Bernard Allison Chills & Thrills (Reissue)
- Americana |
- Blues |
- Electric Blues |
- Reissue
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Label: Ruf
This brand new reissue of Bernard Allison’s 2007 classic, Chills & Thrills, offers fans a chance to rediscover his fiery fusion of blues, funk, soul, and rock.
Bernard Allison has never been one to stay inside the lines. From the moment he stepped onto the stage at 13 alongside his father, blues legend Luther Allison, he was already charting his own course. Now, nearly two decades after its original 2007 release, Chills & Thrills is being reissued by Ruf Records, giving fans a chance to rediscover one of Allison’s most dynamic records.
With Chills & Thrills, the guitar slinger took a bold step beyond traditional blues structures, blending funk, R&B, soul, and rock alongside his fiery guitar work. “I’ve been taking risks on every album I’ve recorded,” he said at the time. “Instead of playing rippin’ 12-bar blues guitar over and over, this album shows the overall musicianship of Bernard Allison.” That diversity is what made Chills & Thrills a career highlight, offering both laid-back grooves for quiet moments and adrenaline-fueled jams that demand to be played loud.
Allison’s longtime musical brother Eric Gales added his rhythm guitar magic, turning each track into a masterclass in guitar interplay. The title track delivers Allison’s signature funk-meets-blues attack, while songs like “Compromising For Your Need,” “Heart of St. Paul,” and “Groove With Me” reinforce his commitment to pushing the blues forward. But it’s not only about the six-string fireworks; Chills & Thrills is full of rich textures, like the piano and alto sax interplay on “So Divine,” and the searing slide guitar on “Just Me and My Guitar,” a nod to Johnny Winter’s influence.
Of course, no Bernard Allison album is complete without a tribute to his father. This time, he takes on Luther’s 1980s track “Serious,” capturing the essence of his dad’s vocal delivery while making it his own. The album closes with a stripped-down reprise of the same song with just Bernard and a piano, offering a raw, after-hours take that lingers long after the final note.
Chills & Thrills will be released on 180G vinyl for the first time ever on April 25th. Preorder it here.