1) Luther Johns… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist called Luther Johnson.
1) Luther Johnson (April 11, 1939-) is a Chicago blues singer and guitarist, who performs under the name Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson. He is not billed as simply "Guitar Junior".
He was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA in 1939 and moved to Chicago with his family in 1955. During the 1960s, he performed with Magic Sam. Johnson performed in Muddy Water's band from 1972 to 1980. In 1980, four of his songs were included on an anthology by Alligator Records. Johnson appeared on three albums by The Nighthawks.
Earlier in his career, Lonnie Brooks also performed under the name Guitar Junior.
2) Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (Aug. 30, 1934 in Davisboro, GA - Mar 18, 1976 in Boston, MA). Real name Lucius Brinson Johnson. Played with Elmore James and Muddy Waters. Recorded under the names "Little Luther" and "Luther Johnson". His last album was "Lonesome in my bedroom" from 1976.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson
Background information
Birth name Lucious Brinson
Also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson, Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, Little Luther, Luther King
Born August 30, 1934
Davisboro, Georgia, United States
Died March 18, 1976 (aged 41)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Chicago blues, electric blues
Occupations Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1950s–1976
Labels Black & Blue, Muse and others
Associated acts Muddy Waters, Elmore James
Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (August 30, 1934 – March 18, 1976) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson or Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, and was otherwise billed as both Luther King and Little Luther (under the latter he recorded for Chess Records in the 1960s).
Allmusic journalist, Ron Wynn, stated "Johnson's own inimitable vocals, raspy lines and tart guitar eventually create his own aura... a good, occasionally outstanding blues artist."
He is not to be confused with Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson.
He was born Lucious Brinson in Davisboro, Georgia, United States. He was raised on a farm and taught himself to play guitar.
After service in the US Army up to 1953, Johnson played guitar with a local gospel group called the Milwaukee Supreme Angels. However, he graduated towards blues and set up his own trio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before relocating to Chicago, Illinois in the early 1960s.[1][3] He backed Elmore James prior to his death, and in 1964, released a solo single on the Chess Records label entitled "The Twirl", billed as Little Luther. He then joined Muddy Waters backing band in 1966. Johnson worked with various musicians over this period, including Chicago Bob Nelson, before recording his debut album, Come on Home in 1969.
In 1970, Johnson moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and found work on the blues festival and college circuits for the next few years. Black & Blue Records released Johnson's Born in Georgia in 1972, and this was followed by Chicken Shack (1974), Lonesome in My Bedroom (1975), and the final album issued in his lifetime, Get Down to the Nitty Gritty (1976).
Johnson died of cancer in Boston in March 1976, aged 41. He was interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts.
Long Distance Call
Luther Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, call me on the phone sometime.
You say you love me darling,
Please, call me on the phone sometime.
When I hear your voice,
Ease my worried mind.
One of these days,
One of these days,
I'm gonna show you just how nice a man can be.
I'm gonna buy you a brand, new Cadillac,
If you only speak some good words about me.
Hear my phone ringing,
Sound like a long distance call.
Hear my phone keep ringing,
Sound like a long distance call.
When I picked up my receiver,
The party said another mule kicking in your stall.
Luther Johnson's Long Distance Call is a blues song that speaks of a love that is apart and the only communication available is through phone calls. In the song, the singer pleads with his lover to call him whenever they can and express their love. He views the call as a source of comfort and relief to his troubled mind, further emphasizing the importance of communication in their relationship.
The singer also promises to show his devotion and care for his lover once they are reunited. He plans on showing her how nice a man he can be by buying her a brand new Cadillac. The song displays the theme of love and commitment, with the singer willing to go to great lengths to win his lover's favour.
In the last verse, the song takes a different turn as a long distance call comes through. The singer receives the call, but instead of it being his lover, the voice at the other end delivers bad news. The metaphor of "another mule kicking in your stall" suggests a loss of some kind; it could be the end of the singer's relationship or the loss of something else meaningful to him. This negative twist at the end of the song contrasts with the hopeful tone in the earlier lyrics and expresses the heartbreak and pain that often accompanies love and separation.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you love me darling,
Please, call me on the phone sometime.
The singer is requesting their lover to make effort in their relationship by calling them sometime.
When I hear your voice,
Ease my worried mind.
The singer's lover's voice makes them feel less anxious and worried.
One of these days,
I'm gonna show you how nice a man can be.
The singer intends to prove to their lover that they can be a very kind and caring person in the future.
I'm gonna buy you a brand, new Cadillac,
If you only speak some good words about me.
The artist intends to buy their lover a new car only if they speak well of them.
Hear my phone ringing,
Sound like a long distance call.
The artist's phone is ringing and they believe it is a call from a faraway location.
When I picked up my receiver,
The party said another mule kicking in your stall.
Upon answering the phone, the singer heard someone mention that there is trouble in their life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MC KINLEY MORGANFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind