Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ALLISON, Mose

(b 11 November 1927, Tippo MS; d 15 Novembere 2016, Hilton Head SC) Singer-songwriter and pianist with an authentic southern flavour; a white child influenced by blues on a filling-station jukebox, he had a loyal following for decades. US Army service '46-7; formed piano trio '49; played with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Al Cohn/Zoot Sims (compilation Al And Zoot on Decca USA CD); toured Europe '59. His Back Country Suite '57 was ten short vignettes on one side of the Prestige LP; the other side of the debut confirmed his blues-based cabaret style. His cynical, witty songs began to reach a wider audience and were covered by the Who ('A Young Man Blues'); John Mayall ('Parchman Farm'), Georgie Fame, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello etc. Six LPs on Prestige '57-9 (compilation Greatest Hits on a Fantasy CD); recorded for CBS '59-61 (High Jinks! The Mose Allison Trilogy '94 on Columbia/Epic Legacy compiles V8 Ford Blues, The Transfiguration Of Hiram Brown and I Love The Life I Live, 'Hiram' being an instrumental suite including 'City Home'). Atlantic LPs included Mose Alive and I've Been Doin' Some Thinkin' '68, Hello There, Universe '69, Western Man '71, Mose In Your Ear '72, Your Mind's On Vacation '76 (anthology Allison Wonderland '94). LPs on Elektra '80s Middle Class White Boy made in Los Angeles, Lessons In Living at Montreux '82 with Lou Donaldson, Eric Gale, Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham (both on Discovery CDs). Ever Since The World Ended '88 had guests including Arthur Blythe and Kenny Burrell, also My Back Yard '90, The Earth Wants You '94 (with Paul Motian and John Scofield), and Gimcracks And Gewgaws '98 all on Blue Note; I Don't Worry About A Thing is on Rhino. Tell Me Something: Songs Of Mose Allison '96 on Exile/Verve was a tribute album with Allison, Ben Sidran, Georgie Fame and Van Morrison, organized by Morrison. A biography was One Man's Blues (Quartet '95).