Studio Album · No. 23
Oh Mercy Songwriting Credits by Bob Dylan
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bob Dylan carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Oh Mercy is unusual among Dylan's late-1980s records in that all ten tracks are written by Bob Dylan alone, with no covers or co-writes. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois, whose atmospheric production marked a sharp turn from Dylan's preceding records. Malcolm Burn and Mark Howard are credited as recording engineers, with Lanois and Burn handling the mix. It was received as a return to form after a run of poorly reviewed albums.
Released September 12, 1989, Oh Mercy was widely regarded as a career comeback after two poorly received records, with Daniel Lanois producing, his first collaboration with Dylan, recording February through April 1989 in a mobile studio in New Orleans. All ten tracks were written solely by Dylan, composed at his Malibu home before sessions began. Lanois shaped a nocturnal, atmospheric sound drawing on dobro, lap steel, accordion, and organ, and enforced a rule that recording happen only after dark. The album was hailed by critics, Entertainment Weekly gave it A-, Rolling Stone four stars, and peaked at number 30 in the US and number 6 in both Norway and the UK, Dylan's strongest chart showing in years.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Political World
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 2 |
Where Teardrops Fall
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 3 |
Everything Is Broken
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 4 |
Ring Them Bells
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 5 |
Man in the Long Black Coat
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 6 |
Most of the Time
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 7 |
What Good Am I?
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 8 |
Disease of Conceit
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 9 |
What Was It You Wanted
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 10 |
Shooting Star
|
Robert Allen Zimmermann | Robert Allen Zimmermann | Daniel Lanois | Bob Dylan (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |