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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Evie Sands originally recorded this in 1967. Her version was doing well, but 2 weeks after it was released her record label, Cameo/Parkway, went bankrupt. Chip Taylor, who wrote and produced this, was devastated when he found out that the label could not promote it or even make more singles of it. A few months later, Rush's version became a hit for another label.

This was a crossover hit for Country singer Juice Newton in 1981. Her version hit #4 on the US Pop charts, and a few months later, she had a bigger hit with "Queen Of Hearts." (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL)

In 2001, Reggae artist Shaggy sampled this for his hit song, "Angel."

This was a hit for P.P. Arnold in the UK in July 1968, reaching #29. (thanks, Andy - Orkney, Scotland)

This tender ballad is surprisingly virtually the same song as the primitive rocker "Wild Thing." Chip Taylor, who wrote both songs explained to Mojo magazine September 2008: "I heard some guy playing 'Wild Thing' real slow on a guitar. It sounded nice. So I did the same, lifting one of my fingers off a chord to create a suspension. Then the words 'There'll be no strings to bind your hands, not if my love can't bind your heart' came out. It was as beautiful a love connection as I could ever feel." Taylor added that it was the producer who added the sweeping strings.

Comments:

Uh-huh Rick -- riiight -- but was that the term at the time the song was written? Or is it recursive? How do you know that they don't call it that because of the song, eh?
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

Thanks for the confirmation, MusicMama.
- Lester, New York City, NY

To Lester of NYC: I also owned the single, as well as the album, and both were indeed credited to Merillee Rush and the Turnabouts. I have always loved this song, both for its lyrics and instrumentation. And I much prefer the MRT version to Juice Newton's. The former echoes a young woman challenging a young man to see her as a human being and not merely as an object; the latter sounds like the whining of a victim to me.
- MusicMama, New York, NY

I owned this as a single when it was released, and I could swear it was credited to Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts.
- Lester, New York City, NY

An angel in the morning is British slang for a rim job. Doesn't anyone know that?
- Rick, Columbus, GA

didn't olivia newton john do a cover of this too?
- kika, nyc, NY

This was considered a bit risque' at the time it was released. in part because of its subject matter, and in part because the female lead was obviously being assertive in the matter. Women's lib, anyone?
- Clarke, Pittsburgh, PA

According to Chip himself, he based this song on the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday". You can hear the similarities
- Tony, Devon, England

Who the heck is Ed Sara? Chip Taylor, who also produced the Monkees ("what number is this Chip? Seven-A!") wrote this song.
- Garrett, Nashville, TN

I'd always had fond memories of this song as a favorite "slow dance" at my junior high dances in 1968-70. When my wife and I sang it a couple of years ago with our own teenage kids in the room, they grimaced and asked why we were celebrating an apparent "one-night stand." Guess I never really thought about it before! Oh well. Sorry, kids!
- Don, Phoenix, AZ

Juice Newton did an outstanding remake of the Merrilee Rush hit.
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Ed Sara wrote the main part in this. Not Chip Taylor
- Cooper, Seattle, WA

Tom Cruise fails to sing this song in his SUV in Jerry Maguire, one of the few legitimately funny (and self-depricating) moments in his career.
- craig, madison, WI

The Shaggy version is an argument for capitol punishment.
- craig, madison, WI

Nina Simone recorded the song on her album "Here Comes the Sun" (RCA) in 1971.
- Mauro Boscarol, Bolzano, Italy

Chip Taylor, incidentally the brother of actor Jon Voight, also wrote the party anthem "Wild Thing"
- Robin, Salisbury, MD

Supposedly, Chip Taylor was in a real tough writing slump when penning this song and it stayed on the shelf unfinished for months. Then one night, he woke up otta the blue and finished the song in 20 minutes
- Randy, Beaumont, TX