Angels Among Us Explained

Angels Among Us
Cover:Alabama - Angels Among Us single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Alabama
Album:Cheap Seats
B-Side:"Santa Claus (I Still Believe in You)"
Released:December 1993
Genre:Inspirational country, Christmas music
Length:4:09
Label:RCA Nashville #62643
Producer:Teddy Gentry[1]
Prev Title:T.L.C. A.S.A.P.
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:The Cheap Seats
Next Year:1994

"Angels Among Us" is a song written by Don Goodman and Becky Hobbs and recorded by the American country music band Alabama. The song was released in December 1993 as a Christmas single from the band's 1993 album Cheap Seats. It charted twice on the Hot Country Songs charts. The song features backing vocals from the Sanctuary Choir and Young Musicians Choir of the First Baptist Church of Fort Payne, Alabama.[1] Hobbs also recorded the song on her album The Boots I Came to Town In.

Alabama lead singer Randy Owen has said that the band received "hundreds of letters from all over the world saying that the song was a blessing."[2] Owen performed the song at the funeral of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in 2001, with whom he shared a personal friendship.[3] A live recording of the song is included on Angels Among Us: Hymns and Gospel Favorites, released in 2014.

Critical reception

Tom Roland of New Country magazine wrote that "even when the members of the band get schmaltzy with the kiddie chorus[…]they stop short of going overboard."[4]

Cover versions

Becky Hobbs included the song on her 1994 album The Boots I Came to Town In.

On December 24, 2012, singer and actress Demi Lovato released a cover of the song to support the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[5]

On December 5, 2017, country singers Scotty McCreery, Carly Pearce, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Tegan Marie, RaeLynn, Jillian Jacqueline, Brennley Brown, CB30 and Temecula Road, all performed the cover to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[6]

Kristin Chenoweth sang the song with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in a 2018 Christmas concert.[7]

Chris Rupp released a version on his 2018 A New Day: A Cappella, Vol II featuring Tim Foust from Home Free[8]

Chart performance

"Angels Among Us" debuted on the Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week ending December 25, 1993. The song spent six weeks on the charts and peaked at number 51 in January 1994. On the chart dated for the week ending December 31, 1994, it re-entered and went on to peak at number 28 in January 1995.[9] Despite being charted during the holiday season, it remains one of the group's best-known songs, due to its inspirational content as well as its inclusion at funerals and in tribute videos.

Chart (1993–1994)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks51
Chart (1994–1995)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks28
Chart (1996)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 10022

Notes and References

  1. Cheap Seats . Alabama . 1993 . CD booklet . RCA Records . 66296-2.
  2. Web site: Alabama energized: Country giants get creative. https://archive.today/20120711214031/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/A/Alabama/1997/06/24/742802.html. usurped. July 11, 2012. Overall. Rick. 24 June 1996. Jam!. 6 August 2010.
  3. Book: Owen, Randy. Born Country. registration. Harper One. 2008. 222–6. 9780061673146.
  4. Roland. Tom. March 1994. Album reviews: Cheap Seats. New Country. 1. 1. 48–49. 1074-536X.
  5. Web site: Demi Lovato – Angels Among Us. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/r8TgMkbMPkc . 2021-12-15 . live. YouTube. July 3, 2018.
  6. Web site: Angels Among Us Music Video – United In Voice. https://web.archive.org/web/20171205231358/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC33OiDWxkE&gl=US&hl=en . 2017-12-05 . dead. YouTube. August 17, 2018.
  7. Web site: Angels among Us (Music Video) | the Tabernacle Choir with Kristin Chenoweth . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/J4HKb4xAhqU . 2021-12-15 . live. December 10, 2019. .
  8. Web site: A New Day: A Cappella Vol 2 CD . 2022-08-31 . Chris Rupp Store.
  9. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. 2008. 19–20. 978-0-89820-177-2.