I’m No Angel, originally a Bill Medley song, but more well known as reviving Gregg Allman’s career is THE perfect song.

So many songs that I never realized were covers and I’m No Angel is one of them. Listening to the radio on a recent rainy day drive when this song came on.  My co-pilot has an irrational dislike of Gregg Allman because he blames him for the breakup of Sonny and Cher despite the millions of times I’ve explained he had nothing to do with it. But we both agree on how great this song is.  I simply cannot sit still when I hear that syncopated guitar played by Dan Toler, Greg on that Hammond organ, the drums, it’s all so glorious.

I’m No Angel was a hit for Greg Allman in 1987 but was first recorded by Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers in 1982 for his solo album Right Here and Now.  Medley did not have a hit with if for some reason.  It’s a good version due to Medley’s amazing vocals but the instrumentation is kinda clunky 80s.  It verges on almost corny-country but with a synthesizer twist.  There’s a kind of oddness to thie sound. BUT- what Gregg Allman does with it is simply yummy.  He and his band lifted it up to a whole other level, IMO. Or maybe rather got more down and dirty.  It’s a grittier, more soulful rollicking version.  I think Medley might have had a hit if the music had been different. But what do I know?

Of course what probably also makes Allman’s version so good is that he was, well, bad boy Greg Allman. He was trying to revive his recording career in the mid-80s and recorded a demo of this song which was sent to him by its co-writers Tony Colton and Phil Palmer and was performing it live in the early 80s. The demo tape was found in the garbage of all places by an Epic Records A& R man and long story short it eventually got Allman a contract with Epic.

When I put my headphones on and listen to this it takes me somewhere else.  I want him to show me his tattoo.  I want to let him drive me crazy. The growl, the crustiness, the depth of his voice is just so, so freaking delicious.  As I’ve mentioned before, long-haired troubled rockers do something to me.  The whole rebel without a cause thing, the loner with a dark side is so very attractive. And sometimes nothing else will do but some southern rock and roll attitude.

The lyrics are so damn sexy.  Spurs that jingle.  Scars upon his cheek.  He’s gonna steal your diamonds but bring you back some gold.  I’m no angel. I’m no stranger to the dark.  Let me rock your cradle.  Yes please. MM MM MM.

The funny thing is that this song was a hit during a musical era when there were all different kinds of music available to listen to easily, everywhere. MTV, the radio.  It’s kind of surprising that in the midst of an era of The Cure and other post-punk alternative acts like Depeche Mode, The Smiths, etc. Gregg Allman had a hit.  Then you had college rock like REM and Husker Du and the Replacements.  MTV staples like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson.  The mid-80s was a veritable stew of musical genres, styles, performes, veterans, new acts.  It was a glorious time for music.  And we were so damn lucky to have experienced it all.

So I’ll leave you with this- go listen to this absolute gem of an 80s song.  Find someone who wants to start a fire in your heart.  Find someone who’s no angel but who will let you drive them crazy.

I’m No Angel, first recorded by Bill Medley, but made a hit by Gregg Allman and the Gregg Allman Band is THE perfect song!