Picture this: you don't know nothing about blues but one way or another, you like "alternative" music, whatever that may be. One day, somebody drags you to that "fantastic" live performance, a "must-see". So you give in and all of a sudden you feel something deep down in your belly, coming from that big stage in front of you. Yep people, the blues is contagious. It can be different however. You're messing with that dial on your radio because you're looking for something else then the usual crap. Suddenly you get a similar feeling, a kind of sensation. A clever radio guy played something different and you get the shivers. Blues? Is this blues music? I thought blues was for older people, sad and boring music played by some black old man with a guitar on a porch. So why is this fun now?

Right, the emotion got you, and you want more of it. A new world opened! There you go, to the record store, looking for that stuff. That's what happened to Blue Papa, a long time ago. The result? A huge record collection, later also cd's.

And now this collection is gone. Life has his ups and downs folks. But the collection is in my head, I can still hear the rhythms of the devil and I can live with it. Besides, these rhythms go with you in your grave, the record collection doesn't (unless you want to be buried like a pharao).

Well, we're not there yet, in the grave I mean. And then the phone rings: some guy named Bobtje Blues wants me to write for his website. Oh no Mister Bobtje, please don't... But he insists, so I give in. Now, where to start? That's easy, we just use the alfabet, right? So I'll start with Luther Allison, meanwhile in heaven. I do not intend to write bio's, please "Google" yourself around if you need to find out more details. Only this: Luther was a bluesperformer that you had to see live, a West Side Chicago bluesman just like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Freddie King. You can't see him live anymore, but you can look for these recordings, classics that belong on your shelf:

Soul Fixin' Man - Alligator - 1994
Reckless - Alligator - 1997
Where Have You Been? Live in Montreux - Ruf 1996
Live In Chicago - Alligator - 1999

From the latter, I can still hear Cherry Red Wine in my head. Energy! Passion! Guitar! Check it out. Luther is a good start for your own collection, tell them Papa said so.

Video: Luther Allison at the Montreal Jazz Festival 1997 - Cherry Red Wine.

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