Bernard Allison

Chills & Thrills

Ruf Records

Bernard Allison was born in Chicago and moved back and forth between there and Florida. He listened to his father, Luther’s albums when they were apart and he accompanied Luther to blues festivals in the early 1970’s. There Bernard was introduced to Muddy Waters, Hound Dog Taylor, and Albert King. Bernard joined Koko Taylor’s touring band and was further mentored by Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bernard formed his first band Bernard Allison and Back Talk while remaining with Koko. He became bandleader of his father’s touring band in 1989 and recorded his first album “The Next Generation” while in Paris. Bernard and his father continued to collaborate and co-write.

Bernard’s father Luther was the master receiving 31 Blues Music Award nominations and winning sixteen times. In 2019 Ruf Records released a live CD/DVD featuring Luther as part of their “Songs From The Road” series, and it should be seen by every Blues  enthusiest. Bernard recorded his own “Songs From The Road” in 2020.

“Chills & Thrills” is the break through album where Bernard first perfected his sound, using the full palate of musical colors to paint his stories. Instead of playing rippin’ 12 bar blues guitar over and over, there are bluesy songs, soulful songs, funky songs, rock and R n’ B. The ensemble on the album includes Bernard Allison, vocals, guitar, and arrangements; guest Eric Gales, guitar and vocal; either Rusty Hall, organ and piano,  or the piano of Bruce McCabe; Jose James, saxophones; Jassen Wilber, bass; Mario Dawson, drums; and backing vocalist Kathleen Johnson. Included are five originals written by Bernard, four covers of his fathers songs, one co-write and three covers.

Opening with the title track, “Chills & Thrills”, Bernard sings “I been travelin’ this world…I need to find my way home…I got a vision what we’re gonna do, I’m gonna hug you and kiss you till the break of day, you give me a feeling I can’t explain…I can’t get  enough of your love”. On the first cover “Boogie Man”, written by Leon Russell and Charles Blackwell, with McCabe on piano, Bernard chimes “I used to boogie down by the county line and I wound up doing time…call me the boogie man, no body boogie’s like I do”. “So Devine” again features pianist McCabe, and Jose James on saxophone  “remember all the ups and downs I’ve had…waited too long to let you know how I feel …turn around and look into my eyes, there’s a feeling I can’t deny”.

“When I’m Gone” features Bernard and Gales as they trade guitar leads on a Jimi Hendrix influenced song “I got something woman, your gonna miss my love, when I’m gone” as Gales provides the backing vocal. “Missing Tyrone” is a funky tribute to Tyrone Davis again with McCabe on piano, “you will always be my friend…I got something I need to say to you, I will always love you over again”. On his father’s “Just My Guitar And Me” Bernard plays some great slide, while he chants “I got a feeling, I got these blues…I want to be like my daddy and sing the blues…all my friends been having a natural ball if I can’t have my woman, I need no woman at all”.

On Luther’s “Compromising For Your Needs” Bernard cries “I gave you everything I had… what should I do and what can I say to you…everything would be ok, let’s compromise”. “Black & White” is a, father and son, co-written tune “I don’t know what’s wrong or right …you’all know my love is true…we’ll always stay together, you want to know my love is  true, my love is just for you, for you”. “Serious” is another song from Luther, who recorded it in the arly 1980’s “thought I was gone, but I came back…serious, just like a heart attack” with Hall on piano and a backing vocal from Johnson.

“Heart of St. Paul” from A. Bailey, “I’m on my way…I walk the skyways in the morning…I walk the streets at night…you got to make your own way, but my heart beats for you”.  “That’s Why I’m Crying” was written by Sam Maghett a.k.a. Magic Sam, featured is Rusty Hall on piano “I walk the streets at night…that’s why I’m crying, you have someone new, but I’m still in love with you”. On the funky “Groove With Me”, written by Bernard, Bernard belts “they say if I’m feeling sad…I play the blues, hear that funky beat…put your hands in the air, hear that funky music. On the closer, a second take on “Serious (After Hours)” the song is reprised with just Bernard’s guitar and Rusty Hall on piano.

Bernard Allison states “Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. If you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance because we’re losing all our creators”. On “Chills & Thrills”, Bernard broke the glass ceiling and went from a journeyman to a creator. Today, Bernard Allison continues to be  one of our most creative. Thank you Ruf Records for this fabulous re-issue.

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