The Best of Mose Allison

The Best of Mose Allison is a compilation album by Mose Allison. It includes some of the jazz pianist and singer's best-known recordings for Atlantic Records. The album was originally released in 1970 as an LP record with 12 songs. The album was re-issued on a CD in 1988 with an additional eight songs and new sequencing.

Critical reception

An AllMusic reviewer gave it four and a half out of five stars and called it "a pretty good capsule introduction to one of American music's most idiosyncratic individualists". However, he noted "For a more comprehensive – and well-packaged – overview of most of his career, turn to the double-CD box Allison Wonderland on Rhino/Atlantic."

Track listing

All songs Written by Mose Allison except as noted. Original LP

Side one

1. "Your Mind Is on Vacation" – 2:35
2. "Swingin' Machine" – 2:31
3. "Stop This World" – 3:24
4. "Seventh Son" (Willie Dixon) – 3:36
5. "New Parchman" – 3:04
6. "Rollin' Stone" (McKinley Morganfield) – 2:58

Side two

1. "I'm the Wild Man" (Stanley Willis, Don Barksdale) – 1:58
2. "If You're Goin' to the City" – 3:49
3. "I Don't Worry About a Thing" – 2:17
4. "Your Molecular Structure" – 2:05
5. "Everybody Cryin' Mercy" – 2:39
6. "I Love the Life I Live" (Willie Dixon) – 2:26

1988 CD re-issue

1. "I Don't Worry About a Thing" – 2:41
2. "Your Mind Is on Vacation" – 2:35
3. "It Didn't Turn Out That Way" – 2:41 (bonus track)
4. "If You're Goin' to the City" – 3:49
5. "Swingin' Machine" – 2:31
6. "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" (Duke Ellington, Don George) – 3:56 (bonus track)
7. "Stop This World" – 3:24
8. "I'm the Wild Man" (Stanley Willis, Don Barksdale) – 1:58
9. "New Parchman" – 3:04
10. "Rollin' Stone" (McKinley Morganfield) – 2:58
11. "Don't Forget to Smile" – 2:48 (bonus track)
12. "Seventh Son" (Willie Dixon) – 2:26
13. "I Love the Life I Live" (Willie Dixon) – 2:21
14. "What's With You" – 2:55 (bonus track)
15. "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" (Buddy Johnson) – 2:10 (bonus track)
16. "Your Molecular Structure" – 2:05
17. "Just Like Livin'" – 1:44 (bonus track)
18. "Everybody Cryin' Mercy" – 2:39
19. "Night Club" – 2:36 (bonus track)
20. "One of These Days" – 4:29 (bonus track)

Personnel

• Mose Allison piano, vocals, producer (tracks 16–18)
• Addison Farmer double bass (1–7)
• Osie Johnson drums (1–3)
• Jimmy Knepper trombone (4–7)
• Jimmy Reidertenor sax (4–7)
• Frankie Dunlop drums (4–7)
• Ben Tuckerbass (8–11)
• Ron Lundbergdrums (8–11)
• Stan Gilbertbass (12–13)
• Mel Leedrums (12–13)
• Earl Maybass (14–15)
• Paul Motiandrums (14–15)
• Red Mitchellbass (16–18)
• Bill Goodwindrums (16–18)
• Chuck Raineybass guitar (19)
• Billy Cobhamdrums (19)
• Al Porcinotrumpet (20)
• David Sanbornalto sax (20)
• Joe Farrelltenor sax (20)
• Jack Hannahbass (20)
• Jerry Granellidrums (20)
• Nesuhi Ertegünproducer (1–15)
• Arif Mardinproducer (14–15)
• Joel Dornproducer (19)
• Ilhan Mimarogluproducer (20)
• Tom Dowdengineer (1–7)
• Phil Iehleengineer (1–3, 8–11, 14–15)
• Joe Atkinsonengineer (4–7)
• Wally Heiderengineer (12–13)
• Dave Weichmanengineer (16–18)
• Lewis Hahnengineer (19)
• Carmen Rubinoengineer (20)

References