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.
Just Memories
Luther Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get this feeling the songs today ain't like they use to be
With a meaning, with a meaning, of love
When I think about, all these unhappy lives
Unhappy people, they must live unhappy lives
They forgot about, love for each other
Just hate, just hate on their mind
I have the blues, singing slow and sweet
Oh I wanna continue singing, singing for you, for you, for you and me
Mister DJ, would you play it loud and clear
Just play the song, just play the song, loud in each ear
Ow feeling, feeling I have brings back memories
Memories, memories, memories I wanna hear
Ahh, ahh, ahh, just keep on listening, just keep on keep on listening, to me
Touch, reach out and feel the pain
I'm going to take you back a million years or so
And see can you understand, just feel the vibration
Feel the vibration, feel, just like the easy touch deep in the breeze
Late in the night, ohh now, ohh now
Come on, come on, come on and let me, let me touch you inside
I wanna touch ya, touch ya, touch your soul
Ohhh just one more time, yes feeling, feeling
Feel this song, feel this song, feel this song
Deep down in your heart and soul
The lyrics to Luther Allison's song "Just Memories" speak to a sense of nostalgia for a time when music had more meaning, particularly in relation to love. The singer suggests that many people today are unhappy because they have forgotten about the power of love and have instead allowed hate to consume them. The song is an effort to evoke memories of a time when love was more prevalent and important. The singer asks the DJ to play the song loud and clear, encouraging listeners to feel the music deep down in their heart and soul.
The song's use of blues music and slow, sweet vocals creates an emotive and introspective mood that both laments the past and inspires hope for the future. The repeated emphasis on memories underscores the importance of preserving and cherishing personal and cultural histories, while the emphasis on love suggests that a deeper sense of connection and caring can help bring happiness and fulfillment to people's lives. In essence, the song serves as a reminder of the power of love and the importance of holding onto meaningful memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope this song brings back memories
I am hopeful that the song you are listening to will take you back to a special moment in time that you hold dear.
I get this feeling the songs today ain't like they use to be
The songs of today don't have the same soulful quality as the music of the past.
With a meaning, with a meaning, of love
The older songs carried a message of love that has been lost in modern music.
When I think about, all these unhappy lives
There are too many people living unhappy lives due to a lack of love and connection.
Unhappy people, they must live unhappy lives
People who are unhappy must continue to live unhappy lives if they don't find love and happiness.
They forgot about, love for each other
When people forget how to love and care for each other, they find themselves in unhappy situations.
Just hate, just hate on their mind
Hating others will only lead to more unhappiness and discontent in life.
I have the blues, singing slow and sweet
Blues music is often slow and melodic, conveying powerful emotions like sadness and loss.
Oh I wanna continue singing, singing for you, for you, for you and me
The singer feels a deep connection to the person listening, and wants to continue singing for them both.
Mister DJ, would you play it loud and clear
The singer is requesting the DJ to play the song loud and clear so everyone can experience the music together.
Just play the song, just play the song, loud in each ear
The singer wants everyone to hear the song and connect with it on a deep level.
Ow feeling, feeling I have brings back memories
The singer has a deep feeling of nostalgia that takes him back to a time when things were simpler.
Memories, memories, memories I wanna hear
The singer wants to hear memories that were associated with the song and experience that nostalgia together.
Ahh, ahh, ahh, just keep on listening, just keep on keep on listening, to me
The singer is urging his listeners to continue listening to his music and enjoy the experience with him.
Touch, reach out and feel the pain
The singer wants his listeners to connect with the pain he feels and experience it together.
I'm going to take you back a million years or so
The singer is going to use his music to transport you back in time and experience something that may have never even experienced before.
And see can you understand, just feel the vibration
The singer wants his listeners to feel the emotions and vibrations of the music and connect with it on a deep level.
Feel the vibration, feel, just like the easy touch deep in the breeze
The singer is comparing the feeling of the music to the feeling of a soft breeze on a summer day.
Late in the night, ohh now, ohh now
Late at night is a time when people are more likely to reflect and connect with their emotions, which is the perfect time to listen to this music.
Come on, come on, come on and let me, let me touch you inside
The singer wants to use his music to touch and connect with his listener's inner most feelings.
I wanna touch ya, touch ya, touch your soul
The singer wants to use his music to connect with people on a deep and soulful level.
Ohhh just one more time, yes feeling, feeling
The singer wants to experience the power of his music and nostalgia for times past just once more.
Feel this song, feel this song, feel this song
The singer wants his listeners to connect with the song and feel the emotions and vibrations it brings.
Deep down in your heart and soul
The singer wants listeners to connect with his music on a deep, soulful level that touches them at their core.
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.