The next single from the Permanent Vacation album we will discuss is the third single from the album, “Angel”. Again, we have another Promotional copy of the single which means “Angel” is the only song on each side. The song was written by Steven Tyler and Desmond Child and is one of the band’s biggest hits up to that time going all the way to #3 on the Billboard Charts.
Tyler feels this song was a big sell-out for the band he hated for Record Executive, John Kalodner, for forcing outside writers in to the band. Tyler felt the ballad made him look like he lost all his street cred. However, I am sure his bank account would disagree. And if you look at the next couple Aerosmith albums, there a few more ballads in the mix. It helped revitalize their career so it wasn’t all bad.
“Angel” is as cliched as any power ballad at the time with the obligatory guitar solo, the emotive vocals and the somewhat acoustic feel at times and going all rocker during the chorus…it checked every box. The only difference is that it was really great on top of that. Aerosmith could hang with the big boys at the time and they fully engrained themselves into the 80’s hair band scene. Desmond might have “Wussed-Out’ Tyler, but I think the fans saw a different side of the band and it wasn’t all bad.
And there you have it. Another one down and only one more Single to go for the ‘Permanent Vacation’ album. See you real soon.
UP NEXT: “RAG DOLL” (1988) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
THE AEROSMITH COLLECTION SERIES:
- ‘Aerosmith’ (1973)
- ‘Get Your Wings’ (1974)
- ‘Toys in the Attic’ (1975)
- ‘Rocks’ (1976)
- ‘Draw the Line’ (1977)
- ‘Live! Bootleg’ (1978)
- ‘Night in the Ruts’ (1979)
- ‘Greatest Hits’ (1980)
- ‘Rock in a Hard Place’ (1982)
- ‘Done With Mirrors’ (1985)
- Run DMC – “Walk This Way” 12″ Single (1986)
- ‘Classics Live!’ (1986)
- ‘Classics Live! II’ (1987)
- ‘Permanent Vacation’ (1987)
- “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” (1987) – 7″ Single & 12″ Maxi-Single (Bonus Edition)
- “Angel” (1988) – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- “Rag Doll” (1988) – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- ‘Gems’ (1988)
- ‘Pump’ (1989)
- ‘Pandora’s Box’ (1991)
- ‘Get a Grip’ (1993)
- ‘Nine Lives’ (1997)
- ‘A Little South of Sanity’ (1998)
- ‘Just Push Play’ (2001)
- ‘Honkin on Bobo’ (2004)
- ‘Rockin’ The Joint (2005)
- ‘Music From Another Dimension’ (2012)
- ‘1971: The Road Starts Hear’ (2021)
- The Albums Ranked Worst To First
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
Angel is a really good song. Sure, ballads were a dime a dozen back then but some were still better than others. I guess Steven got more comfortable with outside writers and ballads as time went on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure he didn’t mind the money those songs generated for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
they were rich enough and good enough to care about more money
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the most part of the ballads but I always prefer a good rocker.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too…ballads good…rockers better.
LikeLike
Yeah you’re right John. It always boils down to the bank account. Tyler made a fortune off of this tune and still is to this day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I doubt he complains any more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this was the first song Desmond Child wrote with Steven. By 1987, if a band didn’t have a ballad on its album, it could forget about sales. I’m sure Geffen reminded the band about this.
Given the sales of Permanent Vacation, I wonder if the band’s handlers kept some of the moeny away from the band so that they wouldn’t go back to their old ways?
It’s a good song. I know I listened to Movie, Heart’s done time, Dude and Rag Doll way more back in the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If they were smart they did…just in case.
LikeLike
Interesting. I was showing off my 3″ Angel single this morning and it has a different B-side. It has an AOR mix, the album version, Girl Keeps Coming Apart and Dude Looks Like a Lady. Not the edit version that you have!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those 3” singles were so cool.
LikeLike
Angel is cool but my favorite ballad of this new resurgent Aerosmith is “What It Takes” from the Pump album.
It’s got that 70s vibe which I dig and that 80s feel as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve learned a lot from this Aerosmith Review series and after Done With Mirrors, although good albums, I’m over them. So overplayed. It has been tough going through them. It has felt like a chore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s difficult sometimes to review albums you’ve overplayed. I’m finding it the same with Def Leppard. So I’m trying to focus on riffs and leads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I only have 6 more Aerosmith reviews to write and then I’m done. I will take a break from 3 series and just focus on two until Cheap Trick is done then maybe add a new one. Jeff’s will take a pretty darn long time, but his is so varied I don’t think I’ll get bored.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m digging the JSS. As you say very varied. And Cheap Trick after Lap Of Luxury, didn’t exist in my world. So I’m looking fwd to listening to their albums as you post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you are liking all the series. I only have 6 more Aerosmith’s to write but still a bunch of CT and a million on Soto. I am ready to get down to 2 series….3 is too much.
LikeLike
I find it amusing in a way to consider Tyler’s reluctance then vs seeming reluctance to do anything else but work with outside writers and try for a hit ballad even as recently as Music From Another Dimension. Those royalty cheques must’ve been a real mind-changer
LikeLiked by 1 person
They would’ve changed my mind. LOL!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard much worse “selling out” (Heart) than this. Tyler still put his stamp on this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, Heart were big sellouts although I didn’t mind as I do like them too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking back, many of them had no choice if they wanted to remain popular. I guess I wanted more Dreamboat Annie albums.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all want more 70’s Heart. They were awesome.
LikeLiked by 1 person