Lonely Night (Angel Face)

Album: Song Of Joy (1976)
Charted: 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In 1975, the married pop duo Captain & Tennille went to #1 singing the Neil Sedaka tune "Love Will Keep Us Together." But love didn't keep them together very long – at least according to their next Sedaka cover. In "Lonely Night (Angel Face)," Toni Tennille is wide awake with the chirping crickets and other sounds of the night, pining for the guy who used to call her Angel Face.
  • Sedaka originally recorded this on his 1975 album, The Hungry Years. He also performed it on the January 24, 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live.
  • Sonny and Cher sang this on The Sonny and Cher Show in 1976.
  • This is one of many angel songs to fly up the Hot 100 since the chart's inception in 1955. The first was "Earth Angel" by The Crew-Cuts, which landed at #3 that same year. Other Top 10 entries prior to Captain & Tennille's tune include:

    1955: "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" by The Penguins - #8
    1957: "My Special Angel" by Bobby Helms - #7
    1960: "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning - #1
    1960: "Devil Or Angel" by Bobby Vee - #6
    1960: "Blue Angel" by Roy Orbison - #9
    1961: "Angel Baby" by Rosie & The Originals - #5
    1961: "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" by Curtis Lee - #7
    1962: "Johnny Angel" by Shelly Fabares - #1
    1962: "Next Door To An Angel" by Neil Sedaka - #5
    1968: "Angel of the Morning" by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts - #7
    1968: "My Special Angel" by The Vogues - #7
  • French composer/jazz pianist Michel Legrand recorded an instrumental version for his 1978 album, Times Of Your Life.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

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.