Allison Wonderland: Anthology

Mose Allison

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 1994)
• Original Release Date: June 21, 1994
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B0000033AH
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,056 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Tippo, Mississippi's Mose Allison is a natural treasure, a "jazz sage" (as one of his best '60s albums on Atlantic aptly crowned him) whose laconic drawl, worldly perceptions, and drolly hip piano jazz have spawned their own imitators. Had he never opened his mouth, Allison's piquant mix of tart blues and pre-rock pop impressionism could have fueled a solid career as a pianist working through post-bop and cool jazz stratagems. But his deep feeling for classic blues and R&B, a poker-faced vocal mien gifted with razor-sharp timing, and an often mordant world-view translated to a long string of classic jazz vocal performances that mix humor, rue, and introspection to unique effect. This terrific 2 CD anthology culls definitive studio performances and smart live performances that canvass his "cotton sack" vignettes (including his own sophisticated variants on Delta blues and shrewd investigations of Percy Mayfield and Willie Dixon), shaggy dog stories, and secular sermons. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate From The Ultimate Hipster, May 19, 2000

By	Ralph Quirino (Keswick, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mose Allison is the ultimate hipster: his laconic yet never lazy delivery as smooth as a sunny summer afternoon breeze, his songs wry and sardonic set pieces filled with just the right amount of irony and wit, the music surrounding them uncluttered and casual. This double CD set of his "best" material gives casual buyers a superb overview of the man's fifty years in the biz. It starts with early cuts for Riverside in the fifties and winds on down through his Atlantic years (thanks to keenly biting songs like "Your Mind Is On Vacation" and "Your Molecular Structure") and ends up in the late eighties and mid nineties for Blue Note. Especially cool is hearing a grand cut like "Ever Since The World Ended", a post-Apocalypse blues that's genuinely funny and heart-warming at the same time (it's taken from the album of the same name on Blue Note, a totally recommended yet sadly deleted disc should the reader come across it). Here's the amazing thing: whether you listen to a classic like "Parchman's Farm" or his most recent material, Mose Allison sounds like he hasn't aged. Or maybe it's just that then and now, he was/is always just that much more ahead of us. We are not worthy! But we'll gladly enjoy this great anthology!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest music finds I've have in some time, February 28, 2000

By	Matthew P. Harjo (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For how superb these songs are, I'm acutally quite shocked I had never heard of Mose Allison before. I heard a song of his from the soundtrack of a movie (It was "I Don't Worry About A Thing" from the movie "The Whole Nine Yards") and absolutely had to wait until the credits rolled to look for the song title and artist. I'm glad I did it.

I recently visited Las Vegas (and will be returning soon!) and had been curious about where all of the great music that I was listening to the whole time was hiding. I've heard some good stuff from various players, but nothing snuck up on me quite like this. If you enjoy the sound of a smooth bass line and a man who not only knows how to play the piano but has a fantastic voice, I highly recommend buying his works. I'll be purchasing more of his titles soon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mose Allinson, October 30, 2008

By	Mr. Keith Jennings "Kay jay" (Brisbane) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being around in the sixties. Mose was just fantastic. He influenced many people including Georgie Fame, Rolling stones and heaps more. This album brings back everything I ever remember when I was so much younger.It comes highly recommended.
Yours keith Jennings