Evie Sands - Angel of the Morning

[BaronEmpain]

Well, I finally got back to the "root" of this song with Evie....interesting to see how it travelled. I didn't know Chip Taylor wrote it, having enjoyed a 2-CD set of his recent work.

Thank you for the education moment of the day :-) And it is a dusky and different interpretation of the tune, interesting.

[mrslimshadyish]

My Aunt recorded the original

[dewittseattle]

in 1967 Merrilee Rush was on tour with Paul Revere and the Raiders in the deep south.The Raiders were cutting new material for Columbia Records in Memphis at an old firehouse that Chips Momen had talked the city of Memphis out of if he fixed it up and made some money for the city! just off of Beale st. Chips had some studio time on the clock after the raiders got done so they cut some songs with her.Chips production and Merrilee Rushs voice -timeless magic

[hughesjr]

Two of the background singers on this record was future songwriter hall-of-famers Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

[bradly2007]

Evie Sands vocal has quite sensuality & deeply soulful which is always at the core of her performances...should have been huge, now her recordings which I cherish every one, glad I obtained as they were released as all these classics are all going for big bucks! Bravo Evie, you rock!!!

[wildcman]

too bad thet Cameo/Parkway went bankrupt right after this was released far better then Merrille Rush version

[kinkybeatle]

Why comparing versions ? Both are great. Great tune.

[SirVyre]

It should be said though, that the Merrilee Rush version would not exist without this one.

[tolgreen]

...AN ANGEL...shares this breathtaken ...version...thanks for THE ORIGINAL...

...TOTAL BLOW ME AWAY...

[thekerneljames]

Wow holy cow.. i agree w/ all the compliments about the singing abilities of Evie & Billie, but i'm adding how beautiful they are, too. They're so hot, it's silly. If they were in each of my ears, whispering this song to me, i'd probably develop instant epilepsy.

[alveirosanchez]

Awwwwwssssooommmmeeee, first time heard the original version, much better than the others.

[Steamstock]

I've never heard this version before, think I prefer it to the others!

[lrewopf]

Man, do you people realise how many people covered this song?! Wow!

[1lordthorpe]

pretty voice but didn' move me I like P.P. Arnold's version or Nina Simone 's very different version where it's more like a story than a song.

[RevDrWally]

Song is about a lesbian love affair. Just my opinion..............

[jaz1969]

This version by Evie is the best in my opinion. The resignation in her voice as she sings adds so much to the song. I also like the the sparce or raw sound on this record as opposed to the other versions which are all basically rip offs of this record anyway. But with more drama added. Just my opinion :)

[ptownfreddy]

Damn, this is a toss-up.

Merrilee and Evie's vocals more or less cross each other out, but Merrilee's production is superior. Hate to say so, 'cuz Edie is my luv...

[eaglesfan1117]

billie davis did the best version and she has the best voice by far

[problem49]

@eaglesfan1117 Billie Davis got totally fucked over by both the industry and a fickle, indifferent public, as did Edie. Today they are both legends and the hacks that occupied their rightful place are justly forgotten.

[zezenon23]

is this the actual version cause i like it i hasd it stuck in my head all day just call me angel of...........

[DjGizzo]

the morning :D

[jbb22310]

thanks for posting this--iv been looking for it all over. now i just need to find a copy of it and other evie stuff

[ajptaylor]

As somebody mentioned below, whatever the argument of vocals, the difference in production and instrument arrangement of the RECORDINGS is night and day in favour of the Merrilee version.

ie: compare the acoustic guitar sound at the beginning in 'largeness'. The lack of snap in the snare in this version. The list goes on and on...

By comparison this sounds like the demo to the Merrilee version. Wipe vocals and evaluate the both instrumentally and you'll get it.

[problem49]

Agreed. As much as I love Evie, the Merrilee Rush version is definitive.

[jemb2000]

@ajptaylor Maybe some prefer the spare quality of this version. I know I do.

[ajptaylor]

I would use the term "raw" not spare. Most of the arrangement elements in both versions are the same. I would bet that the producers of Merilee's version essentially liked the production direction of this version (hence my demo comment) but wanted to give it an upgrade in recording quality with the superior equipment in Memphis.

The label that recorded this version went bankrupt shortly after...the production here speaks to this fact.

But hey, whatever version floats your boat. Great song.

[Rcksaltnnails]

Much has to do with the ability, or lack of, to have higher end productrion. I for one have always preferred a more "ordinary" production in music. But, as a bluegrasser, that is in my nature. I love this version, Merrilee's, adn all of them. I actually prefer PP Arnold's version most. I do not think there IS a better or worse version, it is all in how it hits your heart and soul, and that is great for us all, cause it is music. Good music is good, no matter its production.

[ajptaylor]

I hear yeah man, definitely. My main point is that it appears clearly to me that Evie's producer failed to achieve the same striven for height as Merrilee's producer from a recording standpoint.

It is very unlikely that Evie, Merrilee, or PP Arnold had any control over the recording/arranging process. They just sang and fate placed the better equipment and producers in Merrilee's favor. Roles reversed, Evie in Memphis, she would have had the biggest hit.

Such is life.

[vaccavo]

I wish I was there. But Juice Newton's (1981) interpretation was the final word to it.

[cachili9]

My band was there taping "The Upbeat Show" in Cleveland 08-67, as was Evie, and Van Morrison with "Brown Eyed Girl" and others. Believe me when I say everyone there was blown away when she did that song. She gave me a copy that I still have. Her passion with the delivery that day convinced me of who she was going to be. U had to be there

[cachili9]

Evie did the song with soul and a delicateness that provided the desperation that the lyrics demanded. Then Merilee came out, with a good version, but in no way kept it real , just commercial. Then to hear a marching band tuba in Merilee's version sent me over the edge. The song was going to be a hit no matter who sang it, but to those who didn't hear Evie's version first naturally fell in love with the song before the artist and Merilee can't be touched , ever. You had to be there

[zibbyzubb]

I disagree. The Merrilee Rush version is FAR superior to this recording. Evie Sands, whose later recordings on Haven Records I loved, was just not that good on this recording. She sounds feeble and like she was singing out of her comfortable vocal range. This recorging was not deserving of being a hit, Merrilee's was. Not only were Merrilee's vocals better but the production was better. You couldn't beat that Memphis/ American Studio sound back then. I believe Merrilee's is still the most played

[steveinbelgium]

I'm with you, Zibby. Merrilee's is the better version of this.

[thallassocracy]

This is substantially better than the Merrilee Rush cover - though that never made much impact in the UK.

In the UK we had Billie Davis, PP Arnold and Joya Landis all cover this song in rapid succession.

I don't think we missed Merrilee.