Artist:Merrilee Rush
Song:Angel of the Morning
Album:Sixties Classics
Most listeners should be familiar with Juice Newton's 1981 top five hit Angel of the Morning. But you may not know that it was a cover of Merrilee Rush's 1968 top ten hit recording. That record is perceived as a one hit wonder though some of Merrilee's other songs charted. It was her only big hit. She was born Merrilee Gunst Jan. 26, 1944 in Seattle. She learned to play piano as a child. In 1960, she became lead singer of The Amazing Aztecs led by saxophonist Neil Rush. The band didn't last. But the two married and formed Merrilee and her Men and performed covers in Seattle clubs. They were also in Tiny Tony and the Statics who had a regional hit with the song Hey Mrs. Jones. In 1965, the pair formed Merilee Rush and the Turnabouts. They toured Washington and Oregon. One of their road crew also worked for Paul Revere and the Raiders and got them a spot opening for that band's 1967 tour of the southern US. While in Memphis, Raiders leader Mark Lindsay introduced the Rushes to veteran producer Chips Moman. He owned American Studio in Memphis. Moman and another veteran producer Tommy Cogbill took Merrilee into the studio to record Angel of the Morning. The song was written by Chip Taylor. He is the brother of actor Jon Voight and wrote The Troggs hit Wild Thing. Taylor offered the song to Connie Francis but she turned it down. Taylor produced Evie Sands recording of Angel of the Morning but Cameo-Parkway couldn't promote it due to financial problems. Cogbill was looking for a singer to sing Angel of the Morning. And that's when Moman introduced him to Merrilee. She recorded the album Angel of the Morning With Moman's house band. Moman and Cogbill sold it to Bell Records who had success with acts like Syndicate of Sound and James and Bobby Purify. Angel of the Morning reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. Merrilee was nominated for a Grammy. You can get Angel of the Morning on this 3CD various artists comp. So it looks she's on her way. But she gets divorced. After a few more singles didn't do well, Merrilee left Bell for Scepter. But she only recorded one single for them. She eventually released a 1977 album on United Artists. Merrilee found a new husband and they moved back to Seattle. I assume she is now retired. Here's Merrilee Rush performing Angel of the Morning on American Bandstand 1968.
Thank-you Frank. l heard her sing this song back in the 70's on the radio growing up. I knew she was the first to sing this song and then I heard Juice Newton cover it as well. Juice Newton did a good job singing this song as well. Thanks so much for the Bio. I always wondered about her background. David.
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