Love and Mercy
Encyclopedia
"Love and Mercy" is a song written by Brian Wilson
for his 1988 debut solo album Brian Wilson
. The song was released as a single on July 1, 1988 with the B-side of the single being "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body to Move". The single however, failed to chart in either the United States or the United Kingdom, despite receiving mass critical acclaim. The song features Brian Wilson on lead vocals, as well as a lot of the backing vocals.
. However on later issues of Brian's debut album and subsequent re-makes and live performances of the song, the credit was amended to only include Wilson as the sole composer of the song.
The song originally included lyrics to another verse. The lyrics weren't used in the finished version but Wilson did perform the song with the added verse on a televised performance. The extra lyrics as performed by Wilson were:
A re-recording of the song was issued through Oglio Records as a single in November, 2005 along with a new Wilson composition, "Walking Down The Path of Life", that could only be purchased on the internet. A special Brian Wilson-autographed edition was also available for purchase at a much steeper price. According to the website responsible for selling the single, the proceeds from the single were to be put towards helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
, which was produced by Brian Wilson and Don Was
. The remake of the song features a much more sparse production and a more relaxed lead vocal from Brian. Brian Wilson again re-recorded the song on September 24, 2005 with his new backing band and issued the song as a single with a new composition, "Walking Down The Path of Life".
and as the encore of his performance of SMiLE
at Carnegie Hall
. Brian also, along with the Boys Choir of Harlem
, concluded with the song at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 29, 2001. The concert, billed as "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson", was filmed and later released on DVD. On January 15, 2005 Wilson performed the song as part of Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope
which aired on NBC. On September 10, 2005 Brian and his band appeared in Los Angeles on the ReAct Now: Music & Relief
concert, which was a relief concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The performance included both "Love And Mercy" and his new song "Walking Down The Path of Life".
(http://www.libera.org.uk) recorded a cover of this song on their 2008 album "New Dawn", and it was performed in December 2007 at the annual Kennedy Center Honors Awards, attended by President George W. Bush and a host of celebrities, as a tribute to Brian Wilson, opening with the dedication "Mr Wilson, we were born a long, long way from your California beaches, but the sunlight of your music can be felt everyday on the streets in South London" by Joshua Madine, age 13.
The Alt-Country band Golden Smog recorded a version of the song.
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
for his 1988 debut solo album Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson (album)
Brian Wilson is the eponymous first solo album by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, released in July 1988 on Sire Records. The album was reissued on Rhino Records with an extensive selection of bonus tracks in 2000.-Background:...
. The song was released as a single on July 1, 1988 with the B-side of the single being "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body to Move". The single however, failed to chart in either the United States or the United Kingdom, despite receiving mass critical acclaim. The song features Brian Wilson on lead vocals, as well as a lot of the backing vocals.
Composition
The song was originally credited to both Brian Wilson and his controversial therapist Eugene LandyEugene Landy
Eugene Ellsworth Landy, Ph.D. was a controversial American psychologist and therapist known for his unconventional treatment and eventual exploitation of composer/musician Brian Wilson...
. However on later issues of Brian's debut album and subsequent re-makes and live performances of the song, the credit was amended to only include Wilson as the sole composer of the song.
The song originally included lyrics to another verse. The lyrics weren't used in the finished version but Wilson did perform the song with the added verse on a televised performance. The extra lyrics as performed by Wilson were:
"I was praying to a god who just doesn't seem to hear,
Oh, the blessings we need the most are what we all fear."
Single release
The "Love And Mercy" single backed with the rare B-side "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" was released through Sire Records in the United States in July, 1988, and in the United Kingdom in August 1988. It failed to make any impact on the charts.A re-recording of the song was issued through Oglio Records as a single in November, 2005 along with a new Wilson composition, "Walking Down The Path of Life", that could only be purchased on the internet. A special Brian Wilson-autographed edition was also available for purchase at a much steeper price. According to the website responsible for selling the single, the proceeds from the single were to be put towards helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Album and alternate releases
"Love And Mercy" was first released on an album in 1988 on Brian Wilson's self-titled debut album with production by Brian and Russ Titelman. On later CD re-issues of Brian's debut album, the song has been released as a bonus track without the lead vocal. A re-make of the song was recorded for the 1995 soundtrack to the documentary I Just Wasn't Made for These TimesI Just Wasn't Made for These Times
-Chart performance:I Just Wasn't Made for These Times reached #59 on the UK album charts. It did not chart in the U.S....
, which was produced by Brian Wilson and Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
. The remake of the song features a much more sparse production and a more relaxed lead vocal from Brian. Brian Wilson again re-recorded the song on September 24, 2005 with his new backing band and issued the song as a single with a new composition, "Walking Down The Path of Life".
Live versions
When performed in concert, "Love And Mercy" is played with a piano introduction as well as being performed with a much sparser arrangement compared to the original version. The song has become the regular concert closer at Brian Wilson's concerts. Brian Wilson performed the song live as the encore on his 2000 live solo album Live at the Roxy TheatreLive at the Roxy Theatre
Live at the Roxy Theatre is a live album released by Brian Wilson in 2000. After a successful period of touring following the release of Imagination, Wilson decided to record his first ever live solo album...
and as the encore of his performance of SMiLE
Smile (Brian Wilson album)
Smile, sometimes typeset with the idiosyncratic partial capitalization SMiLE, or referred to as Brian Wilson Presents Smile is a solo album by Brian Wilson, with lyrics by Van Dyke Parks released on September 28, 2004 on CD and two-disc vinyl LP...
at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. Brian also, along with the Boys Choir of Harlem
Boys Choir of Harlem
The Boys Choir of Harlem was a choir located in Harlem, New York City, United States. Its last performance was in 2007 and the group folded shortly thereafter due to several controversies, a large budget deficit, and the death of its founder.Founded in 1968 by Dr...
, concluded with the song at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 29, 2001. The concert, billed as "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson", was filmed and later released on DVD. On January 15, 2005 Wilson performed the song as part of Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope
Tsunami Aid
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope was a worldwide benefit held for the tsunami victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. It was broadcast on NBC and its affiliated networks of USA Network, Bravo, PAX, MSNBC, CNBC, Sci-Fi, Trio, Telemundo and other NBC Universal stations and was heard on any Clear...
which aired on NBC. On September 10, 2005 Brian and his band appeared in Los Angeles on the ReAct Now: Music & Relief
ReAct Now: Music & Relief
ReAct Now: Music & Relief was a four and a half hour long benefit concert which aired on September 10, 2005. MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV2, MTVU, VH1 Classic and The N broadcast the concert, which raised about $30 million for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts via the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army,...
concert, which was a relief concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The performance included both "Love And Mercy" and his new song "Walking Down The Path of Life".
Covers
The boy's choir LiberaLibera (music)
Libera is a non-profit all-boy English vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman. Most members come from the parish choir of St. Philip's, Norbury, in South London. The albums, tours and TV appearances they do as Libera are in addition to their regular singing as part of the full choir of men and...
(http://www.libera.org.uk) recorded a cover of this song on their 2008 album "New Dawn", and it was performed in December 2007 at the annual Kennedy Center Honors Awards, attended by President George W. Bush and a host of celebrities, as a tribute to Brian Wilson, opening with the dedication "Mr Wilson, we were born a long, long way from your California beaches, but the sunlight of your music can be felt everyday on the streets in South London" by Joshua Madine, age 13.
The Alt-Country band Golden Smog recorded a version of the song.