Although a classically trained pianist,
Merrilee Rush's (vocals) greatest exposure came in the form of Angel of the Morning (1968). Previously, she had been in several American northwest
r&b combos in the early-to-mid-'60s -- including
the Aztecs,
Merrilee & Her Men, and a stint with
Tiny Tony & the Statics. By 1965,
Rush settled into her own band,
Merrilee & the Turnabouts, who quickly became local teen dancehall favorites. Their success garnered them a spot supporting
Paul Revere & the Raiders during their 1967 tour, resulting in head
Raider Mark Lindsay introducing
Rush to Memphis-based producer
Chips Moman. While credited on the original album jacket,
Moman replaced
the Turnabouts with a handpicked coterie of seasoned studio veterans, ultimately yielding this dozen-song long-player. The effort consists mostly of lightweight
pop with slight C&W and
folk-rock nuances, although there are a few tunes that stand as powerfully as the affective
Chip Taylor-inked "Angel of the Morning."
Rush's uniformly strong leads recall the effervescence of
Melanie -- thankfully without the annoying warble -- and the honey-toned
Jackie DeShannon. The laid-back opener, "It's Worth It All," sets the pace with an affable, but insipid delivery. The moodier "Sandcastles" -- one of two cuts co-written by
Moman with
Spooner Oldham and
Dan Penn -- is a step in the right direction, especially when the tempo picks up and
Rush is given a chance to express herself. The optimistic "Billy Sunshine" and the cover of
Joe South's "Hush" follow that edgier path. Conversely, the
Mark Lindsay composition "Do Unto Others" and the subsequent
Moman/
Oldham/
Penn side "Handy" are little more than imponderous filler. The 2004 CD reissue from Collectors' Choice Music supplements the contents with an additional nine non-LP selections, notably
Rush's reading of "What the World Needs Now" from the film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) as well as a trippy remake of the Motown staple "Reach Out" -- supposedly inspired by
the Vanilla Fudge's overhaul of "You Keep Me Hanging On." ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
