Luther Allison - Live In Montreux 1976-1994
Ruf/House Of Blues 1998
|
|
|
Review Published Dec 15, 1998
Artist Spotlite on Luther Allison
|
Sound Clips, Discography
|
Track Listing
1 - Introduction
2 - Gambler's Blues
3 - Sweet Home Chicago
4 - Same Thing
5 - Little Red Rooster
6 - Sky Is Crying
7 - Down South
8 - Memories
9 - Spontaneous
Improvisation
10 - Bad News Is Coming
11 - Put Your Money
Where Your Mouth Is
12 - Bad Love
13 - Audience
EB Rating - 4.5
|
The liner notes give a little history to the music on Where Have You Been? Live in
Montreux 1976 - 1994. The CD is comprised of recordings from 1976, 1983, 1984 & 1994 performances in
Montreux Switzerland. Evidently, and undoubtedly well known to long time
Luther Allison fans, Luther disappeared
from the US scene in 1976, and did not return until 1995, when he signed with Alligator Records.
On the '76 and '83 sets Luther is backed up by his US touring band. These two sets make up
the first 6 songs of the CD, and you're not going to hear better blues than this. Luther's firey guitar and
passionate vocals are in absolute top form, and the song selection is fantastic. Yes, they are all cover tunes,
but Luther does them complete justice. These first six songs alone make this CD a must own. At the end of
Little Red Rooster, Luther and the Sax player,
Fat Richard Drake, have a little chicken-pickin' duel that
had me laughing right along with the crowd as I imagined how much fun everyone had with this.
For the most part, the second half of the CD is not quite up to par with the first half, but is still very good.
The 1984 set (songs 7-10) features the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
The mood is quieter, with a reserve, soulful Luther giving more front time to the other musicians. The 1994 set,
the final two songs, features the Memphis Horns, complete with a brass section.
|
|
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is is the only song I thought was "just ok".
The final cut of the CD, Bad Love, closes the CD the same way it started, with
fire and passion, and features a very impressive trumpet solo.
In closing all I can say is, buy this CD. The passion and fire in the first half of this CD won't disappoint.
The second half is a little smoother, but still contains mostly very good songs.
|
|
