The Hollies - I Can't Let Go (1966)

This band’s roots go all the way back to 1955 when Graham Nash and Allan Clarke were playing together as The Two Teens. In 1956, still performing as a duo, they switched their name to The Guyatones. In 1959, the duo renamed themselves yet again to The Two Tones; and, when adding more members, they became The Fourtones. Although the incarnations mentioned so far were short lived, Nash and Clarke stuck together after they fell apart, performing as Ricky & Dane Young in 1960. They stole a guitarist from Kirk Daniels & The Deltas, got together with a few more guys, and named themselves The Dominators of Rhythm. Finally, in December 1962, The Dominators of Rhythm settled on their final name, The Hollies. The very first official lineup of The Hollies consisted of Graham Nash (guitar), Allan Clarke (vocals, guitar), Eric Haydock (bass), Don Rathbone (drums), and Vic Farrell (guitar). More than twenty people have been able to claim to have been a member of the band, but none of the original members still perform with them today. The most consistent members of the group, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott, have the prestige of being the only members of the band present for all of their recorded work.

Released February 18, 1966, this song was put out by a lineup of the band that featured Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Eric Haydock, and Bobby Elliott. It was the last single to feature Eric Haydock. The song was written by Chip Taylor (with help from session musician Al Gorgoni), who also wrote many other famous songs of the era, such as The Troggs' "Wild Thing". It was first recorded by Evie Sands in 1965, but failed to do well. When recorded by The Hollies, the song reached number two in the United Kingdom, but only number forty-two in the United States. Paul McCartney was especially fond of the song, once noting that he mistakenly thought Graham Nash's singing in the chorus (the line "Baby please") was a trumpet playing.



The Hollies - I Can't Let Go (1966)

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Lyrics:

Oh, I try and I try but I can't say goodbye

Feel so bad, baby
Oh, it hurts me
When I think of how your lovin’ desert me
I'm the broken-hearted toy you play with
Baby

You got me going
I need you, baby
(I can’t let go, baby)
I can't let go
And I want you, baby
(I only want you, baby)
I gotta have you
You know I can't let go
(Baby, please)

Though I'm just one of your lovers
And I know there are so many others
You do something strange to me, baby
(Baby) Baby
(Baby)

You got me going
I need you, baby
(I can’t let go, baby)
I can't let go
And I want you, baby
(I only want you, baby)
I gotta have you
You know I can't let go
(Baby, please)

Oh, I try and I try but I can't say goodbye
I know that it's wrong and I should be so strong
But the thought of you gone makes me want to hold on

You got me going
I need you, baby
(I can’t let go, baby)
I can't let go
And I want you, baby
(I only want you, baby)
I gotta have you
You know I can't let go
(Baby, please)

You got me going
I need you, baby
(I can’t let go, baby)
I can't let go
And I want you, baby
(I only want you, baby)
I gotta have you
You know I can't let go
(Baby, please)

I can't let go
I can't let go
I can't let go
I can't let go…

Merrilee Rush and The Turnabouts - Angel of the Morning (1968)

Born in 1944 and raised in Seattle, Washington, this American vocalist met her first husband, Neil Rush, when auditioning to be the singer of a local band, the Amazing Aztecs, in 1960. Neil was the band’s leader and saxophonist and the couple would soon branch off to create Merrilee Rush and The Turnabouts in 1965, touring the Pacific Northwest as a teen/pop act in dancehalls. In 1967, a member of the road crew for their band connected them with Paul Revere and the Raiders, another band he frequently worked for. This led to Merrilee and her band getting invited to be the opening act for Paul Revere and The Raiders during their 1967 tour of the southern United States. While touring through Tennessee, the Raiders had stopped in Memphis to record their upcoming album, Going to Memphis, and Rush was introduced to music producers Chips Moman and Tommy Cogbill. Cogbill had been looking for months for an artist to record a song by Chip Taylor he had been keeping in his pocket and was thrilled to hear Merrilee Rush’s voice.

Written by Chip Taylor (writer of The Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and uncle to actress Angelia Jolie), this song was originally intended to be recorded by Connie Francis, who turned it down because of its risqué lyrics, referring to a torrid love affair gone wrong. Although it was recorded by Evie Sands, Danny Michaels, and Billie Davis in 1967, it wasn’t until music producer Tommy Cogbill discovered Merrilee Rush and had her record it that the song really took off. Although the song was credited to Merrilee Rush and The Turnabouts, Rush was actually backed by a house band, American Sound, who had been known for backing up Elvis Presley during his famous Memphis recordings. Released in February 1968, this song reached number seven in the US; number four in the Netherlands; and number one in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has since been recorded numerous times by artists such as Juice Newton, P.P. Arnold, Olivia Newton-John, and many others. It was also successfully sampled by Shaggy, featuring Rayvon, for the 2001 hit-song “Angel.”



Merrilee Rush and The Turnabouts - Angel of the Morning (1968)

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Lyrics:

There’ll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can’t bind your heart
And there’s no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start

I see no reason to take me home
I’m old enough to face the dawn

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 from me

Maybe the sun’s light will be dim
And it won’t matter anyhow
If morning’s echo says we’ve sinned
Well, it was what I wanted now

And if we’re victims of the night
I won’t be blinded by light

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
Through the tears
Of the day
Of the years
Baby, baby

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”
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby…

Harry's Group - Under My Umbrella (1967)

Unfortunately, this is another instance where there isn’t a lot of information available about the artist or the song. Depending on what you’re reading, the song was either released in 1967 or 1968. It was written by Chip Taylor (who also wrote “Wild Thing” and other hits) and Billy Vera (another accomplished songwriter).

The song went widely under-appreciated for two main reasons. The first would be the large amounts of amazing music being released in 1967 and 1968 overshadowing its release; the second was the minimal effort put forth by the record company to get the song airtime. And despite popular rumors, this song has no relation to Rihanna's song titled "Umbrella."



Harry's Group - Under My Umbrella (1967)

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Lyrics:

Someone broke the toy balloon
Stole the sun and hid the moon
And if you’re wondering where the dawn will find you
Leave it all behind you

And come under my umbrella
(Close together)
(Under my umbrella)
So the tears won’t get you
(Under my umbrella)
Knowing I won’t let you down
There’s love all around
(Love all around you)
Under my umbrella

Someone stole the children’s toys
Made soldiers outta little boys
And if you’re wondering where your dreams have gone to
And where you should run to

Then come under my umbrella
(Close together)
(Under my umbrella)
So the tears won’t get you
(Under my umbrella)
Knowing I won’t let you down
There’s love all around
(Love all around you)
Under my umbrella

Meet me in the afternoon
The yesterdays have passed too soon
We’ll sing upon the memories
Of all too common harmonies
Then we’ll change the melody
And make it right for you and me
Only you and I will understand

Then come under my umbrella
(Close together)
(Under my umbrella)
So the tears won’t get you
(Under my umbrella)
Knowing I won’t let you down
There’s love all around
(Love all around you)
Under my umbrella

There’s love all around
(Love all around you)
Under my umbrella

Ah, so much love all around…