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Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!


RemembertheOrgan

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I know "Mercy mercy mercy", and I have all the original Hendrix albums but... I don't remember him playing this song... :confused:
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Back from a job ... that was one of the first jazz tunes I learned and was written by Cannonball Adderly (or his brother Nate).

 

I believe Joe Z. (sp?) from Weather Report was the piano player playing a Wurlitzer electric piano on the original recording. I might still have the original vinyl LP. It's a classic and not hard at all to figure out. If you need to hear it, give me a call and I'll play it over the phone. I learned that when I was 15 or 16. It's been years since I played it but it's one of those tunes you never forget. (If you do happen to call remember Western Europe is six hours later than the East Coast of the US.)

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It was actually written by Zawinul, I believe. And Zawinul found this Wurlitzer in the studio where they recorded it, thought it sounded cool and fit the vibe of the tune, so played it.

 

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I've done this song in all kinds of ways, including adding vocals. There was a version like this by the Buckinghams that was also a hit in the 1960s. But the Hendrix angle is new to me...can't imagine the song without the Zawinul Wurlitzer parts anchoring it together.
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There is also a Great version of it on a Compilation CD called ORGAN- IZED. I forget who plays it but it makes for a great B3 instrumental. This CD has some monster players on it. Joey D, JS, Mike Finnegan, Art Neville, and more.

Jimmy

 

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My favorite version is the one with Marcus Miller on Bass and Joe Sample on Piano. They do it in F and make it sound great.

 

||: F(add 2) F/A (add 2) | Bb sus :||

Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Find 350 of Harry's jazz piano arrangements of standards, for educational purposes, and tutoring at https://www.patreon.com/HarryLikas

 

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Originally posted by Jazz+:

My favorite version is the one with Marcus Miller on Bass and Joe Sample on Piano.

Yeah, I can't remember what Crusaders album that was, but I remember it had a nice version of Maputo on there too.
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Healing The Wounds - Crusaders, 1997

Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Find 350 of Harry's jazz piano arrangements of standards, for educational purposes, and tutoring at https://www.patreon.com/HarryLikas

 

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marino wrote:

Sure, Zawinul wrote it. There's a great 'modern' version on his album "The Immigrants".

I heard this nice version ten years ago, there was some vocals on this version too. (If I remember correctly.)

I have been trying to get my hands on this record for the last five years, without any luck :cry: ) It is out of print, and I have been looking for it in many stores that sell used records.... I guess my only hope is that they will but it back in print or that it is added in the iTunes store (as an download).

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When I was 11 or 12, my sister got this compilation album called "Super Oldies, Vol III" -- meaning they were hits that were OVER A YEAR OLD! (sheesh!) and this was one of the tunes on it, Cannonball Adderly's version.

 

That was one of the first real tunes I worked out on piano (other than TV jingles), along with the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin". Ever since, G has been my strongest key.

 

I'm forever greatful to Joe for writing that tune, and my sister for getting that album! It was a worthy step up from TV jingles and Monkees songs. I still play it a lot, and it sounds great on a Rhodes too.

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Originally posted by EricG:

marino wrote:

Sure, Zawinul wrote it. There's a great 'modern' version on his album "The Immigrants".

I heard this nice version ten years ago, there was some vocals on this version too. (If I remember correctly.)

Yeah, Joe wrote new words for it, and renamed it "No Mercy for me"!

I have been trying to get my hands on this record for the last five years, without any luck :cry: ) It is out of print, and I have been looking for it in many stores that sell used records....

This is an absolute shame; it's a great album, with Scott Henderson doing some of his best solos. I have the vinyl LP!

[/QB]

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Originally posted by dream:

There is also a Great version of it on a Compilation CD called ORGAN- IZED. I forget who plays it but it makes for a great B3 instrumental. This CD has some monster players on it. Joey D, JS, Mike Finnegan, Art Neville, and more.

It's Mick Weaver.
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I play this song. :thu:

 

For me, this is one song that sounds SO MUCH BETTER when played in Bb rather than in C.

 

It's also best to play as a kinda slow blues feel.

 

Absolutely one of my favorites (after Close To You - The Carpenters, of course). ;)

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo
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My band covers the Buckingham's version. I have a live recording of the original Weather Report lineup performing it. Zawinul is playing a cheezy FM-sounding organ, but Jaco totally SMOKES!!
Reality is like the sun - you can block it out for a time but it ain't goin' away...
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I've heard a bunch of versions of this tune. And, doing the jam night house band thing for a couple of years, I've played it a million different ways. Well, ok, maybe only a thousand. ;)

 

Originally posted by learjeff:

That was one of the first real tunes I worked out on piano (other than TV jingles), along with the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin". Ever since, G has been my strongest key.

I've never played it in any key but Bb, however.

 

It's one of those tunes that always seems to come up when there's a sax player at the jam.

 

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Originally posted by David R:

It was actually written by Zawinul, I believe. And Zawinul found this Wurlitzer in the studio where they recorded it, thought it sounded cool and fit the vibe of the tune, so played it.

 

David

Not to quibble, but I believe the version that was the "hit" for Cannonball was from a live album--Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Live at "The Club." According to my info it was released in 1966. It was a Wurlitzer. By 1969 with "Country Preacher", another live album, Joe had switched to Rhodes (a beautiful sliver-sparkle top suitcase).

 

Busch.

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Originally posted by kad:

I have a live recording of the original Weather Report lineup performing it. Zawinul is playing a cheezy FM-sounding organ, but Jaco totally SMOKES!!

I think I have the same recording, it appears on one of those Jaco compilations released some 5 or 6 years ago.

 

BTW, the lineup(s) with Jaco is NOT the original Weather Report lineup. Jaco did not join the band until 1976; the band was formed in 1970. Miroslav Vitous and Alphonso Johnson precede Jaco as bassist.

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Originally posted by synthizen2:

BTW, the lineup(s) with Jaco is NOT the original Weather Report lineup. Jaco did not join the band until 1976; the band was formed in 1970. Miroslav Vitous and Alphonso Johnson precede Jaco as bassist.

Oops - I forgot about the pre-Jaco days. :)
Reality is like the sun - you can block it out for a time but it ain't goin' away...
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The first version I remember was an instrumental version that sure seemed like it was slightly uptempo from Cannonball's-- didn't hear The Buckinghams' version at the time. Could someone like a Hugh Masekela have covered it around '68 or '69?

 

I never knew what the song was until I heard the version on Burning for Buddy (Dave Weckl driving the Buddy Rich Big Band on that one).

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