I got into Bob back in the ‘60s… I think the album was “The Times They Are a-Changin” and I’ve been into him ever since. He’s a cool dude, ya know?” (Aaron Neville) https://youtu.be/XzqTGiUNzwA

“Aaron is one of the world’s great singers, a figure of rugged power, built like a tank but has the most angelic singing voice. A voice that could almost redeem a lost soul… It seems so incongruous. So much for appearances. There’s so much spirituality in his singing that it could even bring sanity back in a world of madness.” (Bob Dylan) https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bob-dylan-20-music-heroes-list/

By the end of the 1980s, legendary musician Bob Dylan was unsure if he even wanted to make more records. His past few albums had been panned by critics. He (allegedly) recorded an album’s worth of songs with (Rolling Stone) Ronnie Wood, but was ultimately dissatisfied with the end result. At the urging of U2’s Bono, Dylan connected with legendary producer Daniel Lanois (who, as y’all know, also produced the Nevilles’ “Yellow Moon.”) With Lanois’s help, Dylan reworked the songs on the aborted Ronnie Wood collaboration and produced the critically-acclaimed “Oh Mercy.” The album (Dylan’s 26th) was released on September 12, 1989, by Columbia Records.

Lanois produced the album in New Orleans in the same makeshift studio where the Nevilles’ “Yellow Moon” had recently been recorded. The Nevilles’ rhythm section (drummer “Mean” Willie Green, bassist Tony Hall, and guitarist Brian Stoltz) were recruited to play on several cuts on the album. Long-time Neville bassist Daryl Johnson played percussion on one track and Cyril Neville played on three of the album’s tracks.

FOR FURTHER READING:

I highly recommend reading “Life with Bob Dylan, 1989-2006… Uncut [magazine] talks to the musicians, producers and crew who have worked with Dylan from 1989 to 2006, and catches an unprecedented glimpse of the real Bob…” The first page delves into “Oh Mercy” and is a very enjoyable read! https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/life-with-bob-dylan-1989-2006-30130/

FOR FURTHER LISTENING:

Here’s an excellent interview with Daniel Lanois about “Oh Mercy.” (The Nevilles are mentioned often duirng the interview.) https://youtu.be/IyXYVx5TJmA . And, here’s an equally-enjoyable interview with recording engineer Mark Howard on working with Bob Dylan & Daniel Lanois https://youtu.be/8KgNJUJ0jNw

“OH MERCY” AND THE NEVILLE BROTHERS BAND

The first single from the album, “Everything Is Broken,” features Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl https://youtu.be/pndhO5DcSI0

Cyril, Willie, Tony and Brian play on “Political World” (released as a single in 1990) https://youtu.be/616VCMzBH-A

“Most of the Time” (also issued as a single in 1990) features Cyril, Willie, and Tony https://youtu.be/IpnzjlqeF78

“Disease of Conceit” features contributions by Willie, Tony, and Brian https://youtu.be/uOg0d4X34tc

Cyril and Willie play on “What Was It You Wanted” https://youtu.be/LMSHQJ8f8m8

Lastly, “Shooting Star” features Willie, Tony, and Brian) https://youtu.be/e3ZHj8bA1WA

OUTTAKES

A handful of outtakes from the “Oh Mercy” sessions have been released on various soundtracks, hits collections and rarities collections over the years.

THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUMES 1-3 (1991)

The first “Oh Mercy” outtake to be released was the excellent, “Series of Dreams” (which features Cyril on talking drum – there is a different version of the song that features Cyril, Willie, Tony and Brian.) According to recording engineer Malcolm Burn: “One song that didn’t end up on Oh Mercy that Dan and I pushed for was ‘Series Of Dreams’. I remember standing in the courtyard, Bob saying, ‘Y’know what: I only put 10 songs on my records.’ I said, ‘But, Bob, that song is so great.’ He goes, ‘Nah, nah. I’m only puttin’ 10 songs on there.’”

Generally, I believe that the artist him/herself should make the final decision on these matters. However, I also believe that Dylan made a huge mistake. If the song had been included on the album, I’d likely classify it as my favorite song on the album! https://youtu.be/Rpi_d8JTYvk

BOB DYLAN’S GREATEST HITS VOLUME 3 (1994)

“Series of Dreams” was included on “Greatest Hits Volume 3.” (This is the same version found on “The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3.”) https://youtu.be/oy4qzWe1mgI

The version of “Dignity” on that disc is the version that shuffles, and has no involvement from Cyril or the Nevilles’ bandmembers.) https://youtu.be/1h9xCEVKwtg

VARIOUS – TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL – THE ALBUM (1998)

“Dignity” (Alternate Version) This version is recognizable by the constant triplet rhythm on the hi-hat cymbals; Cyril, Willie, Tony & Brian contributed to this version. https://youtu.be/Pn2LPhE7cYM

TELL TALE SIGNS – RARE AND UNRELEASED 1989-2006 (2008)

“Born in Time” features Cyril, Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl. https://youtu.be/cm4fKxzx3CI

The alternate version of “Everything Is Broken” features Cyril, Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl. https://youtu.be/xWtP4QKX81Y

“Series of Dreams” is the version with Cyril, Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl. https://youtu.be/iChaFA8UULg

“God Knows” features Cyril, Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl) https://youtu.be/V0nfAxG7O2M

“Dignity” (This version has a slight rockabilly feel to it. Cyril, Willie, Tony, Brian, and Daryl all participated.) https://youtu.be/pf_hYj0FoDg

SIDE TRACKS (2013)

“Series of Dreams” is the same recording as the one on “The Bootleg Series.” This is the version with Cyril on talking drum) https://youtu.be/AojwsgIv8-4

“Dignity” is the same version, found on the “Touched By An Angel” soundtrack, with the prominent triplet rhythm. (Cyril, Willie, Tony, and Brian participated) https://youtu.be/sYemO7fhMeU

THE NEVILLES COVER DYLAN

While we’re looking at Neville / Dylan connections, we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss the Dylan songs that have been covered by the Nevilles (collectively or individually.) I have included links to the Neville covers AND the Dylan originals, in case you’d like to compare the cover to the original!

The Brothers covered two Bob Dylan songs on “Yellow Moon”: “The Ballad of Hollis Brown” https://youtu.be/Sje3snCbgSU and “With God On Our Side” https://youtu.be/eH_6qdk8zAE) (1989). Here are Dylan’s own recordings of the songs: “The Ballad of Hollis Brown” https://youtu.be/_8xkxy3tXTA “With God On Our Side” https://youtu.be/5y2FuDY6Q4M

Aaron covered “Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” on the “Grand Tour” LP (1993) https://youtu.be/nESg-Ebsp4c. Here’s Dylan’s own recording of that track https://youtu.be/97vZ2qOQv_c

Cyril covered “The Times They Are A Changin’” https://youtu.be/7uaRBPyH-y4 on his “Soulo” LP (1998). (Here’s Dylan’s original https://youtu.be/90WD_ats6eE )

Aaron’s version of “I Shall Be Released” https://youtu.be/uAgkYAanvXM was included on his “Devotion” LP (2000.) And, here’s Bob’s version https://youtu.be/E0pkHBVznLA.

Aaron contributed a cover of “Saving Grace” to the “Gotta Serve Somebody – The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan” compilation (2003.) https://youtu.be/0OiA9XIPcrw (Here’s the original version https://youtu.be/uDStxEb8dgE )

Aaron covered “Gotta Serve Somebody” https://youtu.be/hVDaJZ1_Ymw on his “Believe” LP (2003.) (Here’s Dylan’s original: https://youtu.be/wC10VWDTzmU )

Cyril performed Dylan’s “I Want You” for the “Blues On Blonde On Blonde” collection (2003.) https://youtu.be/gwUJ6foshlM Here’s the original https://youtu.be/-iIS6ZZ9RVA

Long-time Nevilles/funky METERS guitarist Brian Stoltz contributed “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” to the “Blues On Blonde On Blonde” collection (2003.) (He also played guitar on seven other tracks on that album!) https://youtu.be/aAYqZSoafJc Here’s the original https://youtu.be/fm-po_FUmvM