Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited (LP)
Mercury Rev
Amoeba Review
02/06/2019
Indie psych pop heroes Mercury Rev play bandleader on an ambitious song-for-song remake of Bobbie Gentry’s country rock opera The Delta Sweete, originally released in 1968. Joining them on vocals is a veritable who’s who of modern female singer-songwriters, including Norah Jones, Margo Pierce, and Hope Sandoval, Phoebe Bridgers, all replicating Gentry’s trademark husky voice in their own unique way. There’s even a cover of Gentry’s legendary and forever mysterious breakout hit “Ode to Billie Joe,” appropriately sung by another country legend in Lucinda Williams. Draped in Mercury Rev’s trademark stargazing Americana and cavernous reverb, Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete Revisited is a tribute album done right; there’s no dutiful imitation or Greatest Hits-esque track sequencing to be found here. Mercury Rev, with a little help from their friends, have instead remade a forgotten classic in their own image, not beholden to tradition, but bringing it along for the ride.
Track Listing
Side A Titles |
Artist |
Length |
---|---|---|
1.
Okolona River Bottom Band
|
Mercury Rev , Norah Jones | 04:36 |
2.
Big Boss Man
|
Mercury Rev , Hope Sandoval | 03:24 |
3.
Reunion
|
Mercury Rev , Rachel Goswell | 02:21 |
4.
Parchman Farm
|
Mercury Rev , Carice Van Houten | 03:47 |
5.
Mornin' Glory
|
Mercury Rev , Laetitia Sadier | 03:22 |
6.
Sermon
|
Mercury Rev , Margo Price | 04:31 |
Side B Titles |
Artist |
Length |
---|---|---|
1.
Tobacco Road
|
Mercury Rev , Susanne Sundfør | 02:51 |
2.
Penduli Pendulum
|
Mercury Rev , Vashti Bunyan , Kaela Sinclair | 03:10 |
3.
Jesseye 'Lizabeth
|
Mercury Rev , Phoebe Bridgers | 03:04 |
4.
Refractions
|
Mercury Rev , Marissa Nadler | 02:28 |
5.
Courtyard
|
Mercury Rev , Beth Orton | 03:31 |
6.
Ode To Billie Joe
|
Mercury Rev , Lucinda Williams | 05:36 |