On September 29, 1998, “V2” label released “Deserter’s Songs” the fourth Mercury Rev studio album. It was recorded in 1998, at “Tarbox Road Studios”; “NRS Studios”’ “Six Hours Studios”, and was produced by Dave Fridmann and Jonathan Donahue. In 1998, “NME” magazine named “Deserter’s Songs” album of the year.
Personnel:
- Jonathan Donahue– vocals, acoustic guitar, Chamberlin strings
- Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak– vocals, guitar reels, woodwinds
- Dave Fridmann– piano, bass, mellotron, backing vocals
- Jimmy Chambers – clavinet, harpsichord, drums
- Levon Helm– drums
- Jeff Mercel – drums
- Adam Snyder – B3, Mellotron, Wurlitzer
- Aaron Hurwitz – piano
- Garrett Uhlenbrock– slide guitar
- Scott Petito – upright electric bass
- Suzanne Thorpe – flutes
- Matt Jordan – flugelhorns
- Jim Burgess – trombones
- Garth Hudson– alto and tenor saxophone
- Rachel Handman – violin
- Amy Helm, Marie Spinosa – female vox and whistling
- Mary Gavazzi Fridmann – female soprano
- Joel Eckhouse – musical saw
Track listing:
All lyrics by Jonathan Donahue, except where noted, all music by Jonathan Donahue and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak.
- Holes
- Tonite It Shows
- Endlessly
- I Collect Coins
- Opus 40
- Hudson Line – lyrics by Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak
- The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
- Goddess on a Hiway
- The Funny Bird
- Pick Up If You’re There
- Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp – lyrics by Jimmy Chambers

