I cannot believe that this track was written in the sixties, a great time for pop but a barren time for jazz. This was half a decade before jazz went electric and Joe founded Weather Report with Wayne Shorter. To really date it look at the Youtube video, it's in black and white! Joe you were a genius man!
Mercy has got to rate as one of the best ever Fender Rhodes parts ever. On a par with Joe Sample's part on 'put it where you want it'. Maybe even Stevie's 'livin' in the city'
It was 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. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" went to #2 on the Soul chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 a feat that Joe would repeat with the track Birdland.