Thursday, October 30, 2008

MOSE ALLISON

Like a lot of people who grew up in the 1960's listening to rock and roll, I didn't know a thing about jazz. In fact, you could have put what I knew about jazz at that time in a thimble. Besides the rock and roll that was on the radio, I knew a little about the blues (and a few other things) thanks to my tutoring by Johnny "Guitar" Nicholas, but not much about any kind of jazz music.

By 1970, I did own the ultimate prep school jazz album, Swiss Movement by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, which wasn't a bad place to start. I have it on my iPod today and it still sounds great. As a starter jazz album, it was definitely a little easier to get into than Miles Davis or Coltrane. 

When I got to Tufts and Floyd's Hotel was up and running, there was one exception to the usual suspects on our turntable. It was The Best of Mose Allison. I'm not sure how we originally got on to this album. It probably came from the influence of frequent hotel guest, Mike Martenek, aka, The Maniac.

Floyd and I knew a funny little guy named Spike McFee who worked somewhere he could pick up albums with an employee discount. He was always willing to trade albums with the hotel staff. I can remember getting The Best of Mose Allison from him.

Mose Allison was born in Tippo, Mississippi in 1927. He played piano and trumpet as a child. After going to college at The University of Mississippi and Louisiana State and a stint in the U.S. Army, he began playing in New York City in 1956. His songs are known for their literary lyrics. He has influenced many other musicians including John Mayall, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and The Who, who recorded his song Young Man Blues. His songs have also been recorded by Bonnie Raitt and Leon Russell among others.

 Mose combines fine piano playing with the witty lyrics of his original compositions. His best songs like Your Mind is On Vacation (But Your Mouth Is Working Overtime), I Love the Life I Live, Your Molecular Structure have a hipster's sensibility and outlook on the world. His piano and the backing of his trio is tasteful and the songs are witty and hip. Check out these lyrics from Your Mind Is On Vacation:

You're quoting figures, you're dropping names
You're telling stories, you're playing games
You laugh when things ain't funny
You try to sound like you don't need money
If talk was criminal, you'd lead a life of crime
Cause you're mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime

I was lucky to see Mose in Austin at the Continental Club in October of 1999. It was a great show. When I tried to chat Mose up at the bar afterwards, he was quite uninterested in this author and humble fan. Maybe it was my aftershave?

If you are not familiar with his work, be sure to pick up this CD for your playlist. It is available on iTunes and from Amazon.

4 comments:

  1. Great to see some attention for MoseAllison. I just love his 'Parchman Farm':

    Well I'm sittin' over here on Parchman Farm.
    Well I'm asittin' over here on Parchman Farm.
    Well I'm asittin' over here on Parchman Farm,
    An I ain't never done no man no harm..

    Well I'm puttin' that cotton in a 'leven foot sack.
    Well I'm puttin' that cotton in a 'leven foot sack.
    Well I'm puttin' that cotton in a 'leven foot sack,
    With a twelve-gauge shotgun at my back.

    I'm sittin' over here on Number Nine.
    I'm sittin' over here on Number Nine.
    Well I'm sittin over here on Number Nine,
    And all I did was drink my wine.

    Well I'm gonna be here for the rest of my life.
    I'm gonna be on this farm for the rest of my natchrul life.
    Well I'm gonna be here for the rest of my life,
    And all I did was shoot my wife.

    I'm sittin' here on Parchman Farm....

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  2. Floyd's Hotel and The Maniac! Hadn't thought about that in a while... You are doing a nice job on these posts, by the way. Thanks

    -The "Swami"

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  3. Yea Peerke, that is a good one. More a blues tune then some of his others. Like the look of your blog too. Wish I could read the language.

    Hey Swami, thanks for reading. Not many left who remember The Hotel or the Maniac. Hope you are doing well.

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  4. Yea Peerke, that is a good one. More a blues tune then some of his others. Like the look of your blog too. Wish I could read the language.

    Hey Swami, thanks for reading. Not many left who remember The Hotel or the Maniac. Hope you are doing well.

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