Merigail Moreland - Circa 1980

In both the 2003 and 2007 versions of the 365 days project, I posted material by Merigail Moreland, recordings which I love as much as any that I've ever heard, including various versions of "Reputation" and an amazing version of "Unchained Melody". I encourage anyone who hasn't heard these recordings to have a listen. They can be found here and here, and further tracks from those 1950's recordings were posted on my own site. These posts resulted in many nice comments, as well as contact with several relatives and others who had known Merigail.

From one of those contacts, I was sent a tape of Merigail, made during her professional career, and I promised to share that, as well. While I did subsequently post it to my own site, I had really intended to share these recordings with the far larger audience that comes here, as several people had expressed interest in hearing them. I had forgotten about this until recently, when a friend from Merigail's teen years sent me a photo of her from 1959 or '60.

So, along with that picture, here are the few later recordings I have of Merigail Moreland. A few words about them: First, the sound quality is terrible, particularly on the first (and weakest) song, although it improves in the second of the five songs - these appear to have been copied tape-to-tape with a hand held microphone. The quality of the five songs chosen is also not really to my liking, although the second and third ones are far better than the other three. Finally, I've been told that, when these tracks were recorded (around 1980), it's likely Merigail was already suffering from the illness which would end her life far too soon. While I'm glad to have them (and to share them), I don't have any illusions that they live up to the recordings she made in her teens, but did want to offer a more complete picture for those who expressed the interest.

It is likely that other recordings of Merigail exist, perhaps from her days as a caberet-style singer in the early 1960's, and if I am lucky enough to get copies of them, I'll also share them here. As I mentioned, this picture is from around 1960 or so, but it's easily the best and clearest photo I've seen of her. So despite it coming from 20 years before the songs were recorded, I thought it would be good to share it, as well, and many thanks to Merigail's one-time teen friend for sharing it.

 

1.) Merigail Moreland - With Pen in Hand (MP3)
2.) Merigail Moreland - Cant Take My Eyes Off of You (MP3)
3.) Merigail Moreland - Both Sides Now (MP3)
4.) Merigail Moreland - The Joker (MP3)
5.) Merigail Moreland - Why Did I Choose You? (MP3)
Merigail Moreland circa 1960 (JPG)

Comments

[Compos Mentis]

These are much appreciated, Bob. Thank you.

[acekard ds]

First of all Thanks for this picture of Merigail Moreland!I always have loved the Moreland family stuff you've played. "Headcheese" is great..."Reputation" is probably my favorite.wonderful disclosed information here you mention!Like it!

[Alistair]

There's something pretty haunting about that "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" track. I'm not sure I've ever heard someone whose singing sounds so polished and so raw at the same time. Thank you.

[Craig]

I have to agree that there is something very special in these recordings of Moreland from 1980. I have to ask: were these demo tapes? Live nightclub recordings?