Angel

Album: Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) (1973)
Charted: 37 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Aretha Franklin's younger sister Carolyn, who was also a very talented singer and songwriter, wrote this song with Sonny Saunders, who was a member of the Motown group The Satintones and a prominent arranger (he worked on Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher"). Carolyn and Sonny were good friends, and she asked him to work on the song with her. The song wasn't written specifically for Aretha, but when they were finished, Carolyn thought it would be perfect for her sister. Aretha tells the story in the song's spoken intro: "I got a call the other day. It was my sister, Carolyn, sayin' Aretha, come by when you can, I've got somethin' I wanna say."
  • Aretha recorded this in Los Angeles with Quincy Jones producing. It was her first single with Atlantic Records that was not produced by her usual team of Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd.
  • This very soulful song is about bringing that special person into your life.
  • Carolyn Franklin released some albums on her own, and had a modest R&B hit with "It's True I Gonna Miss You." She sang background on some of Aretha's famous tracks, and appeared with her sister in The Blues Brothers. She died of cancer on April 25, 1988.

Comments: 5

  • Ms A from Northern CaliforniaAretha we miss you! Although we know you are an Angel! Thanks for memories you left us.
  • Ubong Ninedess from Port Harcourt, NigeriaPerfect soul...
  • Jetman from South CarolinaOne of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written or sung...depicting the human search for love.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 1st 1973, "Angel" by Aretha Franklin entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #77; and on August 26th, 1973 it peaked at #20 (for 1 week) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on July 29th, 1973 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
    Her next two releases would also peaked at #1 on the Hot R&B chart; "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" for 1 week and I'm in Love" for 2 weeks.
  • John from Nashville, Tn"Angel" was the biggest hit from the commercially disappointing album HEY NOW HEY...THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY, then Aretha's lowest selling Atlantic album during her heyday.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.