Allison moved to Paris in 1989 to live and play the blues with his father. Bernard Allison joined the tourband of Luther Allison after a furious collaboration of "Father & Son" at the '89 Chicago Blues Festival. In 1999, two years after Luther Allison passed away, Bernard Allison decided to move back to the States to go back to his roots and push his career in his native country.

Bernard Allison seems to have inherited Luther Allison's knack for igniting audiences, but he's no clone of his famous father. Bernard Allison is definitely blazing his own path with a style that reflects a unique mix of traditional and modern influences.

(Note: This album was also released as "Keepin' The Blues Alive".)

Born With The Blues mc
Born With The Blues zippy

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Allison Burnside Express - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:24
Size: 103.9 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:53] 1. Backtrack
[5:03] 2. Do You Know What I Think
[4:48] 3. Why Did I Do It
[4:32] 4. Southshore Drive
[3:45] 5. Fire It Up
[3:35] 6. Minnissippi Blues
[4:49] 7. Nutbush City Limits
[2:37] 8. Stanky Issues
[4:16] 9. That Thang
[3:42] 10. Hidden Charms
[4:17] 11. Going Down

Bernard Allison (guitar, vocals) is the son of Luther Allison (1939-1997), who was famous for his rocking take on the blues, a style he originally honed backing up masters like Freddie King and Otis Rush; Cedric Burnside (guitar, vocals, drums) is the grandson of R. L. Burnside (1926-2005), whose extremely raw sound was influenced by John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins and Muddy Waters. Two great artists from two great musical families. Bernard and Cedric have been around the block and back again. This 2013 release is lightning hot. From the blues/rock genre of music, this is the first collaboration between the two artists and hopefully not the last.

Also features Trenton Ayers..guitar, Erick Ballard..drums, Vic Jackson..bass. Besides a batch of fresh original songs, the band interprets Ike & Tina Turner's "Nutbush City Limits," the classic "Going Down" by Don Nix as well as Willie Dixon's "Hidden Charms." You can hear the past influences in the music, not only from the masters but also from their own solo projects, North Mississippi Allstars, and a touch of funk and Cajun thrown in for good measure. There is not one weak song out of the 11 tunes. Great collaboration guys. ~To The Max Bax

Allison Burnside Express mc
Allison Burnside Express zippy

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Bernard Allison - Chills & Thrills

Year: 2007
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:34
Size: 141,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues, funky blues
Scans: Full

1. Chills & Thrills (4:37)
2. Boogie Man (4:14)
3. So Devine (4:26)
4. When I'm Gone (4:12)
5. Missing Tyrone (5:01)
6. Just My Guitar And Me (6:12)
7. Compromising For Your Needs (4:13)
8. Black & White (3:29)
9. Serious (5:31)
10. Heart Of St. Paul (3:20)
11. That's Why I'm Crying (5:26)
12. Groove With Me (4:03)
13. Serious (After Hours) (5:42)

"Luther Allison gave his son some of the greatest gifts a father can give a son. He gave him a comfortable home environment filled with the music that inspired his career and he taught him what he knew about his art. Bernard has a new album, Chills & Thrills, that proves eleven years after Dad's death that the Allison legacy is indeed intact and that, while he performs some of his dad's songs, Bernard Allison has indeed found his own voice." (Don Wilcock, Blueswax)

On his latest effort, which was recorded in New Hope, Minnesota in the autumn of 2007, he's joined by Eric Gales on second guitar, Rusty Hall on keyboards, Jassen Wilber on bass and Mario Dawson on drums. Guests: Bruce McCabe (piano, clavinet), Kathleen Johnson (background vocals), Jose James (sax). /Amazon

Chills & Thrills mc
Chills & Thrills zippy

Friday, October 23, 2015

Trudy Lynn - U Don't Know What Time It Is

Year: 1999
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:29
Size: 95,2 MB
Styles: Soul-blues
Scans: Full

1. Shake Rattle N' Roll (3:53)
2. U Don't Know What Time It Is (3:27)
3. Help Me Through The Day (5:08)
4. Ace In The Hole (3:04)
5. Nothing But Love (5:11)
6. Time Gone By (3:44)
7. Time Is Running Out (4:21)
8. I Should Have Known (4:39)
9. Heart Of Stone (4:14)
10. Baby Come On Back (3:43)

The Houston-based soul-blues singer's first album away from Ichiban definitely has a different sound, somewhat smoother and lower key. That's probably to be expected when you consider that Lynn has Lucky Peterson backing her up on keys, and performs three songs by Robert A. Johnson. An infusion of energy comes from Bernard Allison, who like his father Luther has a raw edge on his guitar. Lynn's voice is as strong as ever, as songs like the title track, "Time Gone By" and "Help Me Through the Day" showcase quite handily. Small wonder that this album scored Lynn a W.C. Handy nomination in the Soul/Blues Artist category. /Amazon

U Don't Know What Time It Is mc
U Don't Know What Time It Is zippy

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Bernard Allison - 2 albums: Times Are Changing / Energized: Live In Europe Vols 1&2

Album: Times Are Changing
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:43
Size: 148.2 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
[5:25] 2. Bad Love
[5:03] 3. Check Yourself
[4:49] 4. Midnight Creeper
[4:50] 5. Don't Be Confused (Acoustic)
[4:07] 6. Tell Me
[5:27] 7. The Way Love Was Meant To Be
[5:06] 8. In The Morning
[5:43] 9. New Girl In Town
[5:53] 10. If You Want Me To Stay
[4:14] 11. Life Is A Bitch
[4:54] 12. Real Mother 'fa 'ya
[5:03] 13. Don't Be Confused

Bernard Allison is a guitarist with a pedigree. As the son of the late blues guitar wizard, Luther Allison, Bernard has had some big shoes to fill. No doubt, in his past, he has had to suffer through comparisons with his famous father and, subsequently had to deal with criticism because he sounded too much like Luther, not enough like Luther, etc., etc., etc.... Times ARE Changing is Bernard's follow-up to his American debut CD, Keepin'

The Blues Alive on Cannonball Records. I am the first to admit that I wasn't too excited about Bernard's first CD. Although it was a good effort, I just wasn't sure that he had the fire that his father had displayed for so many years. Not that he needed to sound or act like Luther, he just needed to show the emotion that had graced so many of Luther's recordings, especially those that Bernard played on with his father. Well, times are changing and Bernard's latest CD is one uniformly excellent recording. I have seen Bernard live on three separate occasions and he gets better with each appearance. The same can be said about his recordings. Times ARE Changing is infinitely superior to Keepin' The Blues Alive, and demonstrates all the talent, emotion and fire of any recording that I have ever listened to, including Luther's.

The CD features thirteen songs, including seven originals by Bernard Allison (if you consider the acoustic and electric version of "Don't Be Confused" as two different songs. The recording also includes three songs by Luther Allison and one each by Bobby Rush, Sly Stone and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. From the opening Bernard Allison original, "I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind", the CD demonstrates the exceptional talents of Bernard and characterizes his love for his father and for the music that they shared. In fact, on "Bad Love," a Luther Allison and James Solberg penned tune, Bernard sounds so much like his father, it is absolutely frightening. His guitar, his voice and everything else about the sound scream Luther's name to the listener.

One of the most significant tunes on the CD is another original tune entitled, "Don't Be Confused." There are two versions of the song on the CD and, in my opinion, the acoustic version is clearly the best because the vocals and lyrics are brought to the forefront of the piece. "Don't Be Confused" is about the life, death and afterlife of Luther Allison and displays just how strong the relationship was between father and son. Having met and talked to both men, listening to this song absolutely brings tears to my eyes; it is VERY powerful. The CD finishes up with the electric version of "Don't Be Confused," which is still an excellent song, but does not seem as emotional as the acoustic version.

Other highlights of the recording include "The Way Love Was Meant To Be," another Bernard Allison original that features some excellent guitar. Sly Stone's, "If You Want Me To Stay," is a song I loved when it was recorded by Sly and the Family Stone, and one I have started to love again thanks to Bernard's excellent cover. Also well done, and of note, is Allison's version of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's, "Real Mother Fa Ya," where Bernard further demonstrates his ability to get funky. ~Dave "Doc" Piltz

Times Are Changing

This double-CD set, also available as a DVD, is a perfectly titled document of a single Bernard Allison show recorded in Gottingen, Germany, on October 20, 2005. The band is tight and Allison is charged up, playing his rough-and-tough blues-rock like he invented it. The set is his usual mix of originals and covers, predominantly of his father Luther's songs, four of which appear here, with a lot of jamming in between. But even though the sound is excellent and the playing tight and spontaneous, the performances suffer from the tunes being stretched too thin. This is less of a problem on the DVD, as the visuals compensate for the extended solos that don't always equate quantity with quality. But as solid and rugged a guitarist as Allison is, he doesn't have enough creativity as a string-bender or vocalist to justify the length of these tracks. The band is muscular and more than capable, but lacks the subtlety to bring anything other than meat-and-potatoes playing to the table. Keyboardist Mike Vlahakis, originally from Luther Allison's band, is particularly impressive as he shifts from electric piano to organ seamlessly, and fills in plenty of holes. The 11-minute instrumental slide showcase "The Walk," which opens disc two, is a good example of where too much of a good thing, in this case a standard Bo Diddley beat enlivened by Allison's flame-thrower slide playing, yields diminishing returns. Certainly if you were there, this would have been an exciting showcase for Allison's slide skills, but having to endure it on an album is an exercise in stamina. The guitarist is also fond of his wah-wah pedal, a dated sound that tends to make his solos, especially on disc two, more monotonous than they are. Still, there is plenty to like here, especially if you have experienced Allison, or even his dad, in concert. The younger Allison earns every bit of his paycheck as he charges through a soulful, rock-oriented format best exemplified by the venomous "Snake Bit Again" and the stirring Luther ballad "A Change Must Come." It's certainly all the live Allison you will ever need, at least of the younger version, but those who want to get the most enjoyment from this show should spring for the DVD, where you can watch every sweat-soaked minute from the front row. ~ Hal Horowitz

Bernard Allison (vocals, guitars); Mike Vlahakis (keyboards); Jassen Wilber (electric bass); Andrew Thomas (drums).

Album: Energized: Live In Europe Vol 1
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 56:22
Size: 129.0 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[ 3:06] 1. Another Ride To The City
[ 9:39] 2. It's A Man Down There
[13:14] 3. Bad Love
[ 4:39] 4. A Woman Named Trouble
[ 5:22] 5. Into My Life
[10:22] 6. Too Many Women
[ 9:57] 7. The Way Love Was Meant To Be

Energized: Live In Europe Vol 1

Album: Energized: Live In Europe Vol 2
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:10
Size: 117.2 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2006

[11:24] 1. The Walk
[ 1:18] 2. Step Down
[ 4:57] 3. Talking Guitar
[ 4:28] 4. Snake Bit Again
[ 6:56] 5. A Change Must Come
[ 4:37] 6. Too Cool
[ 4:07] 7. Wah Wah Action
[ 7:49] 8. Don't Be Confused
[ 5:30] 9. I Just Came Back To Say Goodbye

Energized: Live In Europe Vol 2

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bernard Allison, Larry McCray, Carl Weathersby - Triple Fret (Guest Lucky Peterson)

Size: 115,5 MB
Time: 50:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Full

01. Bottle Of Whiskey (7:22)
02. Bluesman (6:53)
03. Get Drunk And Pop The Trunk (3:33)
04. Don't Tie Me Down (5:30)
05. I'm Praying For You (4:08)
06. Where's Lucky (7:18)
07. Good To Me (4:08)
08. Ain't Nothing But The Truth (4:48)
09. Take It Slow (6:26)

Personnel: Bernard Allison (vocals, guitar); Larry McCray (vocals, guitar); Carl Weathersby (vocals, guitar); John Colby (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet); Lucky Peterson (organ); Johnny B. Gayden (bass guitar); Steve McCray (drums).

Although Bernard Allison gets star billing (and does all the vocals), this is a trio record, with fellow electric blues guitarists Larry McCray and Carl Weathersby contributing as much guitar firepower as Allison. Even better, second-generation Hammond organ legend Lucky Peterson guests, adding some welcome musical variety to the otherwise fret-heavy selection and getting his own showcase, the smoking seven-minute instrumental workout "Where's Lucky?" That leaves the songwriting as the only weak spot, but unfortunately, it's pretty seriously weak. Most of the songs on Triple Fret are hackneyed Chicago blues riffs with self-referential lyrics about how hard it is to be a bluesman. Tune out the lyrics and the undistinguished chord changes and the sheer enjoyment of the trio's playing comes through. For some, however, that might not be quite enough. ~ Stewart Mason

Thanks to Marc.
Triple Fret