Description
Oh Mercy is the twenty-sixth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, released on Columbia Records in September 1989. The album was recorded February-April 1989 by Malcolm Burn with Mark Howard at a studio installation created by Howard in New Orleans, with Daniel Lanois producing. Mixed by Burn and Lanois.
Good things come to them that wait, at least that’s what we’ve been told. This time, perhaps for the first time in a long time, it appears to be true. We’ve waited, believing in the artist’s poetic/prophetic potential even though it’s been a long, long time since ‘Blonde on Blonde’ and even ‘Blood on the Tracks’ is nearly 15 years old. For those of us persuaded by the gospel Dylan’s ‘Slow Train Coming‘ was an affirmation of meaning and truth, even though it was not a consistently fulfilling work.
‘Saved‘ opened the decade, and while it is one of Dylan’s favorites, was so deeply entrenched in the Black Gospel genre that it left the poet without a distinctive voice. ‘Shot of Love‘, while underrated by most, had only one clear classic, «Every Grain of Sand». ‘Biograph’, the definitive “best of” collection and the first contender in the boxed set marketing wars, reminded us again just how great an artist Bob Dylan had been, while his concerts focusing on past triumphs did the same (Dylan & the Dead). ‘Infidels‘ and ‘Empire Burlesque‘ each revealed signs of hope, but ‘Knocked Out Loaded’ and ‘Down in the Groove’ felt like well intentioned but lackadaisical efforts.
Now, ten years after ‘Slow Train’, Dylan brings it all together again. Insightful lyrics, rich in social observation and poetic tension, yet with the street prophet’s spontaneity that owns the moment, musical arrangements lush with atmosphere and ambiance provided by ace producer Daniel Lanois, and Dylan’s own impassioned and centered performance, mark ‘Oh Mercy’ as something far better than a return to form. This is Bob Dylan facing off with 90s in a refocused vision of himself, his world and his art.
«Political World», one of two rockers, starts things off by reminding us that all our actions touch the world around us with profound implications. We can chose to ignore it, but that does not diminish the truth that our world is governed by politics and politicians- «Everything is Broken» is an indictment of that world. Love, commitment, and trust are the first victims in an environment where the rich, famous and powerful establish the values.
The album’s remaining tracks look to flesh out just what kind of damage we’ve done to the planet and ourselves. The «Disease of Conceit» reigns «Where Teardrops Fall». «Most of the Time» we can get by in life, but we can’t always forget past pain, losses and failures. «What Was It You Wanted» again, as did «It Aint Me, Babe», explores the tenuous artist/audience relationship and the expectations Dylan experiences. «What Good Am I?» asks the question of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan again, but it is «Ring Them Bells» and «Shooting Star» that most directly express the urgent desire to get the gospel message out into the lives of people.
Lanois, as with U2, Robbie Robertson, the Neville Brothers and his own solo album, lays a fine bed for Dylan’s lyrics to lie in, often relying on simple acoustic guitars, dobro and a churchified organ, but with an other worldly effect. It is like Dylan has been suspended in time and given an opportunity to reflect artistically on the world he knows so well. It works, and lacks the kind of trendiness that labels it as a product of this or any other year. Bob Dylan remains the enigmatic artist he has always been, but his voice, harp and songs haven’t sounded this good, or meaningful, for a long time. You bet, it was worth the wait. [Brian Q. Newcomb, Harvest Rock Syndicate, No. 4, 1989 (Volume 4)]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-mercy/181904945)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Political World” – 3:43
A2. “Where Teardrops Fall” – 2:30
A3. “Everything Is Broken” – 3:12
A4. “Ring Them Bells” – 3:00
A5. “Man In The Long Black Coat” – 4:30
Side Two
B1. “Most Of The Time” – 5:02
B2. “What Good Am I?” – 4:45
B3. “Disease Of Conceit” – 3:41
B4. “What Was It You Wanted” – 5:02
B5. “Shooting Star” – 3:12
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Columbia Records.
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[youtube_sc url=”jg29g6D0sPs” title=”Bob Dylan – Political World (Official HD Video)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
[youtube_sc url=”oq7EM8jjNUs” title=”Bob Dylan, Oh Mercy – Most of the Time (Long Version) VIDEO” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
[youtube_sc url=”IyXYVx5TJmA” title=”Daniel Lanois on The Making Of Bob Dylans Oh Mercy” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
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