In ’63, after initially deciding to go for the big time, and get into a record company, she auditioned for, but was turned down by Columbia. Here’s a lady that recorded for the who’s who of RnB/Jazz labels during her career: Chess subsidiary Cadet, Blue Note and Verve. Those in the know, like England’s mods, would attest that the grooviest, hands down, is from Marlena Shaw. ’67 was the year that saw the song hit Billboard’s Top 5 twice, The Buckinghams version with lyrics, and the original instrumental from The Cannonball Adderley Quintet which went to #1, no doubt a surprise to both artist and label. Not to mention versions buried in jazzy muzak albums that came fast and furious in the late 60′s. There are plenty of renditions around by everyone from Jaco Pastorius to Nils Lofgren.
Basically, never do I pass up a copy, in fact, the loungier the better. Like with Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sunny’, I also have a similar penchant for ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’. Listen: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy / Marlena Shaw
