As any Ponderosa Stomp-goer knows, there are certain records that you need enlightened ears to appreciate. Evie Sands’ 1965 near-hit, “Take Me for a Little While,” isn’t one of those. No, this is one of the great romantic outpourings, a performance up there with most of the ’60s pop/soul landmarks you could name.

It’s not the only magical record that Sands made—the Northern soul gem “Picture Me Gone” comes to mind, as does her 1970 version of the country-pop standard “But You Know I Love Y...