ANTHEM is coming, chapter 12

ANTHEM, Book 3 of the Sixties Trilogy, publishes on October 1. Each of the book's 47 chapters begins with a song from the Sixties to set the tone, mood, and scene. Every day between now and October 1, come have a listen and read a snippet from each chapter.
 
This is Chapter 12 (day 36):

MERCY MERCY MERCY
Music by Joe Zawinul
Performed by Cannonball Adderley and his band 
Recorded at Capitol Records, Hollywood, California, 1966
Drummer: Roy McCurdy

Lyrics by Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Larry Williams 
Performed by the Buckinghams
Recorded at Columbia Studios, Chicago, Illinois, 1967
Drummer: John Poulos (concert); John Guerin (studio)

The first line of the melody began to slide off the Fender Rhodes keys, and the trumpet joined in. It took only four measures for Molly to recognize the tune.
"I know it!"she said in wonder. "The Buckinghams sing it! It was Number 5 on the Weekly Top Forty! It's got words!"
Jay laughed. "It was jazz first, my lady. And this one's oozing soul, can you dig it?"
Lucy knew the song, too. She began to sing it softly and bob her head from side to side. "C'mon, Molly. Sing it with me! 'There is no girl...'"
And, much to her own surprise, with a live band to inspire her, Molly sang along with Lucy. She loved this song.
"Sing it like a moan," instructed Jay. "Not like a pop tune. Feel the music. Space our your notes, like Cannonball's sax. Put some longing in there!"


AND the Buckinham's version:



A two-fer today. I wanted to show how pop incorporated jazz, in the history of American music, and I wanted to include jazz as part of the bedrock of American rock and roll. 

This chapter helps me accomplish this while also introducing a pivotal character for Norman, who will serve to change the (literal) course of their journey.

A link to these posts will live on ANTHEM's page at my website, where they will serve also as a teaching tool for those who want to explore American music in the sixties, and its usefulness in telling this story.


Chapter 12.