"Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" is a song written by Ben Peters, and recorded by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in October 1971 as the first single from the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs. The song has since become one of his signature tunes and was his eighth song to reach number one on the country charts.[2] It was also Pride's only single to reach the Top 40 on the pop charts, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] and also went into the Top Ten of the Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached #19 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100. The song spent four months on the pop chart, longer than any of his other hits. Billboard ranked it as the No. 74 song for 1972.[4]
| "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Charley Pride | ||||
| from the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs | ||||
| B-side | "No One Could Ever Take Me from You" | |||
| Released | October 23, 1971 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B, Nashville | |||
| Genre | Country pop[1] | |||
| Length | 2:02 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ben Peters | |||
| Producer(s) | Jack Clement | |||
| Charley Pride singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Though missing the Top 40 nationally, "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" reached the Top 10 in Sydney, Australia on 2NUR, peaking at number seven.
Content
editA man and a woman are happily married, and his friends ask the secret to their love. He says that he gets to "kiss an angel good mornin'", referring to his lover, and to "love her like a devil," referring to himself.[5]
Cover versions and Later versions
editGeorge Jones covered the song on his 1972 album George Jones (We Can Make It).
Conway Twitty recorded his version in 1972 on his album I Can't See Me Without You.
Gene Stuart recorded a version in Ireland in 1972.
Roy Clark recorded a version on his album entitled "Roy Clark Country!" released in 1972.
Percy Sledge included the song on his 1979 album Sings Country.
Alan Jackson included the song on his 1999 album Under the Influence.
Heather Myles included the song on her 1998 album Highways & Honky Tonks.
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1971–1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 58 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 31 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 2 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 21 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9] | 7 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[10] | 19 |
References
edit- ^ Mejía, Paula. "The Unflappable Country Star Charley Pride Dies at 86". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 276.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 506.
- ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
- ^ Randall, Alice; Carter Little; Courtney Little (2006). My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music. Thomas Nelson, Inc. pp. 92. ISBN 1-59555-860-8.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 239. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Charley Pride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Charley Pride Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Charley Pride Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 5, 1972". Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.