Young Man Blues
"Young Man Blues" is a song by jazz artist Mose Allison.[1] Allison first recorded it in March 1957 for his debut album, Back Country Suite, in which it appears under the title "Back Country Suite: Blues". In Allison's two-CD compilation set of 2002, Allison Wonderland, Allison reveals that the tune's full title is: "Back Country Suite: Blues (a.k.a. 'Young Man's Blues')".
| "Young Man Blues" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Mose Allison | |
| from the album Back Country Suite | |
| Released | 1957 |
| Recorded | March 7, 1957 |
| Genre | Blues, jazz |
| Length | 1:28 |
| Label | Prestige |
| Songwriter(s) | Mose Allison |
| Producer(s) | Bob Weinstock |
The Who version edit
| "Young Man Blues" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Who | |
| from the album Live at Leeds | |
| Released | May 16, 1970 |
| Recorded | February 14, 1970 |
| Genre | Blues rock, hard rock |
| Length | 4:46 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Mose Allison |
| Producer(s) |
|
The song was famously covered by the Who during live sets as early as 1964, but it became a regular inclusion between 1968 and 1970. It first appeared on record on their 1970 album Live at Leeds. Allison himself called this the "Command Performance" version of his song. The single reached number 38 in Canada.[2] Another live performance features in the movie and soundtrack for The Kids Are Alright, from a 1969 performance at the London Coliseum. A live performance from 1970 was used in the documentary Message to Love. They brought it back briefly in 1974, again in 1982 and finally in 2002. The song was included in Rock Band 2 as downloadable content.
Other covers edit
It has also been covered live by You Am I,[3] Joe Bonamassa, Foo Fighters,[4][5] The Bright Light Social Hour[6] and Motorpsycho.[7]
The tune is also found on Chris Spedding's 2009 reissued album One Step Ahead of the Blues, where in the liner notes Spedding states he was trying make a version which was how he imagined Allison originally recorded it; having never heard it. Spedding's blues rock version differs considerably from either Allison's jazz-blues or the Who's rock versions.
References edit
- ^ "Complete Song List". Mose Allison. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - November 14, 1970" (PDF).
- ^ "You Am I - Young Man's Blues - Live 1996". YouTube. 1996-11-24. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ^ "Foo Fighters - Young Man Blues - ACL 2008". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-11-15.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Foo Fighters - Young Man Blues (VH1 Rock Honors)". YouTube. 2011-01-29. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ^ "News". The Bright Light Social Hour. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ^ "Motorpsycho - Young Man Blues". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-05-29.