This two-LP set has the complete contents of
Mose Allison's first two albums:
Back Country Suite and
Local Color. The former session is dominated by the interesting ten-song "Back Country Suite" but is most memorable for
Allison's brief vocals on "Young Man Blues" (here called "Blue Blues") and "One Room Country Shack." While the earlier date has bassist
Taylor LaFargue and drummer
Frank Isola completing the trio,
Local Color finds
Allison interacting musically with bassist
Addison Farmer and drummer
Nick Stabulas and talking a very rare trumpet solo on "Trouble in Mind." However, once again it is
Mose's two vocals (on "Lost Mind" and the classic "Parchman Farm") that are the standouts; it seems obvious that his future lay in being a singer who plays piano rather than the other way around. ~ Scott Yanow