He was born in Widener, Arkansas (the 14th of 15 musically gifted children) first connected to the blues at age ten, when he began playing the diddley bow (a wire attached by nails to a wall with rocks for bridges and a bottle to fret the wire). His family migrated to Chicago in 1951, and Luther began soaking in the sounds of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Robert Nighthawk. He was classmates with Muddy Waters' son and occasionally stopped in the Waters' house to watch the master rehearse. It wasn't until he was 18 already in Chicago for seven years that Luther began playing blues on a real guitar and jamming with his brother Ollie's band. He began hanging outside blues clubs with the hopes of being invited to perform. He played with Howlin' Wolf's band and backed up James Cotton.
By 1957, Allison had dropped out of school and formed a band called The Rolling Stones. Unhappy with the name, they became The Four Jivers, gigging all over the West Side of Chicago. Before long, Luther was jamming with the West Side's best, including Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and Freddie King, who encouraged Allison to sing. "That," said Allison, "was my school." When King began to tour nationally in the early 1960s, Allison took over King's band as well as his weekly gigs at Walton's Corner and became one of the hottest acts on the West Side. For five years, Allison honed his craft. He moved to California for a year and cut sides with fellow Chicagoans Shakey Jake Harris and Sunnyland Slim.
His big break came in 1957 when Muddy Waters invited Allison to the stage. He worked the club circuit throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s and recorded his first single in 1965. Allison was signed to the Delmark Records label in fall 1967. He cut his first two songs as a leader on the now-classic Delmark anthology, Sweet Home Chicago, before releasing his debut album Love Me Mama. He performed a stellar, show stopping, set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival and was invited to the next three consecutive festivals. He also toured nation-wide and, in 1972, was signed to Motown Records, one of the few blues artists to do so. By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe, enjoyed the warm reception by the crowds and moved to France in 1977. He wouldn't return to the United States for another fifteen years disgusted by the disco music that started there.
LUTHER ALLISON's manager and European agent Thomas Ruf founded the label Ruf Records in 1994. Since signing with Ruf Records, Allison launched a major comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator Records founder, Bruce Iglauer, convinced Allison to return to the States. With the release of Soul Fixin' Man in 1994, Allison's first domestic album in 20 years, he announced his return. "Fever and chills performances," said Guitar Player, "ferocious solos combine the wisdom of a master storyteller with the elegance of B.B. King, the elasticity of Buddy Guy, and the big sting of Albert King."
After three mammoth U.S. tours, America once again was paying attention to LUTHER ALLISON. On his American comeback tour, including his nationally broadcast and typically jaw-dropping set at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival, LUTHER ALLISON announced to the world that he was not only back, he was unstoppable. And now he has the trophies to prove it, having received every award the blues has to offer. He swept the 1996 W.C.Handy Awards with five statues, won 10 Living Blues Awards and a 1995 Indie Award, and played in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans at festivals and clubs all over the world. He appeared on the cover of Living Blues, Blues Revue, Blues Access, and was the subject of major feature stories and reviews in Guitar Player, Guitar World, and Guitar For The Practicing Musician, as well as being featured on National Public Radio's Weekend All Things Considered and The Late Show With Conan O'Brien. "LUTHER ALLISON", proclaimed Blues Revue," is the New King of the Blues."
Allison followed up with Blue Streak, and the praise and accolades poured in. "A sonic roar as soulful as his gospel-shout vocals," raved the Washington Post. "Luther Allison's latest is nothing short of a masterpiece by a master," reported Blues Revue. Continued touring brought Allison before raving fans around the world, as he brought his band from the San Francisco Blues Festival to New York's Central Park Summerstage, with all stops in between. With Reckless, Allison reached even greater heights. Guitar World said, "Reckless in the best sense of the word, dancing on a razor's edge, remaining just this side of out-of-control. Hard-driving, piercing West Side Chicago single-note leads with a soul base and a rock edge."
Luther toured the US and Canada thoroughly and his fan base grew to his mind-blowing performances. Both Allison and Soul Fixin' Man won four WC Handy Awards in 1994. With the James Solberg Band backing him, non-stop touring and the release of Blue Streak (featuring song "Cherry Red Wine"), Allison continued to earn more Handy's and gain wider recognition. Allison scored a host of Living Blues Awards and was featured on the cover pages of major Blues publications. Throughout it all, Allison delivered one show-stopping performance after another. His boundless energy and fierce guitar attack combined to make him a blues superstar who reached rock fans like no bluesmen since Freddie King and Albert Collins. Allison was known for his strong showmanship, ten minute long guitar solos and crowd walking with an extra long cord attached to his Gibson Les Paul.
In the middle of his summer of '97 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for chest pains and breathing problems. Unfortunately, it was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that was about to metastasize to his spine. In and out of a coma, LUTHER ALLISON died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday. His album Reckless had just been released. Without a doubt, LUTHER ALLISON's death robbed music fans of one of the most exciting and popular blues performers ever. With Live In Chicago, Allison lives on, as he tears through the songs with the single-minded desire to give everything he has to his audience. While listening to the album, fans can immerse themselves in the explosive power of LUTHER ALLISON's music and experience the redemptive force of his legendary performances. Not only did he leave his legacy to never be forgotten, but his son Bernard Allison (born 1965) is an exceptional blues guitarist in his own right.
All the King's Horses
Luther Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the farmer's mules
They can't even stop you
From givin' me the blues
That's wrong
Little girl you are wrong
You got my mind messed up darlin'
All the truck drivers you know
All the taxi drivers that take you to the town
All the men you meet in the streets
I'm the only one that didn't let you down
That's wrong baby
Little girl that's wrong
You got my mind messed up baby
You gonna miss me when I'm gone
Whatca doing out there baby
Don't you know that's wrong
One morning you'll come home
And I'll be gone
Goin' back home
Way down in Arkansas
You know we got troubles baby
But I ain't gonna get in trouble with the law
I won't get in no trouble with no law baby
I'm in trouble with you babe
I guess it's because of what you do
Whoah baby I feel I'm in trouble with you
Goin' back home
Way back down in Arkansas
Said I got in trouble with you darlin'
But I swear I won't get in trouble with the law
I'm gonna get outa here
The song "All the King's Horses" by Luther Allison tells the story of a man who is being mistreated by his lover, causing him to feel trapped and desperate to escape. The first two lines, "All the king's horses, all the farmer's mules, they can't even stop you from giving me the blues" suggests that no matter how hard the outside world tries to help him, nothing can change the fact that his lover is causing him immense pain. Despite feeling wronged by her, the man still loves her and has a hard time leaving their happy home.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that the woman is causing the man's mind to be messed up, making him want to leave. He is hurt that she has been unfaithful to him and is seeing other men around town. The man singer is frustrated that he was the only one to stay when everyone else let her down, but now he feels like he is the one being let down. He doesn't believe that the woman will realize what she has lost until he is gone. By the end of the song, the man is fed up and determined to leave, knowing that he is getting in trouble with his lover and unable to stay any longer.
Line by Line Meaning
All the king's horses
Even the most powerful and capable beings cannot help me with this situation.
All the farmer's mules
Even the most hardworking and diligent creatures cannot ease my pain.
They can't even stop you
No force can prevent you from causing me distress.
From givin' me the blues
You are the cause of my sadness and sorrow.
That's wrong
Your actions are unjust and unfair.
Little girl you are wrong
Your behavior is unacceptable and hurtful.
You got my mind messed up darlin'
Your behavior has caused me mental anguish and confusion.
You're gonna make me leave our happy home
Your actions may lead me to abandon the place where we live together happily.
All the truck drivers you know
Even all the people you associate with cannot replace me.
All the taxi drivers that take you to the town
Even all the service providers you depend on cannot provide what I do for you emotionally.
All the men you meet in the streets
Even all the people you encounter outside cannot match what we share.
I'm the only one that didn't let you down
Out of all the people in your life, I'm the only one who has always been there for you.
You gonna miss me when I'm gone
You will regret losing me once I'm out of your life.
Whatca doing out there baby
What are you doing outside and away from me?
Don't you know that's wrong
You should realize that your actions are unacceptable.
One morning you'll come home
One day, you will return and face the consequences.
And I'll be gone
But at that point, I will have already left.
Goin' back home
Returning to my original place of residence.
Way down in Arkansas
Traveling to a location far away.
You know we got troubles baby
Our relationship has issues that need to be addressed.
But I ain't gonna get in trouble with the law
I won't let our problems lead me to break any laws.
I won't get in no trouble with no law baby
I will ensure that my actions are legal and just.
I'm in trouble with you babe
My relationship with you is the root of my difficulties.
I guess it's because of what you do
Your actions towards me are the reason for my problems.
Whoah baby I feel I'm in trouble with you
I sense that you are causing me harm and distress.
Said I got in trouble with you darlin'
I admit that our relationship is problematic.
But I swear I won't get in trouble with the law
Despite our issues, I will not resort to illegal means to solve them.
I'm gonna get outa here
I am going to leave this place behind and move on.
Lyrics © ALLIGATOR RECRDS/EYEBALL MUSIC
Written by: JAMES SOLBERG, LUTHER SYLVESTER ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nuclear-Skull87
HOLY COW! You have no idea how much distortion Luther uses in this song until that solo around 5:11.
Justin Kase
Um ok? Why the hell haven't I heard of this guy before? Some good freakin blues
Really Appreciated
Superb Bluesman.
Antonio Dias
super blues!!!
Caryn
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Colin Hey
Right on LUTHER
Desempeño Mediocre
Fucking beast!!!!
Francois Froge
♫♫♫
Teresa PUPPO
Ti scalda il cuore
Dennis Magaster
Ckank it up