Mose singing in a recording:

“Well a young man, ain't nothing' in the world these days…”

MARK RUFFIN: NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT.

NEA JAZZ MASTER MOSE ALLISON ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A NEW VOICE IN JAZZ WITH BLUES-FUELED SONGS LIKE 1963's “YOUNG MAN BLUES.”

PETE TOWNSHEND: The anger is there isn't it?

MARK RUFFIN: SONGWRITER AND GUITARIST FOR THE WHO, PETE TOWNSHEND.

PETE TOWNSHEND: In my post-War generation the old men had all the respect because they'd fought the war. What you had to do was stand back when the old man walked by.

Allison singing from “Young Man Blues”:

“All the people stand back when the you man walk by…”

Without hearing that song, I don't think I would've written “My Generation.” 

Pete sings…

“People try to put us down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around … “

You know, it was very Mose influenced.

Young Man Blues up and hot to the end

“ In the old days, when a young man was a strong man,
All the people stand back when a young man walk by.”

MARK RUFFIN: THIS JAZZ MOMENT ABOUT PIANIST AND SINGER, MOSE ALLISON, WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

Music Credit: Excerpt of “Young Man Blues” written and performed by Mose Allison, from the CD, Mose Allison Sings, used courtesy of Concord Records, and used by permission of Audre Mae Music Inc. (BMI).

Audio Credit: Excerpt of Pete Townshend from the documentary, Ever Since I Stole the Blues, used courtesy of the film's director, Paul Bernays.