"Early in the Morning" is a song originally performed by

The Gap Band The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, an ...

, and written by member Charlie Wilson and producers Lonnie Simmons and Rudy Taylor.

Chart performance

It was released as a single in 1982 and went on to become their biggest hit on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 24, and also topped Billboard's R&B chart for three weeks. The single also peaked at number 13 on the dance charts.

Chart positions

Cover versions

*The song was a hit again when Robert Palmer covered it in 1988. This version peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is to date the highest charting version of the song on that chart. ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said that Palmer "creates a

Volga River The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the List of rivers of Europe#Rivers of Europe by length, longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Cas ...

Boatman-like chorus that clearly illustrates his image of early morning loneliness."

Popular culture

*The song was used as the music for a film-making montage in Michel Gondry's 2008 film, ''

Be Kind Rewind ''Be Kind Rewind'' is a 2008 buddy comedy film written and directed by Michel Gondry, and starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Melonie Diaz, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow and Sigourney Weaver. The film first appeared on January 20, 2008 at the 2008 Sundanc ...

''. *

Nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...

drummer

Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He is the founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, in which he is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. Prior to forming Foo Fighters, he was the drummer of gru ...

credits the song "Early in the Morning" for inspiring the drum intro on their hit "

Smells Like Teen Spirit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, ''Nevermind'' (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled ''Neve ...

References

{{authority control 1982 singles 1988 singles The Gap Band songs Robert Palmer (singer) songs Songs written by Charlie Wilson (singer) Songs written by Lonnie Simmons Songs written by Rudy Taylor 1982 songs