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.

1. Holes
2. Tonite It Shows
3. Endlessly
4. I Collect Coins
5. Opus 40
6. Hudson Line – lyrics by Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak
7. The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
8. Goddess on a Hiway
9. The Funny Bird
10. Pick Up If You’re There
11. Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp – lyrics by Jimmy Chambers