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.
Love Is Free
Luther Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much to keep for me
I want to share
My love with you my dear
You and me together
Loving each other forever
Love is free
Satisfaction has a price
Happy for the rest of your life
I've been loving you a long long time
I just can′t seem to get you off my mind
And I always want you
Near would you please hear my plea
I want to love you all the time
Love is free satisfaction has a price
And you and me
Will have true love
For the rest of our lives
Love is free
Satisfaction has a price
I want you to live that darling
I'm gonna love you miss you squeeze you
Without my mind
Just one more time
You're always on my mind
If I would love that right
You know break sunshine sometimes
To our life
Love in my heart
Freak
Now′s the time
I′ve got so much love for you baby
Please say you will always be mine
Wherever you are
Wherever you are
I want to be with you my dear
Talking walking sleeping even dreaming
I gotta live on it
Without your love I just can't go on
I want your love
I wanted to be slow
I want to stay
You mean so much to me
I got to tell you
Let me tell you
Our love is real
Love is free free as the breeze
The special feeling I have for you honey
For you my love
I′ll love you
The rest the rest of my life
In Luther Allison's song Love Is Free, the singer expresses his immense love for his partner and his desire to share it with her. He considers love to be free, but also acknowledges that satisfaction may come at a price. The singer is willing to pay whatever price is necessary to make his partner happy and to love her for the rest of his life. He has been loving her for a long time and cannot seem to get her off his mind. He wants to love her all the time without any interruptions, and he pleads for her to hear his plea.
The lyrics suggest that love is a powerful emotion that can bring immense joy and satisfaction, but it also requires effort and commitment. The singer is willing to put in the work to maintain a loving and fulfilling relationship. He views true love as something that will last forever, and he is committed to making sure that his partner feels loved and appreciated at all times.
Overall, the lyrics of Love Is Free are a beautiful tribute to the power of love and the importance of maintaining a loving and committed relationship. The singer's words are filled with passion and sincerity, and they speak to the heart of anyone who has ever been in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got so much love to give
I have an abundance of love that I want to give.
Too much to keep for me
I cannot keep all of the love for myself.
I want to share
I desire to distribute my love to someone.
My love with you my dear
I want to bestow my love to you, my love.
You and me together
We are meant to be together.
Loving each other forever
Our love for each other will never cease.
Love is free
Love comes without cost.
Satisfaction has a price
Fulfillment can come at a cost.
I want to make you
I desire to provide for you.
Happy for the rest of your life
I want you to experience everlasting joy.
I've been loving you a long long time
I have been loving you for a very long time.
I just can′t seem to get you off my mind
You are always on my mind.
And I always want you
I constantly aim to be with you.
Near would you please hear my plea
Please come closer to me and listen to my request.
I want to love you all the time
I desire to show you my love continuously.
And you and me
We are meant to be together.
Will have true love
Our love for each other is genuine.
For the rest of our lives
Our love for each other will never cease.
I want you to live that darling
I want you to experience joyful living.
I'm gonna love you miss you squeeze you
I am going to show you affection, miss you when you are gone, and embrace you tightly.
Without my mind
My love for you is beyond my thoughts.
Just one more time
I want to experience this love one more time.
You're always on my mind
I cannot stop thinking about you.
If I would love that right
If I could express my love correctly.
You know break sunshine sometimes
Our love can overcome challenging moments.
To our life
Our love brings meaning to our existence.
Love in my heart
My heart is filled with love.
Freak
Expressing enthusiasm for our love.
Now's the time
This moment is the right time for our love.
I′ve got so much love for you baby
I have overwhelming adoration for you, my love.
Please say you will always be mine
Please let me know that you will remain mine forever.
Wherever you are
No matter where you are located.
I want to be with you my dear
I aim to be with you, my love.
Talking walking sleeping even dreaming
I want to talk, walk, sleep, and dream with you.
I gotta live on it
I need to survive on our love.
Without your love I just can't go on
Without your love, I cannot endure.
I want your love
I desire your love.
I wanted to be slow
I desired to go at a deliberate pace with our love.
I want to stay
I desire to remain with you.
You mean so much to me
You hold a significant place in my heart.
I got to tell you
I need to communicate with you.
Let me tell you
Allow me to convey my feelings to you.
Our love is real
Our love for each other is authentic and genuine.
Love is free free as the breeze
Love is boundless and unrestricted.
The special feeling I have for you honey
The distinctive emotion I have for you, my love.
For you my love
I express this love towards you.
I'll love you
I will continue to love you.
The rest the rest of my life
My love for you will continue for the remainder of my life.
Writer(s): Carolyn Brown, Rabaste Francois, Allison Wither, Carras Michel
Contributed by Violet V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Enrique Aldanondo
Tengo mucho amor para dar
Demasiado para guardar para mi
Quiero compartir mi amor contigo mi querido
Tú y yo juntos amándonos para siempre.
El amor es gratis, la satisfacción tiene un precio.
(El amor es gratis, whooooooo)
Quiero hacerte feliz por el resto de tu vida.
Te he estado amando mucho, mucho tiempo
Y parece que no puedo sacarte de mi mente
Y siempre te quiero cerca
por favor escuche mi súplica
Quiero amarte todo el tiempo
El amor es gratis, la satisfacción tiene un precio.
(El amor es gratis, whooooooooooooo)
Y tú y yo, (tú y yo)
Tendremos verdadero amor ...
por el resto de nuestras vidas.
Instrumental.
En mi corazón ahora es el momento
Tengo mucho amor por ti bebé
Por favor di que siempre seras mio
Donde sea que estés, (donde sea)
dondequiera que estés, (donde sea)
Quiero estar contigo, mi querido.
Hablar, caminar, dormir, incluso soñar.
(Hablando, caminando, durmiendo, incluso soñando)
El amor es gratis, libre como la brisa.
(El amor es gratis, whooooooooooooo)
El sentimiento especial que tengo para ti, cariño.
Por ti amaré el resto de mi vida.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
I've got so much love to give
Too much to keep for me
I want to share my love with you my dear
You and me together loving each other forever.
Love is free, satisfaction has a price
(love is free, whooooooo)
I want to make you happy for the rest of your life.
I've been loving you a long, long time
And i can't seem to get you off my mind
And i always want you near
would you please hear my plea.
I want to love you all the time
Love is free, satisfaction has a price
(love is free, whooooooooooooo)
And you and me, (you and me)
will have true love for the rest of our lives.
Instrumental.
In my heart now's the time
I've got so much love for you baby
Please say you will always be mine
Wherever you are, (wherever)
wherever you are, (wherever)
i want to be with you, me dear.
Talking, walking, sleeping, even dreaming
(talking, walking, sleeping, even dreaming)
Love is free, free as the breeze
(love is free, whooooooooooooo)
The special feeling i have for you honey
For you i'll love the rest of my life.
Canadian Metal Mike
This was my wedding song... what a beautiful song indeed ... :)
Alfredo Rangel
So beautifull. Thank you
eliaking
Thanks for uploading this beauty to youtube.