My Special Angel
{{Short description|1957 song written by Jimmy Duncan}}
{{Infobox song
| name = My Special Angel
| cover =
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Bobby Helms
| B-side = Standing at the End of My World
| released = August 26, 1957
| recorded =
| studio = Bradley Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Country|R&B}}
| length = 2:57
| label = Decca
| writer = Jimmy Duncan
| producer =
| prev_title = Fraulein
| prev_year = 1957
| next_title = Jingle Bell Rock
| next_year = 1957
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = My Special Angel
| cover = My_Special_Angel_-_The_Vogues.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = The Vogues
| album = Turn Around, Look at Me
| B-side = I Keep It Hid
| released = August 1968
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = 2:57
| label = Reprise
| writer = Jimmy Duncan
| producer = Dick Glasser
| prev_title = Turn Around, Look at Me
| prev_year = 1968
| next_title = Till
| next_year = 1968
}}
"My Special Angel" is a popular song by Jimmy Duncan, published in 1957.
It was first recorded by the Sonny Land Trio and released by them in 1957, and was a crossover hit that year for Bobby Helms. "My Special Angel", which Helms recorded at Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, in July 1957,{{cite magazine|last=Snoddy|first=Glen|title=Nashville, The Recording Center|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-Country-Music-Who%27s-Who-1972_428.pdf|magazine=Country Music Who's Who|publisher=Record World|date=1972|access-date=10 May 2024}} peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=282}} and spent four weeks at number one on the US country music chart.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=156}} The single made the rhythm and blues chart, as well, topping out at number eight.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=252}} Backing vocals were sung by the Anita Kerr Singers.
Charts
=Bobby Helms version=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1957) !Peak |
| UK (New Musical Express){{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5464/bobby-helms/|title=Bobby Helms {{!}} full Official Chart history|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=December 30, 2017}}
| style="text-align:center;"|22 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
|align=center|7 |
| US Billboard C&W Best Sellers in Stores
|align=center|1 |
| US Billboard R&B singles
|align=center|8 |
=Malcolm Vaughan=
=The Vogues version=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1968) !Peak |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)
| style="text-align:center;"|36 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5807&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5807.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5807|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1968-10-14 |accessdate=2021-03-15 |last1=Canada |first1=Library Archives }}
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|7|artist=The Vogues}} |
| US Easy Listening (Billboard)[https://web.archive.org/web/20180629121311/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-vogues/chart-history/adult-contemporary "The Vogues Chart History (Easy Listening)"]. Billboard.
|align=center|1 |
Album appearances
The song was the lead off track on the 1957 album Sings To My Special Angel (Decca DL 8638). It appeared on the 1959 compilation album The Original Hit Performances! The Late Fifties (Decca DL 4005), and on the 1976 oldies compilation American Graffiti Vol. III (MCA2-8008). Also in 1976, the song was included in a 3-LP box set compilation from Candlelite Music, Country Music Cavalcade: Nashville Graffitti.
Other notable cover versions
- In the United Kingdom, a version recorded by Malcolm Vaughan spent 14 weeks on the charts, peaking at number three in 1957.{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |date=2005 |publisher=Guinness World Records Ltd |location=London |isbn=1-904994-00-8 |page=532}}
- The song was revived in 1968 by the Vogues, with their version reaching number seven on the Hot 100 chart{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=663}} and faring even better on the Easy Listening chart, where it spent two weeks at number one in October 1968.
Other cover versions
- The Four Preps on their album How To Succeed in Love (If You’re Really Trying) (1958).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-to-succeed-in-love-if-youre-really-trying-mw0001279392 |title=How To Succeed In Love - The Four Preps |last=Adams |first=Greg |work=AllMusic |accessdate=2020-04-06 |quote=The low-key instrumental setting spotlights the group's harmonies like never before on . . . "You Are My Special Angel." }}
- Keely Smith on her album Because You’re Mine (1962).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/my-special-angel-mt0012354352 |title=My Special Angel - Keely Smith |work=AllMusic |date=2020-04-01 |accessdate=2020-04-06 }}
- Bill Haley on his album Bill Haley and His Comets (1960) Warner Bros. WS-1378.{{cite web|title=www.discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4450143-Bill-Haley-And-His-Comets-Bill-Haley-And-His-Comets|website=discogs.com|date=1960 |accessdate=February 20, 2024}}
- Bobby Vinton on his album "The Greatest Hits of the Golden Groups" (1963){{cite web|title=www.discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/11114604-Bobby-Vinton-The-Greatest-Hits-Of-The-Golden-Groups-|website=discogs.com|date=1963 |accessdate=February 20, 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|fl7m_gdLQfk|Bobby Helms - My Special Angel}}
- {{YouTube|vHq4bFtO4Nc|The Vogues - My Special Angel}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Jimmy Duncan (songwriter)