Deserter's Songs
Encyclopedia
Deserter's Songs is the fourth studio album by the Buffalo, New York
-based rock band Mercury Rev
, released in late September 1998. British
music magazine NME
named Deserter's Songs album of the year for 1998. Limited edition copies of the album came in a brown cardboard envelope-like package, with a stamp on the cover postmarked with the release date, as well as two art postcards.
The success of this album was a pleasant surprise for the band. After the commercial failure of See You on the Other Side
, which Donahue considered to be the band's best album, they decided to make one more record entirely for themselves, ignoring commercial influences, and expecting to split up shortly afterward. Surprisingly, Deserter's Songs was their most successful album, and made them big celebrities in the UK and Europe, also making a smaller mark in the US.
The hidden track at the end of "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" is played on the Tettix Wave Accumulator, an instrument built by Donahue and Grasshopper. Reportedly, two versions of the instrument exist--one for recording that takes up half of Grasshopper's basement, and a smaller one for the road.
A 10th anniversary edition of the album was rumored to be released on March 5, 2007, but never came to fruition. Mercury Rev released their seventh studio album Snowflake Midnight
on Deserter's Songs actual 10-year anniversary, September 29, 2008.
In May 2011 a fully instrumental edition of the album was released. In the same month, the band also staged a series of concerts at venues throughout Europe in which the whole album was performed live.
The song "Holes
" was used in the 2000 film Panic, starring William H. Macy
and Neve Campbell
.
Japanese bonus tracks
) and an audio remix track:
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
-based rock band Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
, released in late September 1998. British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
named Deserter's Songs album of the year for 1998. Limited edition copies of the album came in a brown cardboard envelope-like package, with a stamp on the cover postmarked with the release date, as well as two art postcards.
The success of this album was a pleasant surprise for the band. After the commercial failure of See You on the Other Side
See You on the Other Side (Mercury Rev album)
See You on the Other Side is the third album by Mercury Rev, released in September 1995.This was the first Mercury Rev album following the departure of former lead singer Dave Baker...
, which Donahue considered to be the band's best album, they decided to make one more record entirely for themselves, ignoring commercial influences, and expecting to split up shortly afterward. Surprisingly, Deserter's Songs was their most successful album, and made them big celebrities in the UK and Europe, also making a smaller mark in the US.
The hidden track at the end of "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" is played on the Tettix Wave Accumulator, an instrument built by Donahue and Grasshopper. Reportedly, two versions of the instrument exist--one for recording that takes up half of Grasshopper's basement, and a smaller one for the road.
A 10th anniversary edition of the album was rumored to be released on March 5, 2007, but never came to fruition. Mercury Rev released their seventh studio album Snowflake Midnight
Snowflake Midnight
Snowflake Midnight is the seventh studio album from Mercury Rev. It was released on September 29, 2008 in the UK, and September 30 in the US.From the band's website:...
on Deserter's Songs actual 10-year anniversary, September 29, 2008.
In May 2011 a fully instrumental edition of the album was released. In the same month, the band also staged a series of concerts at venues throughout Europe in which the whole album was performed live.
The song "Holes
Holes (song)
"Holes" is the fourth single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was released in Australia only as a limited edition tour EP on July 7, 1999, although promotional CD singles were distributed to UK radio stations in 2006...
" was used in the 2000 film Panic, starring William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
and Neve Campbell
Neve Campbell
Neve Adrianne Campbell is a Canadian actress. After beginning her career on stage, and on numerous commercials, she starred on the Canadian television series Catwalk. She then rose to international fame on the Golden Globe-winning 1990s television series Party of Five, playing the role of teenager...
.
Track listing
All lyrics by Jonathan Donahue, except "Hudson Line" by Sean "Grasshopper" Mackiowiak, and "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" by Jimy Chambers. All music by Jonathan Donahue and Sean "Grasshopper" Mackiowiak.- "HolesHoles (song)"Holes" is the fourth single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was released in Australia only as a limited edition tour EP on July 7, 1999, although promotional CD singles were distributed to UK radio stations in 2006...
" – 5:55 - "Tonite It Shows" – 3:40
- "Endlessly" – 4:25
- "I Collect Coins" – 1:27
- "Opus 40Opus 40 (song)"Opus 40" is the third single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was released in the UK on May 10, 1999. A music video was produced for the song, directed by Anton Corbijn...
" – 5:10 - "Hudson Line" – 2:54
- "The Happy End (The Drunk Room)" – 2:06
- "Goddess on a HiwayGoddess on a Hiway"Goddess on a Hiway" is the first single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was first released on November 2, 1998, and then re-issued on August 16, 1999. Two music videos were produced for the song, one directed by Anton Corbijn, the other directed by James & Alex...
" – 3:45 - "The Funny Bird" – 5:51
- "Pick Up If You're There" – 3:05
- "Delta Sun Bottleneck StompDelta Sun Bottleneck Stomp"Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" is the second single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was released in the UK on January 25, 1999, and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart....
"
(Untitled instrumental) (hidden trackHidden trackIn the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
) – 6:17
Japanese bonus tracks
- (silence) – 0:34
- "Ragtag" – 2:44
Deserter's Songs Bonus EP
Upon the album's release, a 6-track promo EP was issued, featuring covers recorded as B-sides from live recording sessions. The EP was bundled with copies of the album sold at Best Buy stores.- "He Was a Friend of Mine" (Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) – 3:36 - "Motion Pictures" (Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
) – 3:28 - "Silver Street" (Nikki SuddenNikki SuddenNikki Sudden was a prolific English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He co-founded the post-punk band Swell Maps with his brother Epic Soundtracks while attending Solihull School in Solihull.-Career:...
, Dave Kusworth) – 4:41 - "Philadelphia" (Neil Young) – 3:07
- "I Only Have Eyes for You" (featuring Sean O'HaganSean O'HaganSean O'Hagan is a founding member of Irish indie band Microdisney. In the 1990s he formed The High Llamas and released a number of highly acclaimed albums showing influences as diverse as The Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone, Antonio Carlos Jobim and avant-garde electronica...
) (Harry WarrenHarry WarrenHarry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,...
, Al DubinAl DubinAlexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:...
) – 4:22 - "Caroline Says Pt. II" (Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
) – 3:33
Deserter's Songs: The Film
A special edition of the album was released in 2005 with a bonus DVD, featuring an album-length companion film to Deserter's Songs as well as two music videos (directed by Anton CorbijnAnton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
) and an audio remix track:
- "Deserter's Songs: The Film" – 44:39
- "Opus 40" (music video) – 3:36
- "Goddess on a Hiway" (music video) – 3:44
- "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" (The Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
Remix) (audio track) – 6:22
Deserter's Songs: Deluxe Edition
In 2011, a further reissue of the album surfaced, this time a double-disc "deluxe edition" via V2/Cooperative. Unlike previous repackagings, which featured tracks also found spread across various singles and promotional releases, this edition contained a full disc's worth of exclusive material, dubbed "Deserted Songs." Tracklisting for disc two:- "Piano vs. Telephone" (Home Cassette Tape Demo)
- "Holes" (Bill Laswell 1998 Remix)
- "Pick Up, If You're There" (DJ Nickel 1998 Remix)
- "Endlessly" (Tascam 8 Track Reel to Reel Demo)
- "A Soft Kiss (for waking up)" (Home Cassette Tape Demo)
- "Tonite It Shows" (Tascam 8 Track Reel to Reel Demo)
- "Looking Back Now, I Can See..." (Unreleased Mix)
- "Opus 40" (Early Rough Version)
- "Hudson Line" (Early Rough Version)
- "Judging By The Moon" (Home Cassette Tape Demo)
- "Goddess On A Hiway" (1989 Home Cassette Tape Demo)
- "Night On Panther Mountain" (Unreleased Mix)
- "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" (Early Rough Version)
Mercury Rev
- Jonathan DonahueJonathan DonahueJonathan Daniel Donahue is an American rock musician. He has been an integral member of two of North America's more influential indie/experimental bands of the 1990s; The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev....
– vocals, acoustic guitar, chamberlin strings - Sean "Grasshopper" Mackiowiak – guitar reels, vocals on #6, woodwinds
- Jimy Chambers – clavinet, harpsichord, drums
- Dave FridmannDave FridmannDave Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. From 1990 onwards he co-produced all releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips...
– piano, bass, mellotron, backing vocals - Suzanne Thorpe – flutes
- Adam Snyder – B3, Mellotron, wurlitzer
Additional Musicians
- Levon HelmLevon HelmMark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
- drums on "Opus 40" - Garth HudsonGarth HudsonEric Garth Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Canadian-American rock group The Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound...
- tenor & alto sax on "Hudson Line" - Amy Helm & Marie Spinosa - female vox and whistling
- Mary Gavazzi Fridmann - female soprano
- Jeff Mercel - drums
- Joel Eckhouse - bowed saw
- Rachel Handman - violins
- Matt Jordan - flugelhorns
- Jim Burgess - trombones
- Aaron Hurwitz - piano
- Scott Petito - upright electric bass
- Garrett UhlenbrockGarrett UhlenbrockGarrett Uhlenbrock, aka Skinny Bones is a punk rock musician and songwriter, best known for co-writing songs for the New York based band, the Ramones....
- slide guitar