Angel of the Morning

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"Angel of the Morning" is a hit song, originally recorded in 1968 by American singer Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts, although the best-known version in the United States was recorded by country-rock singer Juice Newton in 1981.

Written by New York-born songwriter Chip Taylor, it was originally recorded by Evie Sands for Cameo-Parkway Records in 1967, but the record label went bankrupt, stranding the song. However, Merilee Rush was able to record and release it successfully the following year, and P.P. Arnold also had a hit with it in the UK the same year. A further version is sung by Billie Davis.

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[edit] Meaning

The lyrics of the song tell the story of a woman who chooses to stay the night with someone she has just met, a.k.a. having a one-night stand.

[edit] Cover versions

Nina Simone recorded the song in 1971 on Here Comes the Sun.

Juice Newton recorded a hit cover version in 1981 with further success, hitting #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and #4 on the Hot 100, as well as #22 on the Country chart. The recording also earned Juice Newton a Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocalist - Pop. More than one million copies of Newton's single of the song were sold in the United States, and the single reached the Top Ten in a number of other countries, including Canada and Australia.

Chip Taylor has also released a version of the song with his current singer/songwriter partner Carrie Rodriguez.

The short-lived British girl band Thunderbugs recorded a fresh, upbeat version of the song in their 1999 debut (and only) album Delicious. As the Thunderbugs didn't quite last past the end of 1999, this version is by far the most obscure cover.

Reggae artist Shaggy released a single entitled "Angel" in 2001 that featured a reworked tune and almost entirely new lyrics, turning it into an apology and homage to his lady love, instead of the original's tone of loss and one-night stands.

[edit] Film and Television

The original Merrilee Rush version of the song is featured in the soundtrack to Girl, Interrupted. The Rush version is also employed in a scene in the 1978 film Fingers, where it is used to accentuate the conflicted nature of the main character played by Harvey Keitel. The song was performed live by Chrissie Hynde in a 1995 episode of Friends ("The One with the Baby on the Bus") and that version also appeared the show's Friends Soundtrack album. The song also makes an appearance in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, with Tom Cruise's titular character singing what appears to be the original version, enthusiastically if badly. Juice Newton's 1981 version appears in the 2000 film Charlie's Angels.

[edit] Versions

This is a much-recorded song: some other versions include:

[edit] In popular culture

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