Luther Allison
Luther Allison was an influential American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter known for his powerful live performances and fiery guitar solos. Born on August 17, 1939, in Widener, Arkansas (with some sources noting Mayflower), he became a key figure in Chicago blues before achieving international acclaim in Europe.
Allison grew up in a musical family, touring as a child with the gospel group Southern Travellers during the late 1940s. His family relocated to Chicago in 1951, where he attended Farragut High School alongside Muddy Waters' son and self-taught guitar by listening to blues records.
Dropping out of school at 14, Allison immersed himself in Chicago's West Side blues scene, performing with legends like Howlin' Wolf, Freddie King, Jimmy Dawkins, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and James Cotton. He took over King's band during national tours and earned the nickname "the Jimi Hendrix of blues guitar" from the Chicago Reader for his intense style.
A standout 1969 performance at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival led to return invitations through 1972 and nationwide tours. In 1972, he signed with Motown Records as one of its few blues artists, releasing albums amid declining U.S. interest in the genre.
Relocating to France in 1977 after mid-1970s European tours, Allison built a massive following overseas, releasing live albums like Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight! on Rumble Records. He stayed away from the U.S. for 15 years due to disco's dominance, becoming a European blues superstar.
Returning triumphantly in 1994, Allison signed with Alligator Records, issuing Soul Fixin' Man (1994), Blue Streak (1995), and the Grammy-nominated Reckless (1997 posthumously). Known for marathon shows with his Gibson Les Paul, he won multiple W.C. Handy and Living Blues Awards before dying of cancer on August 12, 1997, in Madison, Wisconsin, at age 57.
Love Me Mama
A2 Little Red Rooster 4:23
A3 4:00 In The Morning 3:11
A4 Five Long Years 4:15
A5 Dust My Broom 3:33
B1 Love Me Mama 3:54
B2 The Sky Is Crying 5:32
B3 You Gotta Help Me 3:45
B4 You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now 3:33
B5 Bloomington Closer 5:13
Label: Delmark Records – DS-625
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Blues
Style: Chicago Blues
Luther Allison's debut album, Love Me Mama (1969), is a powerful introduction to his electrifying talent, showcasing raw Chicago blues with fiery guitar work and soulful vocals on classic tunes like "Little Red Rooster" and the title track, praised for its blistering energy, gritty West Side groove, and early hints of the legendary artist he'd become, even if some critics find it uneven but still a vital document.
This album aptures Allison at the start of his career, demonstrating his electrifying interpretations of blues standards and his signature hungry, passionate style.
Features a small combo with "Big Mojo" Elem and guest guitarist Jimmy Dawkins, delivering a funky, West Side blues sound.
Highlights include his fiery take on "Help Me," the soulful "The Sky Is Crying," and the iconic title track, known for its stinging bends and wah pedal.
Praised as a "must-have" by Goldmine, thrilling by the New York Times, and a solid, straightforward blues album by fans, though AllMusic noted some unevenness.
Overall Impression: Love Me Mama is considered a landmark debut, a fiery snapshot of a young blues powerhouse emerging, offering glimpses of the genius that would later make Luther Allison a blues legend, solidifying his place in the Chicago blues tradition.