Oh Mercy
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This page is part of a list of original releases by release date of international commercially-released regular stereo Dylan albums. They do not contain rarities or obscurities and are not eligible for the Searching For A Gem list. Nevertheless, their interest value or scarcity means they're worth listing here - as far as I know some are not included on any other Internet site. Promo releases of regular albums are now listed here and no longer in the former yearly Promo sections. This page is still incomplete - more entries required. For releases of this album in CBS/Columbia multi-packs, see International Album Releases (Regular) - Multi-Packs. |
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If you have any entries to add to the list or additions/corrections to
existing entries, please let me know!
Please note I cannot value your Dylan rarities -
see the Mission page for reasons why. Contact the
dealers on my Trading page for assistance!
Revised 01 January, 2012.
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Original US stereo album, Columbia OC 45281 (LP), OCT 45281 (MC), CK 45281 (CD), 12 Sep 1989. The front sleeve design is a photograph of a graffiti wall by "Trotsky" found on a New York street . The rear photo of Bob in the panama hat is credited to "Suzie Q", presumably his dresser/wardrobe mistress Suzie Pullen. This album was remastered by Columbia in 1997 but that remastered edition was never released. Remastered versions of Shooting Star and Most Of The Time from it appeared in 2000 on the Wonder Boys and High Fidelity soundtrack albums respectively (for both see Released Rarities). However, this title is now one of the fifteen Dylan albums released in Sep 2003 as a hybrid CD/SA-CD. This is playable both in stereo on an ordinary CD player and in enhanced stereo on an SA-CD player or a DVD player that also plays SA-CDs (Sony's higher range models all do this). Some titles are available in 5.1 surround sound, but not this one. Thanks to Howard Tom for the information that Most Of The Time has a fade-in start on the CD layer but a full-volume start on the SA-CD layer. |
Out-takes from this album have been officially released as follows:
Under The Red Sky (1990): Born In Time and God Knows were out-takes from Oh Mercy re-recorded for the 1990 album
The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3 (1991): Series Of Dreams. For alternate and edited versions of this song, see 1991.
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (1994): Dignity - remixed by Brendan O'Brien
Touched By An Angel: The Album (1998): Dignity - original Oh Mercy out-take produced by Daniel Lanois (R-0273, see 1998). Later included on the 2000 European/Japanese Columbia compilations The Best Of Bob Dylan Vol. 2, see 2000 and in 2007 on the 3CD compilation Dylan, so no longer a rarity.
Apple iTunes Online Music Store (2003): Everything Is Broken (alternate take with different lyrics R-0613, see Online Performances (Other))
Chronicles Volume One 6 Song Sampler (2004): Dignity (previously unreleased piano demo, R-0679, see 2004)
The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 - Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006 (2008): Dignity (previously unreleased piano demo R-0679 as above); Most Of The Time (two alternate takes); Born In Time (original version - two alternate takes); God Knows (original version); Everything Is Broken (alternate take); Series Of Dreams (new alternate take); Dignity (alternate take to version released on Touched By An Angel: The Album, R-0273, see 1998); Ring Them Bells (alternate take)
Vinyl and Tape Releases
"Oh Mercy" - test pressing, Columbia (no catalogue number) (USA), Aug 1989:
![]() Side 1 scan by Nol Grint (generic test pressing label) |
This test pressing has generic labels from CBS Records Inc, Carrollton,
GA. The only text is was looks like "2 Better" on Side 2 in blue marker pen. For a test pressing of Down In The Groove from CBS Records Inc, Carrollton, GA; with a different track listing and eventually withdrawn rarities, see 1987. Thanks to Nol Grint for information and scans. |
![]() Side 2 scan by Nol Grint (generic test pressing label) |
"Oh Mercy" - promo compact cassettes, Columbia 45281 (USA), Aug 1989:
![]() Columbia 45281 (USA) - insert scan by Manuel Garcia Jara |
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All tracks on these three promos are the regular versions from the album (Columbia OCT 45281). The cassettes are the same and were made at CBS Recording Studios, New York. They have white labels with black text. The variant from Manuel Garcia Jara has "CONFIDENTIAL PRE-RELEASE CASSETTE" on the insert.
Thanks to Keith Venturoni and Øyvind Svele for information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, Columbia OC 45281 (USA), 12 Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo 180gm vinyl LP reissue, 4 Men With Beards 4M815/Sony Music Entertainment 88697862421 (USA), 16 Aug 2011:
4 Men With Beards 4M815/Sony Music Entertainment 88697862421 (USA) - detail
of rear
"Oh Mercy" - stereo cassette release, Columbia OCT 45281 (USA), 12 Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (UK), Sep 1989:
CBS 465800 1 (UK) - detail of rear, scan by Gerd Rundel
Thanks to Gerd Rundel for information and scans. Thanks also to Gerd for finding a copy of a very rare Irish pressing on eBay. It has the UK sleeve but has "Manufactured in Ireland" on the record labels.
"Oh Mercy" - promo and commercial stereo cassettes, CBS 465800 4 (UK), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (NL), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo cassette release, CBS 465800 4 (NL), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (Spain), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo cassette release, CBS 465800 4 (Spain), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (Greece), Oct 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS/RTVL LL 1820 (Yugoslavia), Oct 1989:

CBS/RTVL LL 1820 (Yugoslavia) - detail from rear, scan by Manuel Garcia
Jara
The record of the copy shown has matrix numbers: Side 1 - ULP 2593 A 23 10 89 (pressing date 23 Oct 1989), Side 2 - ULP 2593 B 23 10 89.
For the 1990 RTVL Yugoslavian release of Under The Red Sky, see the appropriate International Releases album page.
Thanks to Manuel Garcia Jara for information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS/Gong SLPXL 37357 (Hungary), Sep 1989:
This is the only official Bob Dylan release in Hungary! The album was manufactured and distributed in Hungary by Gong Records under licence from CBS. It has unique white Gong labels which include the CBS logo. The record is in a plain white inner sleeve.
Thanks to Stuart Moore for information and to Hans Seegers for further information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (Australia), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo cassette release, CBS 465 800-4 (Australia), Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo cassette release, CBS/King's C 2480989 (Indonesia), 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS ASF 3297 (South Africa), Oct 1989:
This release was marketed and distributed by Gallo GRC Record Co. (Pty) Ltd on behalf of CBS Records. The copy shown has a price ticket for 15 Rand. The record has orange/yellow CBS labels.
Thanks to Nol Grint for information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS ASF 3297 (Zimbabwe), Oct 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, Discos CBS 177.207 (Brazil), Oct 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 70110 (Argentina), Oct 1989:
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More details and scans of this release required. Information from Eduardo Gomez Kodela. |
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS 465800 1 (Israel), Oct 1989:
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This record also has red CBS labels with stamped matrix numbers: 01 465800 20 1A1/B1. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information. |
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, CBS CPL-1022 (South Korea), 1990:
The front of the LP is the same as the US release. The record has red/yellow CBS labels and a generic CBS inner sleeve.
Thanks to Hans Seegers for information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - stereo vinyl LP, Simply Vinyl 180gm remastered release, Simply Vinyl/Columbia SVLP 319 (UK), 2000s:
CD Releases
"Oh Mercy" - CD, Columbia CK 45281 (USA/Canada), 12 Sep 1989:
"Oh Mercy" - CD releases, CBS 465800 2 (Europe), 12 Sep 1989, Columbia 465800 2 (Europe), 1991:
"Oh Mercy" - CD release, CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan), 19 Oct 1989:
![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - front with obi, scan by Wil Gielen |
This CD has a red-brown, white and blue obi with black and white text with price ¥2,300 and date "E-10-19" (19 Oct 1989). "E" is the year letter indicating 1989, see International Albums (Regular) for full details of Japanese CD date codes from 1984 to 1991. There is a four page folded insert in English plus a second insert in English and Japanese that folds out. The copy shown is a promo with a promo panel on the rear insert and Japanese characters indicating a promo in the clear centre of the CD itself. As far as I know, this album was not released on vinyl in Japan. Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information and to Wil Gielen for further information and scans. |
![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - obi scan by Wil Gielen |
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![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - front scan by Wil Gielen |
![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - rear insert with promo panel, scan by Wil Gielen |
![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - detail of rear insert with promo panel, scan by Wil Gielen |
![]() CBS/Sony CSCS 5058 (Japan) - detail of promo CD, scan by Wil Gielen |
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"Oh Mercy" - CD, CBS CPK-1022 (South Korea), 1990:
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Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information. |
"Oh Mercy" - CD, Columbia 465800 2 (Australia), 1990s:
This reissue release has a silver CD with black/red text. The CD has "Columbia" but the inserts still say "CBS". The front insert is a single folded card. This release was replaced by the hybrid SA-CD release in 2003.
Thanks to Hans Seegers for the information and to Stuart Moore for scans.
"Oh Mercy" - advance promo CD-R, Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment CH 90316 (USA), 29 Jun 2003:
"Oh Mercy" - hybrid SA-CD release, Columbia CH 90316 (USA/Canada)/Columbia 512343 6 (Europe/Australia), 16 Sep 2003:
"Oh Mercy" - hybrid SA-CD release, Sony Music MHCP 10015 (Japan), 17 Dec 2003:
Thanks to Hans Seegers for information about the Japanese SA-CD release. It has a red obi with black text and price ¥2,520. The release date is given as "03-12-17" (17 Dec 2003) and the original US release date as "89-9-12" (12 Sep 1989). The promo release shown has a numbered promo sticker on the rear insert and "SAMPLE LOANED" in the clear centre of the disc itself. Thanks to Stuart Moore and Keith Schweiger for further information and scans.
"Oh Mercy" - remastered CD release, Columbia CK 92391 (USA/Canada), 1 Jun 2004/Columbia 512343 2 (Europe), 29 Mar 2004:
"Oh Mercy" - remastered CD release, Sony Music MHCP-382 (Japan), 23 Sep 2004:
"Oh Mercy/Chronicles Volume One" - remastered CD release in digipak with audio CD, Columbia 512343 2 (Germany), Oct 2005:
This Limited Edition 2CD set release of Oh Mercy has the remastered European 2004 CD Columbia 512343 2 with a second CD featuring the chapter about that album from the German translated audiobook read by Wolfgang Niedecken. Wolfgang Niedecken is a member of a group called BAP and well-known in Germany as an interpreter of Dylan songs.
Apparently it was only available at performances by Wolfgang Niedecken in Germany in Oct/Nov 2005 when he read excerpts from the audiobook (published in Germany by Hoffman und Campe) and played Dylan songs.
Thanks to Ronald Born for information and scans.

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