THE GREATEST OF ALL TUNES: Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton and Merrilee Rush (1981)


THE GREATEST OF ALL TUNES (G.O.A.T.) is a series of posts, producing my 100 favorite songs of all time.  The master list is here, and I update it about every two weeks or when I have another 10 songs or so.

Fans of the Deadpool movie know this song, thirty years after it was a hit. But fans of 1980s music know Juice Newton won two Grammies and had half a dozen #1 pop hits.  Not bad for a country singer from New Jersey.  But did you know “Angel of the Morning” is actually not a Juice song?

“Angel” was first recorded in 1967 by Evie Sands, but it was Juice who took it all the way.  And from there, she caught on like wildfire: Queen of Hearts, The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known) and Ride ‘Em Cowboy all charted from her eponymous third album, 1981’s “Juice.”

Further listening: I came close to picking Queen of Hearts for a G.O.A.T., but it’s more fun and silly than great.  “It’s A Heartache” is another good tune.  But “Angel” is clearly her best song.

Covers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Qfqle_2Bs











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