Mercy, Mercy, Mercy: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1966 song by Joe Zawinul, Cannonball Adderley}} |
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{{Infobox song |
{{Infobox song |
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| name = Mercy, Mercy, Mercy |
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| cover = |
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| alt = |
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| type = |
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| Album = [[Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club']] |
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| artist = [[Cannonball Adderley]] |
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| Released = 1966 |
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| album = [[Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club"]] |
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| track_no = 3 |
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| released = December 1966 |
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| Recorded = [[Capitol Records]] ([[Los Angeles]]), October 20, 1966 |
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| format = |
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| recorded = [[Capitol Records]] ([[Los Angeles]]), October 20, 1966 |
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| Length = 5:10 |
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| studio = |
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| Writer = [[Joe Zawinul]] |
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| venue = |
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| genre = [[Soul jazz]] |
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| length = 5:10 |
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| label = [[EMI]] |
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| writer = [[Joe Zawinul]] |
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| producer = [[David Axelrod (musician)|David Axelrod]] |
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| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|y7FFLYXEOqA|"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"}}}} |
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}} |
}} |
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"'''Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'''" is a jazz song written by [[Joe Zawinul]] in 1966 for [[Julian "Cannonball" Adderley]] and his album ''[[Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club']]''. The song is the title track of the album and became a surprise hit.<ref>in Feb. 1967. "This album gave birth to a Top Ten single of the title tune, much to the astonishment of many..." Michael Cuscuna 1995 Capitol Reissue CD liner notes</ref> "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" went to #2 on the Soul chart and #11 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=24}}</ref> |
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"'''Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'''" is a jazz song written by [[Joe Zawinul]] (lyrics by [[Gail Fisher]]) in 1966 for [[Cannonball Adderley]] and which appears on his album ''[[Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club"]]''. The song is the title track of the album and became a surprise hit in February 1967.<ref>"This album gave birth to a Top Ten single of the title tune, much to the astonishment of many..." Michael Cuscuna 1995 Capitol Reissue CD liner notes</ref> "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" went to #2 on the Soul chart and #11 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=24}}</ref> |
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{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> |
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| Name = Mercy, Mercy, Mercy |
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| Cover = Mercy,_Mercy,_Mercy_-_Buckinghams.jpg |
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| Cover size = |
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| Border = |
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| Caption = |
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| Artist = [[The Buckinghams]] |
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| Album = [[Time & Charges]] |
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| B-side = "You Are Gone" |
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| Released = {{start date| March 1967}} |
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| Format = |
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| Recorded = Columbia Studios, New York, NY |
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| Genre = [[Sunshine pop]], [[pop rock]] |
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| Length = |
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| Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] |
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| Writer = [[Joe Zawinul]] |
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| Producer = [[James William Guercio]] |
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| Audio sample? = |
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| Certification = |
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| Last single = "[[Don't You Care]]"<br>(1967) |
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| This single = "'''Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'''"<br>(1967) |
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| Next single = "[[Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)]]"<br>(1967) |
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| Misc = |
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}} |
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==Original version== |
==Original version== |
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The original version was performed by: Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), [[Nat Adderley]] (cornet), Joe Zawinul (piano, electric piano), [[Victor Gaskin]] (bass) and [[Roy McCurdy]] (drums). |
The original version was performed by: Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), [[Nat Adderley]] (cornet), Joe Zawinul (piano, electric piano), [[Victor Gaskin]] (bass) and [[Roy McCurdy]] (drums). The theme of the song is performed by Zawinul on a [[Wurlitzer electric piano]] previously used by [[Ray Charles]].<ref>Keyboards (german keyboard magazine), 06/2007 http://www.keyboards.de.</ref> |
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==Musical analysis== |
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The first part of the theme is played twice and is completely made of notes from the [[major pentatonic scale]] of the first degree. |
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The tune is in the key of B-flat major and has a 20-bar structure with four distinct sections. The chord progression is mainly made of dominant-seventh chords on the first, fourth and fifth degrees, giving the song a bluesy feeling although it does not follow a typical [[blues]] progression. The subdominant (IV) chord in the beginning section emphasizes this bluesy feeling. In the second section, the tonic chord alternates with a second-inversion subdominant chord, creating a parallel to the [[Twelve-bar blues|I-IV-V]] progression (in which the tonic moves to the subdominant). |
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==Marlena Shaw cover== |
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[[Marlena Shaw]] recorded a version which peaked at no. 58 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on the week of April 1, 1967.<ref>''Billboard'', April 1, 1967 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-04-01.pdf Page 22 Billboard ''HOT 100'' For Week Ending April 1, 1967, THIS WEEK 58, 1 Wk. Ago 62, 2 Wks. Ago 70, 3 Wks. Ago 85, Weeks On Chart 4]</ref><ref>''MusicVF''.com - [https://www.musicvf.com/Marlena+Shaw.art Marlena Shaw Top Songs , Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography]</ref> It also peaked at no. 66 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Singles chart on the week ending April 8.<ref>Tropical Glen - [https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19670408.html CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending APRIL 8, 1967, TW 66, LW 70, 2WK 74, 3WK 81, WKS 5]</ref><ref>Tropical Glen - [https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19670415.html CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending APRIL 15, 1967, TW 68, LW 66, 2WK 70, 3WK 74, WKS 6]</ref> |
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==Buckinghams cover== |
==Buckinghams cover== |
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{{Infobox song |
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"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" has been re-recorded numerous times, most notably by [[The Buckinghams]], who reached # 5 in August 1967, adding lyrics to the tune. Musicians on the Buckingham's version included James Henderson, Lew McCreary and Richard Leith on trombone, Bill Peterson, Bud Childers on trumpet, John Johnson on sax, Lincoln Mayorga on Wurlitzer electric piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Carol Kaye on bass, and John Guerin on drums. |
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| name = Mercy, Mercy, Mercy |
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| cover = Mercy,_Mercy,_Mercy_-_Buckinghams.jpg |
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| alt = |
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| type = single |
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| artist = [[The Buckinghams]] |
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| album = Time & Charges |
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| B-side = You Are Gone |
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| released = {{start date| June 1967}} |
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| format = |
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| recorded = |
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| studio = Columbia Studios, New York, NY |
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| venue = |
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| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Soul music|soul]] |
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| length = |
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| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] |
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| writer = [[Joe Zawinul]] |
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| producer = [[James William Guercio]] |
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| prev_title = [[Don't You Care]] |
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| prev_year = 1967 |
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| next_title = [[Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)]] |
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| next_year = 1967 |
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}} |
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"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" has been re-recorded numerous times, most notably by [[The Buckinghams]], who reached #5 in August 1967, adding lyrics to the tune which were written by Johnny “Guitar” Watson & Larry Williams in Feb, 1967. <ref>https://www.kuvo.org/mercy-mercy-mercy-listener-picks-april-17/</ref>{{cn span|date=June 2023|Musicians on the Buckinghams' version included James Henderson, Lew McCreary and Richard Leith on trombone, Bill Peterson, Bud Childers on trumpet, John Johnson on sax, [[Lincoln Mayorga]] on Wurlitzer electric piano, [[Dennis Budimir]] on guitar, [[Carol Kaye]] on bass, and [[John Guerin]] on drums.}} |
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==Chart performance== |
==Chart performance== |
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{{col-begin|width=65%}} |
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===Weekly charts=== |
===Weekly charts=== |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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!align="left"|Peak<br />position |
!align="left"|Peak<br />position |
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|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.10085&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.10085.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.10085 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1967-08-05 |accessdate=2018-01-14}}</ref> |
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|align="left"|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] |
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| style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |
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|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] |
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002''</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|5 |
| style="text-align:center;"|5 |
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===Year-end charts=== |
===Year-end charts=== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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!align="left"|Chart (1967) |
!align="left"|Chart (1967) |
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! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
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|Canada <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.100151&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=dtlhqtcdftn9t40n27r4hds2h0 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |
|Canada <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.100151&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=dtlhqtcdftn9t40n27r4hds2h0 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |accessdate=2016-10-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812082630/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.100151&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=dtlhqtcdftn9t40n27r4hds2h0 |archivedate=2016-08-12 }}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|55 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|51 |
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|U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1967-12-23 |accessdate=2016-10-01}}</ref> |
|U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1967-12-23 |accessdate=2016-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930105232/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html |archive-date=2018-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
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{{col-end}} |
{{col-end}} |
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==Other |
==Other notable versions== |
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*Late in 1966, [[Larry Williams]] and [[Johnny "Guitar" Watson|Johnny Watson]] recorded the song as a duet.<ref>{{cite web|title=www.discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3175633-Larry-Williams-Johnny-Watson-Mercy-Mercy-Mercy-A-Quitter-Never-Wins|website=discogs.com|year=1967 |accessdate=December 20, 2022}}</ref> |
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*It was recorded by [[The Mauds]] in 1967, with lyrics by [[Curtis Mayfield]]. It has now become a [[jazz standard]] performed by both beginner and advanced jazz musicians. |
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*It was also recorded by [[Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell]] in 1968 as the B-side of his single "[[Soul Serenade (song)|Soul Serenade]]." This version was sampled by rapper [[GZA]] on the title track of his 1995 album ''[[Liquid Swords]]''. |
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*It was also recorded by [[Buddy Rich]] in 1968 on the album "[[Mercy, Mercy]]." |
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*It was also recorded by [[Stanley Clarke]], [[Jean-Luc Ponty]], and [[Biréli Lagrène]] on the 2015 album [[D-Stringz]]. |
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*The theme of the song on the original recording is performed by [[Joe Zawinul]] himself playing it on a [[Wurlitzer electric piano]] previously used by [[Ray Charles]].<ref>Keyboards (german keyboard magazine), 06/2007 http://www.keyboards.de.</ref> |
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==Theme== |
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The first part of the theme is played two times and is completely made of notes from the [[major pentatonic scale]] of the first degree. |
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==Structure and chord progression== |
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The tune is in the key of B-flat major and has a 20-bar structure with four distinct sections. The chord progression is mainly made of dominant-seventh chords on the first, fourth and fifth degrees, giving the song a bluesy feeling although it does not follow a typical [[blues]] progression. The subdominant (IV) chord in the beginning section emphasizes this bluesy feeling. In the second section, the tonic chord alternates with a second-inversion subdominant chord, creating a parallel to the [[Twelve-bar blues|I-IV-V]] progression (in which the tonic moves to the subdominant). |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Cannonball Adderley}} |
{{Cannonball Adderley}} |
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{{Marlena Shaw}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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==External links== |
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* {{MetroLyrics song|the-buckinghams|mercy-mercy-mercy}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider --> |
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[[Category:1960s jazz standards]] |
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[[Category:Hard bop jazz standards]] |
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[[Category:1966 songs]] |
[[Category:1966 songs]] |
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[[Category:1967 singles]] |
[[Category:1967 singles]] |
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[[Category:Marlena Shaw songs]] |
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[[Category:The Buckinghams songs]] |
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[[Category:Columbia Records singles]] |
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]] |
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[[Category:Soul jazz songs]] |
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[[Category:1960s jazz standards]] |
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[[Category:Hard bop jazz standards]] |
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{{1960s-jazz-composition-stub}} |
{{1960s-jazz-composition-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 04:17, 15 September 2024
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" | |
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Song by Cannonball Adderley | |
from the album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club" | |
Released | December 1966 |
Recorded | Capitol Records (Los Angeles), October 20, 1966 |
Genre | Soul jazz |
Length | 5:10 |
Label | EMI |
Songwriter(s) | Joe Zawinul |
Producer(s) | David Axelrod |
Official audio | |
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" on YouTube |
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" is a jazz song written by Joe Zawinul (lyrics by Gail Fisher) in 1966 for Cannonball Adderley and which appears on his album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club". The song is the title track of the album and became a surprise hit in February 1967.[1] "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" went to #2 on the Soul chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]
Original version
[edit]The original version was performed by: Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), Nat Adderley (cornet), Joe Zawinul (piano, electric piano), Victor Gaskin (bass) and Roy McCurdy (drums). The theme of the song is performed by Zawinul on a Wurlitzer electric piano previously used by Ray Charles.[3]
Musical analysis
[edit]The first part of the theme is played twice and is completely made of notes from the major pentatonic scale of the first degree.
The tune is in the key of B-flat major and has a 20-bar structure with four distinct sections. The chord progression is mainly made of dominant-seventh chords on the first, fourth and fifth degrees, giving the song a bluesy feeling although it does not follow a typical blues progression. The subdominant (IV) chord in the beginning section emphasizes this bluesy feeling. In the second section, the tonic chord alternates with a second-inversion subdominant chord, creating a parallel to the I-IV-V progression (in which the tonic moves to the subdominant).
Marlena Shaw cover
[edit]Marlena Shaw recorded a version which peaked at no. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of April 1, 1967.[4][5] It also peaked at no. 66 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart on the week ending April 8.[6][7]
Buckinghams cover
[edit]"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" | ||||
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Single by The Buckinghams | ||||
from the album Time & Charges | ||||
B-side | "You Are Gone" | |||
Released | June 1967 | |||
Studio | Columbia Studios, New York, NY | |||
Genre | Pop, soul | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joe Zawinul | |||
Producer(s) | James William Guercio | |||
The Buckinghams singles chronology | ||||
|
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" has been re-recorded numerous times, most notably by The Buckinghams, who reached #5 in August 1967, adding lyrics to the tune which were written by Johnny “Guitar” Watson & Larry Williams in Feb, 1967. [8]Musicians on the Buckinghams' version included James Henderson, Lew McCreary and Richard Leith on trombone, Bill Peterson, Bud Childers on trumpet, John Johnson on sax, Lincoln Mayorga on Wurlitzer electric piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Carol Kaye on bass, and John Guerin on drums.[citation needed]
Chart performance
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Other notable versions
[edit]- Late in 1966, Larry Williams and Johnny Watson recorded the song as a duet.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "This album gave birth to a Top Ten single of the title tune, much to the astonishment of many..." Michael Cuscuna 1995 Capitol Reissue CD liner notes
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 24.
- ^ Keyboards (german keyboard magazine), 06/2007 http://www.keyboards.de.
- ^ Billboard, April 1, 1967 - Page 22 Billboard HOT 100 For Week Ending April 1, 1967, THIS WEEK 58, 1 Wk. Ago 62, 2 Wks. Ago 70, 3 Wks. Ago 85, Weeks On Chart 4
- ^ MusicVF.com - Marlena Shaw Top Songs , Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
- ^ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending APRIL 8, 1967, TW 66, LW 70, 2WK 74, 3WK 81, WKS 5
- ^ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending APRIL 15, 1967, TW 68, LW 66, 2WK 70, 3WK 74, WKS 6
- ^ https://www.kuvo.org/mercy-mercy-mercy-listener-picks-april-17/
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1967-08-05. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967". Tropicalglen.com. 1967-12-23. Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1967. Retrieved December 20, 2022.