Name: Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison
Brand: Verve
SKU: 863025
Price: 34.36 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

/Georgie Fame/Ben Sidran/Mose Allison.
Personnel includes: Van Morrison (vocals, harmonica); Mose Allison, Ben Sidran (vocals, piano); Georgie Fame (vocals, Hammond B-3 organ).
Producers: Van Morrison, Ben Sidran, Georgie Fame.
Recorded at The Wool Hall, Bath, England. Includes liner notes by Ben Sidran.
Personnel: Van Morrison (vocals, harmonica); Mose Allison, Ben Sidran (vocals, piano); Georgie Fame (vocals); Leo Green, Pee Wee Ellis (tenor saxophone); Guy Barker (trumpet); Robin Aspland (piano); Ralph Salmins (drums).
Liner Note Author: Ben Sidran.
Recording information: Wool Hall, Bath, Somerset, England.
Photographers: Des McMahon; Uwe Martin; Paul Wood; John Minihan.
Unknown Contributor Role: Ralph Salmins.
On TELL ME SOMETHING, Van Morrison, his bandleader, Georgie Fame, and pianist-vocalist Ben Sidran perform some of their favorite Mose Allison tunes. Allison himself turns up to sing two songs with Morrison. Allison is the ur-hipster--an accomplished jazz pianist, a hugely influential singer and songwriter, and a true original. His lazy Mississippi drawl and the arch, black humor of his bluesy compositions prefigured artists like Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett, and his songs have previously been covered by everyone from The Who to Elvis Costello.
The songs on this distinctly personal tribute range from the well-known ("If You Live," "Back On The Corner") to the obscure ("Perfect Moment"). Switching off on lead vocal chores, Morrison, Fame and Sidran offer up swinging, soulful performances backed by a subtle, jazzy rhythm section. Morrison has been covering Allison's tunes for years, and sounds completely at home, and Fame's low-key delivery is perfectly suited to the material. Whether you're a fan of Allison or a follower of his talented disciples, TELL ME SOMETHING is bound to edify.

Professional Reviews

Q (12/96, pp.138-140) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...While Fame and Sidran's more laidback styles are eminently suited to Allison's urbane swing, Van's bigger delivery only comes into its own on the swinging `News Nightclub.'"

Album: Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison
#	Song Title	Time
1)	One of These Days
2)	You Can Count on Me (To Do My Part)
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)	News Nightclub
13)	Perfect Moment

Album: Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison
#	Song Title	Time
1)	One of These Days
2)	You Can Count on Me (To Do My Part)
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)	News Nightclub
13)	Perfect Moment