Juice Newton, Angel Of The Morning | COVERS

In the 37^th edition of COVERS (2025), Juice Newton delivers a compelling rendition of “Angel Of The Morning,” originally popularized by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers.  It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 37^th  edition of COVERS (2025), Juice Newton delivers a compelling rendition of “Angel Of The Morning”, originally popularized by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts. 

Oh, snap! Country singer Juice Newton (b. 1952) has a quartet of top 10 pop hits that she’s most renowned for. Among those is “Angel Of The Morning”, the opening track from Newman’s 1981 platinum-certified album, Juice. “Angel” is a cover, believe it or not 🤯. Evie Sands (b. 1946) originally recorded it. Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts turned Sands’ recording into a hit and earned a Grammy nomination. Newton earned even more success than Rush with her rendition of the song.  “Angel of the Morning” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Also, like Rush, Newton was nominated for a Grammy – Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 24^th Annual Grammy Awards.  While Newton lost the award to Lena Horne (1917 – 2010), she came out on top the following year. Can you say, “Break It To Me Gently”?  Focusing on “Angel,” it was written by Chip Taylor (b. 1940) and produced by Richard Landis (1946 – 2023).  Notably, our thankful friend, Andrew Gold (1951 – 2011), sings background vocals.

From the start, it’s clear that Juice Newton has a big-time hit on her hands. Her vocals are commanding and expressive.  She sings the lyrics with incredible sincerity, beginning with those lyrics excerpted above from the first verse. In the first pre-chorus, Newton informs us, “I see no need to take me home / I’m old enough to face the dawn.” Yep, whatever he and she had it’s ending. Further confirmation comes in the second verse (“If morning’s echoes say we’ve sinned / Well, it was what I wanted now”) and the second pre-chorus (“And if we’re victims of the night / I won’t be blinded by the light”). The crème de la crème is the centerpiece – the part we all know and love when hearing or mentioning this song – the chorus:

“Just call me angel of the morning, angel

Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby

Just call me angel of the morning, angel

Then slowly turn away, I won’t beg you to stay with me.”

Beyond authentically and passionately performing the song, Juice has some legitimate juice behind her. The arrangement, production, and sound palette all provide a lift (guitar, colorful keys, pummeling drums, playful, lush strings, and orchestral touches, etc.).  The music matches her highest heights, particularly during that magical chorus.  The one-night stand, rendezvous, or love affair is ending, but the magnificence of “Angel Of The Morning” in Juice Newton’s hands is ever enduring. Yes, it’s a cover, but it’s an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime one!

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Juice Newton » Juice » Capitol Records Nashville » 1981

Juice Newton, Angel Of The Morning: Covers No. 37 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol Records Nashville; Alan Cordero, Flávia Vicentini from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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