One of the original hipsters, piano/singer/songwriter Mose Allison, set the stage for just about every nightclub vocalist since. Here are his early albums that set the stage for all subsequent men at the mic.
In 1957, he is in his trio format with Addison Farmer/b and Nick Stabulas/dr, and bring out three of his classics, “Lost Mind”, “Trouble In Mind” and “Parchman Farm”. Joined by Osi e Johnson/dr and Addison Farmer in 1962, Allison delivers his unforgettable “Your Mind Is On Vacation”, with the same group honing in for a nice read of “I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “I Love The Life I Live”. In 1963 he covers vintage blues with “Seventh Son” and Ellington with “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, and next year takes on country blues material in “Your Red Wagon”, “Wild Man” and “Rolling Stone”. With Earl Maye/b and Paul Motian/dr he gets a bit frisky on the instrumental “Power House” and “Wild Man On The Loose” He shows how he works a nightclub during a 1965 concert recording with Stanley Gilbert/b and Mel Lee/dr, serving up blue plate specials of some of his hits as well as a sonorous “Baby, Please Don’t Go” and “That’s Alright”.
Always imitated, but never equaled