Mose Allison (b 11-11-1927 d. 11-15-2016) dead at age 89

November 15, 2016 4:12 PM

American jazz pianist, singer, and composer Mose Allison died today at his home in Hilton Head South Carolina. He combined a sophisticated soloing style on the piano over deceptively simple changes, with ascerbic, dryly humourous, often political lyrics sung in a voice that reflected his upbringing in the Missippi Delta.

In addition to a six decade long career as a jazz musician, Mose Allison's records inspired many future British rock musicians, particularly Pete Townsend of the Who.

New York Times
Rolling Stone
Mississippi Blues Trail
Fan Site
Biography (from his site)

Complete Song List (from his site) Mose wrote over 150 songs.

A few key recordings:
Back Country Suite (1957)
Young Man Blues (1957)
Parchman Farm (1957) Not quite the same song as Bukka White's.
Eyesight to the Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson) (1959)
I Love The Life I Live (Willie Dixon) (1960)
Your Mind Is On Vacation (1962)
Swinging Machine (1962)
Stop This World (1962)
If You Live (1963)
New Parchman (1964)
If You're Going To The City (1968)
The Seventh Son (Willie Dixon) (1958)
Your Molecular Structure (1968)
Everybody Cryin' Mercy (1968)
Middle Class White Boy (1981)
Old Man Blues (1998)

A surprising number of his songs are appropriate to our current situation, but this one stands out:
I Don't Worry About A Thing (1962)

If this life is driving you to drink
You sit around and wondering uust what to think
Well I got some consolation
I'll give it to you if I might
You know I don't worry bout a thing
Cause I know nothings gonna be alright

You know this world is just one big trouble spot
Cuz some have plenty and some have not
You know I used to be troubled
But I finally saw the light
Now I don't worry bout a thing
Cause I know nothings gonna be alright

Don't waste you time trying to be a go getter
Things will get worse before they get any better
You know there's always somebody
Playing with dynamite
But I don't worry about a thing
Cause I know nothing's gonna be alright

And this one:
Monsters Of The Id (1970)

posted by Herodios (46 comments total)

.

This one hurts. A wonderful, wry social critic as musician.
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 4:25 PM on November 15, 2016

.
posted by vverse23 at 4:26 PM on November 15, 2016

I've been listening to Mose Allison recently, for some reason. His lyrics and his voice are what have made him famous, I guess, but, as a pianist myself, I have to say that his jazz chops are what I truly enjoy. I guess I have to be the first to say, once again, that 2016 has been the worst year ever in terms of losing musical giants.
posted by kozad at 4:27 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 4:29 PM on November 15, 2016

I wore the grooves off my copy of Creek Bank decades ago. You should too...

.
posted by jim in austin at 4:31 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

RIP Mose.

Obligatory performance of Young Man Blues by four English ruffians.
posted by Ber at 4:32 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

goddamit.
posted by allthinky at 4:41 PM on November 15, 2016

From another middle-class whiteboy out trying to have some fun....

RIP Mose

And stop it already 2016
posted by jonmc at 4:44 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

Horray the blues for everyone... Allison.
posted by about_time at 4:44 PM on November 15, 2016

.

I had no idea that the Who's "Eyesight To The Blind" was a cover
posted by thelonius at 4:51 PM on November 15, 2016

Do you get the feeling some people are just checking out while the going is good these days?
posted by latkes at 4:54 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

.
posted by drezdn at 4:59 PM on November 15, 2016

I had no idea that the Who's "Eyesight To The Blind" was a cover

If Towser was first inspired by Mose's version, The Who's is cover of a cover.

Here's Sonnny Boy Williamson II's two versions: (1951) (1957).
 
posted by Herodios at 5:11 PM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm not talking. That's what I've got to say.
https://youtu.be/tOSZtCz5K_o
posted by dubwisened at 5:18 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by miles per flower at 5:19 PM on November 15, 2016

Do you get the feeling some people are just checking out while the going is good these days?

JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.
posted by wildblueyonder at 5:25 PM on November 15, 2016 [7 favorites]

.
posted by HeroZero at 5:55 PM on November 15, 2016

.
posted by the sobsister at 5:57 PM on November 15, 2016

Weird. Only two nights ago, knowing not at all that this was coming, I dug out the lyrics of "Was" to practise singing it.

When I become was and we become were
Will there be any sign or a trace
Of the lovely contour of your face?
And will there be someone around
With essentially my kinda sound?

When am turns to was and now is back when
Will someone have moments like this?
Moments of unspoken bliss.
And will there be heroes and saints
Or just a dark new age of complaints ?

When I become was and we become were
Will there be any Susans and Ralphs
Lookin' at old photographs
And wondering aloud to a friend
What was it like to be then ?

And now he is "was". Goodbye and thanks for the music, Mr Allison.
posted by valetta at 5:57 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]

Goodbye Mose, rest in peace. There was a time in my life when I played your music again and again. I don't know how many friends I pissed off back in the day by singing right in their face, "Your mind's on vacation but your mouth is workin' [beat] OVERtime. I'm going to fire up your music again, right now.
posted by mono blanco at 6:04 PM on November 15, 2016 [3 favorites]

RIP Mose. Been listening to him for decades.

.
posted by Fibognocchi at 6:08 PM on November 15, 2016

I remember my daddy taking me to hear Mose Allison at the Exit/In in Nashville. I must have been about 10. Of all the songs he performed that night, the one I remember is Fats Waller's "I'll meet you at no special place, and I'll be there at no particular time." A world opened up for me-- of wit, play, seriousness and light cynicism. Well done Mr Mose.
posted by homerica at 6:12 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]

Ever since the world ended,
I don't get out as much.
People that I once befriended
Just don't bother to stay in touch.
Things that used to seem so splendid
Don't really matter today.
It's just as well the world ended.
It wasn't working anyway.

Ever since the world ended,
There's no more Bible Belt.
Remember how we all pretended,
Goin' round lying bout the way we felt.
Every rule has been amended,
There's no one keeping score.
It's just as well the world ended,
We couldn't have taken much more.

posted by ardgedee at 6:31 PM on November 15, 2016 [8 favorites]

Saw him in 2005 and it remains one of my most cherished concert experiences.

.
posted by SpiffyRob at 6:49 PM on November 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

.
posted by clavdivs at 6:56 PM on November 15, 2016

.
posted by droplet at 8:22 PM on November 15, 2016

.
posted by tspae at 8:27 PM on November 15, 2016

Ben Sidran, Georgie Fame, Van Morrison tribute to Mose Allison, "Tell Me Something"

.
posted by Mister Bijou at 9:18 PM on November 15, 2016

.

2016. I have no words.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 12:39 AM on November 16, 2016

.

The song is ended.
posted by On the Corner at 2:15 AM on November 16, 2016

.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 2:49 AM on November 16, 2016

Georgie Fame and Elvis Costello, Everybody's Crying Mercy, 2014

.
posted by How the runs scored at 3:28 AM on November 16, 2016

.
posted by BYiro at 3:52 AM on November 16, 2016

.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:02 AM on November 16, 2016

Wow.

"It's just as well the world ended,
We couldn't have have taken much more."

Obviously written for 2016.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:21 AM on November 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

I only ever got to hear him play live once; so sorry to lose his voice.

.
posted by jaruwaan at 5:59 AM on November 16, 2016

Aww hell. He was great. My favorite funny Mose Allison: "You call it jogging (but I call it running around)."

.

Fuck.
posted by spitbull at 7:22 AM on November 16, 2016

His wife was my AP English teacher. I knew her husband was a musician but I had no idea how famous and influential he was until I saw the obituary.
posted by pombe at 7:37 AM on November 16, 2016

.
posted by newdaddy at 7:53 AM on November 16, 2016

.

I saw him at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. Between sets, he came and sat next to me at the bar. I think he heard me clapping really, really enthusiastically and hollerin. Anyway, I did not want to bother him, so I was silent. He started talking to me, and it then dawned on me that if he wanted to be left alone, he would have gone behind the scenes somewhere. Had a wonder 15-20 minutes conversation. He gave the history of how he got into the blues. Talked about touring with Van Morrison. Asked me how a crazy Indian dude got into the blues and Jazz vocals. The best concert I have ever attended. I remember the concert as much as my conversation with the man.

And listening to him now in the time of Trump is cathartic. I got my 70 something sponsor into him too; and he thanks me everytime we meet.

I think his last record was produced by Rick Rubin.

Thank you Mose; you left the world a better place with your music.
posted by indianbadger1 at 8:36 AM on November 16, 2016 [5 favorites]

Tai Chi Life is pretty funny too, because.
posted by raysmj at 9:28 AM on November 16, 2016

.
posted by Lynsey at 9:49 AM on November 16, 2016

My first jazz album was one of his. I loved his clear voice and his wonderful piano playing. Such a loss.

.
posted by seawallrunner at 10:12 AM on November 16, 2016

.

For me, he gets a second one:

.
posted by Inkslinger at 11:03 AM on November 16, 2016

Mose Allison - No longer "live and kicking" *
89 years is a good innings and I've been expecting it for a while, that's a pretty great achievement for one life time.
I've been listening to his tunes all day and enjoying again the wit and wisdom of his lyrics.
That NYT obituary is beautifully written.
*My Brain
posted by Dr Ew at 2:53 PM on November 16, 2016

I interviewed him years ago - a gentleman and a humble soul as well as a unique musical artist. We will miss him.
posted by QuietDesperation at 3:21 PM on November 16, 2016