Though often overshadowed by higher-profile Southern R&B artists like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, Don Covay ranks among the greatest soul singers of the 1960s. In addition to his fantastic voice--light enough to sail through pop melodies, yet gruff enough to shake with gospel fervor--Covay is a superb songwriter. MERCY! and SEE-SAW, two albums from the mid-'60s, feature many of Covay's best songs, and find him at the peak of his form as a vocalist. This Koch two-for-one disc provides the invaluable service of putting these classic soul albums under a single cover.
The music here is irresistible, with its mix of raw, energetic expression and bright, jazzy melodies and arrangements (the way Covay's band sounds both breezy and muscular at once is marvelous). From the sashaying groove of "Mercy, Mercy" to the propulsive back and forth of "See-Saw" (also a sizeable hit for Aretha Franklin), through heart-wrenching ballads ("Precious You") and party-oriented jams ("Come on In"), there is hardly an unsatisfying moment across these 23 tracks. That MERCY!/SEE-SAW is not a comprehensive overview of Covay's career is the only deterrent for newcomers, but otherwise the goods on this brilliant soul singer are right here in one essential package.
Contains 23 tracks.
2 On 1 CD;1964/1966
2 LPs on 1 CD: MERCY! (1964)/SEE-SAW (1966).
Personnel: The Goodtimers (vocals); Steve Cropper, Billy Butler, Bob Bushnell (guitar); Andrew Love (tenor saxophone); Floyd Newman (baritone saxophone); Dicky Harris (trombone); Booker T. Jones (piano, organ); Horace Ott (piano); Donald "Duck" Dunn (electric bass); Al Jackson, Jr. , Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums).
Don Covay / Don Covay & the Goodtimers - Mercy!/Seesaw Songs
Don Covay / Don Covay & the Goodtimers - Mercy!/Seesaw Album Track Listing
Trk
Song
1
Mercy Mercy
2
I'll Be Satisfied
3
Come On In
4
Can't Stay Away
5
Can't Fight It Baby
6
You're Good for Me
7
Take This Hurt Off Me
8
Daddy Loves Baby
9
Come See About Me
10
You Must Believe Me
11
Please Don't Let Me Know
12
Just Because
13
See-Saw
14
Boomerang
15
Everything Gonna Be Everything
16
Fat Man
17
Precious You
18
Iron Out the Rough Spots
19
Please Do Something
20
I Never Get Enough of Your Love
21
Usual Place
22
Woman's Love
23
Sookie, Sookie
Mercy!/Seesaw Music Review
Customer Mercy!/Seesaw Reviews
Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)
superior sounding soul Soul music in the 1960s never sounded better than this.
Two of the best soul LPs of the 1960s!
I would love to have a CD set that collects all of Don Covay's complete Atlantic/Atco recordings. Hello, Rhino Handmade people. Help us out here a little?? Submitted by Daddy-o Dilly (Topeka, KS , USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 3 of 4 found this helpful.
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