Jimi Hendrix playing lead on "Mercy, Mercy" by Don Covay?

[Steve Hoffman]

Tony Almeida posted this on the Phonogram list:
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In his new book, "Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix", author
Steven Roby presents substantial evidence that the guitar part on Don Covay &
the Goodtimers' 1964 hit "Mercy, Mercy" was done by young Jimi Hendrix. You can hear for yourself at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=866463342

(I have no connection to this seller etc., etc.)

I do have a connection with Steven Roby. He is doing some author events this
week at Stanford University and in Sunnyvale. Part of each appearance is a
multimedia presentation with rare audio and video. See:

http://www.stevenroby.com

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Steve sez:

I was working on the Don Covay Greatest Hits CD compilation for Razor & Tie a while back, and I had the stereo master tape of "Mercy, Mercy" playing, loud, in the studio. When that amazing short guitar solo in the middle of the song comes in I thought "Wow, this player must have taught Jimi Hendrix or something." Turns out he WAS Hendrix.

The lead simple guitar solo always floored me (how advanced it was for 1964, etc.) Sounds like our boy to me!

http://www.deuceofclubs.com/tunes/covay.htm

[John Oteri]

It does sound like a young Jimi now that it's pointed out to me. Tasty solo.

Listening to "Mercy Mercy", I'm thinking: "Gee, is there anything in his vocal style that Mick Jagger DIDN'T swipe from Don Covay?

I doubt it; they sound like twins! :rolleyes:

[Angel]

Well, I agree. It sounds like a young Jimi.

Complex solo, with two key changes. All in under 10 seconds!

:cool:

[Tullman]

I think it is cool that Hendrix played a solo there. It has been so long since I have heard this recording I don't remember what the solo sound like. Steve I couldn't find a place to purchase the cd you mastered of Don Covay.

This thread reminded me of the great solo Eddie Van Halen put down on Michael Jackson's Beat It.

[Angel]

I think the damn thing is out of print (a crime).

[Matt]

Angel's right. The "Definitive Don Covay" CD by Razor & Tie has fallen out of print, but this is still around:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004YLGH/qid=1020898859/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-1804781-1778405

Not sure how it sounds, but it's better than nothing.

[Angel]

Originally posted by John Oteri


Listening to "Mercy Mercy", I'm thinking: "Gee, is there anything in his vocal style that Mick Jagger DIDN'T swipe from Don Covay?

:rolleyes:

Nope, he took everything. Mick should pay Don a quarterly "imitation royalty". :p

[Chris M]

Yeah, certainly sounds like Jimi to me. The idea of a 21 year old Jimi playing on a Top 40 record is pretty cool isn't it. There is an audience tape of a 2/67 JHE show and they play Mercy, Mercy......it's pretty close to the Don's original only MUCH faster. Steven Roby's book Black Gold is a MUST for any Jimi fan. The amount of unheard/unseen Jimi that has never even been booted is staggering......

Chris

[Pat]

Why not just pick this one up? Very easy to find and has Mercy Mercy in Stereo with the "breath of hiss" (which I prefer).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000008R2X/qid=1020899946/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/002-0533015-3649646

[Mike]

Hey Chris - I was waiting for you to show up. It sounds like Jimi to me too. There's a couple Don Covay's over at half.com - if you don't have this yet, it's a great one.

[John Oteri]

Someone else thinks that Mick Jagger is the white Don Covay as well...

http://members.tripod.com/soulsource/don_covay_story.htm

[Steve Hoffman]

Interesting little story on Don.

Too bad the Razor & Tie CD is OOP. I LOVED working on that!

BTW, that song was recorded (along with all of that first album), on a three-track machine at Herb Abramson's A-I Sound Studios on 56th street in NYC (if anyone gives a crap). Of course I do...