After the song “Mercy” was released by Welsh singer Duffy in February 2008, it has been played repeatedly on the radio, television, in adverts and shops. It brought along claims that Duffy was the “new” Dusty Springfield. However, this probably made Dusty turn in her grave. After all, the London- born singer, who dominated the sound of the 1960s and 70s (with 18 singles in the Billboard_Hot_100 in 1964–1970), was a living legend. Duffy, although able to claim having the best selling album of 2008 with “Rockferry”, a Grammy and 3 Brits, has now sold-out to Diet Coke, has a highly irritating over-use of vibrato and sounds like Adele. Oh, and Amy Winehouse.

HOWEVER, The Third Degree have decided to take the top third selling single of 2008 (Mercy, written by Duffy and Steve Booker) and rework it into an Acid Jazz spectacular. Using popular jazz, blues, a little motown and a hell of a lotta funk, they’ve changed this over-played pop hit into the grooviest, smoothest cover song of 2009.

It begins with jazz influenced drums and staccato trumpet, every other bar with a smooth helping of saxophone. The vocals are gravelly, like an old soul singer who has spent his years perfecting that “lived-in” sound, from decades of singing in smoke-filled clubs and soaking his vocal chords in bourbon whiskey. It has got dance-appeal, Mark Ronson style production and some foot-tappingly sweet instrument arrangement. There’s a hint of carnival style beats in the background, fabulously dense brass orchestration and a heady dose of musical magnificence.

Fuck Duffy, we’ve got The Third Degree.