The Tennessee Williams of modern Southern Soul songwriters, Dan Penn is still composing timely and emotive material at the age of nearly 80. An otherwise taciturn and humble man from Muscle Shoals, Penn’s created or co-authored such bold classics as “I’m Your Puppet,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” “Cry Like a Baby,” “It Tears Me Up,” and the ultimate cheating song, “The Dark End of the Street.” On his first new CD in 26 years, Penn is backed by a capable Southern small group. Penn’s in a mostly somber mood with 13 clever new songs. No slipping around or stealing away here, most of Penn’s newest songs on Living On Mercy address falling in, losing, dreaming out or missing out on love. However the deeply personal “Down On Music Row,” has to be a centerpiece here; this song had to burn in Penn’s belly for decades. The song tells a tale of a young, ambitious songwriter that takes the Greyhound to Nashville hoping for country music brass to hear the promise in his material. He shows his material to all the record labels in Nashville and gets shot down by all of them! The title tracks opens, and in front of a solid soulful groove, Penn relates a story of a unattainable woman’s love that still tortures him—but he gets by. “See You In My Dreams” tells a similar tale that I’ll bet most people have personally experienced. Another highlight is “I Didn’t Hear That Coming,” which is a song about an unlikely twist of love. “Clean Slate” is classic soul song that you could hear Candi or Clarence Carter recording at the old FAME studio with Rick Hall behind the board. Penn’s secret here obviously is writing songs that address the needs, experiences and various emotions of everyday people. Living On Mercy contains 13 songs just like this. This is a CD that only gets better and better with each listen—highest recommendation here. Buy one for yourself and another for a friend. This CD is that good and should pile up a bunch of awards.