Neo-psych indie pop legends, Mercury Rev, have announced that they will be resurrecting a “long-overlooked masterwork,” reimagining beloved country soul artist Bobbie Gentry’s 1968 record The Delta Sweete. The record, titled The Delta Sweete Revisited, will be dropping February 8th via Partisan Records/Bella Union.
Mercury Rev masterminds (Jonathan Donahue and Grasshopper) were joined by Midlake’s Jesse Chandler in creating this reimagining. As a part of this release, they have enlisted the support of an incredible cast of female singers, including Norah Jones, Margo Price, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucinda Willias, Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star, Vashti Bunyan, Rachel Goswell of Slowdive, Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, Kaela Sinclair of M83, and many more.
The original album was released right after Gentry had reached true superstar status after releasing her #1 smash “Ode To Billie Joe.” The Delta Sweete is a fitting choice for Mercury Rev to recreate, given that the album, like themselves, take a wide variety of musical genres and excel in each one of them. With her excellent songwriting as a base, Gentry’s record dived into everything from swamp-rock, R&B horns, and even full orchestral arrangements to fully achieve her artistic vision.
In anticipation of the record, the band has unveiled Margo Price’s take on the deep cut “Sermon.” “Bobbie Gentry is one of the greatest writers and performers of our time,” says Price regarding Gentry’s legacy. “She was the definition of country funk and southern soul. Her songs were well crafted, literary masterpieces. Bobbie produced so much of her own work that she didn’t get credit for. Her influence on my music has been massive and her influence on the music world in general is earth shattering. Bobbie is iconic, original, eloquent and timeless. She is an elusive wonder in a world of plain spoken, worn out cliques. She has remained a strong voice and an eternal spirit of the delta, wrapped in mystery, yet forever here.”
Check out “Sermon” below, along with the album cover.
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