Mose Allison (2)

VAN MORRISON, GEORGIE FAME, MOSE ALLISON & BEN SIDRAN - Tell me something: The songs of Mose Allison (1996)

1. One Of These Days
2. You Can Count On Me
3. If You Live
4. Was
5. Look Here
6. City Home
7. No Trouble Livin'
8. Benediction
9. Back On The Corner
10. Tell Me Something
11. I Don't Want Much
12. New Nightclub
13. Perfect Moment

The entire recording for this album was done in a day and all of the performances were live first or second takes. Featuring the songs of Mose Allison, the performers were Allison himself, Georgie Fame, Ben Sidran, and Van Morrison, a longtime admirer of Allison's work. The horns were arranged by Pee Wee Ellis. Morrison said he had wanted to make the record for a long time. Liner notes are by Ben Sidran.
Ben Sidran had said this on working with Van Morrison in the studio for the album: Heʼs exactly as he appears to be onstage. He never does anything the same way twice. Everything put down in the studio is done live, so whatever you play will likely end up on the finished record

MOSE ALLISON - THE WORD OF MOSE ALLISON (1964)

1. Foolkiller
2. One Of These Days
3. Look Here
4. Days Like This
5. Your Red Wagon
6. I'm The Wild Man
7. Rollin' Stone
8. New Parchman
9. Don't Forget To Smile
10. I'm Not Talking
11. Lost Mind
11. Madalena

This 1964 Mose Allison release features seven original compositions and four bluesy covers. "I'm Not Talking" is a bossa nova number that highlights Allison's unique piano playing, an approach that's both percussive and melodic. "Look Here" is a minor blues, but Allison breaks up the 12-bar form in quirky ways. This tune allows the trio to swing beautifully, particularly drummer Ron Lundberg, whose refined cymbal work really drives the piece. Like most of Allison's releases, each song is built around attention-grabbing narratives carried along by his easy-going voice. The opening track, "Foolkiller," may be Allison's finest lyric here. The tune pokes fun at the all those who live in the concrete jungle of Manhattan in Allison's typically humorous and self-effacing manner. One of Allison's finest outings, this album illuminates the workings of his creative, gleefully eccentric mind quite well.