With a history dating all the way back to the late 1800s, the jazz genre has its roots in the African-American communities of Southern cities like New Orleans, gradually growing into one of the most important and culturally defining musical styles of contemporary America. Capturing the essence of what makes jazz so unique, these ten songs have gone down in history and will never be forgotten.
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley
Written by Joe Zawinul and recorded at the iconic Capitol Records in LA, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy was a massive hit for Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. It launched in the second spot on the Soul chart and came in at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Source: discogs.com
This track has been covered and re-recorded by many different groups and artists over the years, with the most notable example being The Buckinghams, who made it to #5 in the Hot 100 with their 1967 version of the song, which included lyrics.