Ever since 1998’s career-turning Deserter’s Songs, Mercury Rev have regularly applied their cosmic tendencies and broad imaginations to recasting Americana. Here, they focus on a lost gem of country-rock: The 1968 follow-up to her chart-topping US debut, Ode to Billie Joe, Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete was a relative misfire in commercial terms. Thirteen years and a handful of albums later, the singer-songwriter vanished into a reclusive existence, adding new mystique to the music she left behind.
Those who’ve subsequently sought out The Delta Sweete have discovered original songs and covers about Mississippi life that reupholster country with Baroque flourishes and twists of soul and blues. Longtime fans Mercury Rev stay true to that experimentation, recruiting a cast of guest vocalists including Lucinda Williams, Hope Sandoval, and Phoebe Bridgers to help bring new ideas and atmospheres to the songs. Opener “Okolona River Bottom Band” sets the tone, transformed from swamp-side R&B into orchestral pop simmering with strings, tension, and Norah Jones’ yearning voice. “Reunion” undergoes the most radical reboot, a scratchy and antsy portrait of family life reshaped into grand space-rock hooked round the original’s slither of tragedy (“I heard this morning they drug the Tallahatchie/And found poor Billie gone”). It exemplifies a tribute that cherishes the invention and storytelling of Gentry’s songs but never insults her pioneering spirit with simple retreads.

Tracklisting

1. The Delta Sweete: Remixed
2. Okolona River Bottom Band
3. Big Boss Man
4. Reunion
5. Parchman Farm
6. Mornin’ Glory
7. Sermon
8. Tobacco Road
9. Penduli Pendulum
10. Jessye’ Lisabeth
11. Refractions
12. Louisiana Man
13. Courtyard
14. The Delta Sweete: Bonus Tracks
15. Okolona River Bottom Band (Special Instrumental)
16. Mississippi Delta (Alternate Version)
17. Seventh Son (Band Version)
18. The Way I Do (Demo)
19. Feelin’ Good (Demo)
20. Mornin’ Glory (Demo)
21. Sermon (Demo)
22. Jessye’ Lisabeth (Demo)
23. Refractions (Demo)
24. Louisiana Man (Demo)

Apple Music

Videos

Okolona River Bottom Band (Remastered 2020)

More Videos

• Big Boss Man (Remastered 2020)
• Reunion (Remastered 2020)
• Parchman Farm (Remastered 2020)
• Mornin’ Glory (Remastered 2020)
• Sermon (Remastered 2020)
• Tobacco Road (Remastered 2020)
• Penduli Pendulum (Remastered 2020)
• Jessye’ Lisabeth (Remastered 2020)
• Refractions (Remastered 2020)
• Louisiana Man (Remastered 2020)
• Courtyard (Remastered 2020)
• Okolona River Bottom Band (Instrumental)
• Mississippi Delta (Alternate Take)
• Seventh Son (Band Version)
• The Way I Do (Demo)
• Feelin’ Good (Demo)
• Mornin’ Glory (Demo)
• Sermon (Demo)
• Jessye’ Lisabeth (Demo)
• Refractions (Demo)
• Louisiana Man (Demo)
• Mornin’ Glory

Release Images

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Release Information