"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.[2] Hobbs also recorded the song on her album The Boots I Came to Town In.
| "Angels Among Us" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alabama | ||||
| from the album Cheap Seats | ||||
| B-side | "Santa Claus (I Still Believe in You)"[1] | |||
| Released | December 1993 | |||
| Genre | Inspirational country, Christmas music | |||
| Length | 4:09 | |||
| Label | RCA Nashville #62643 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Don Goodman Becky Hobbs | |||
| Producer(s) | Teddy Gentry[2] | |||
| Alabama singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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."[3] Owen performed the song at the funeral of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in 2001, with whom he shared a personal friendship.[4] A live recording of the song is included on Angels Among Us: Hymns and Gospel Favorites, released in 2014.
Critical reception
editTom 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."[5]
Cover versions
editBecky 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.[6]
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.[7]
Kristin Chenoweth sang the song with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in a 2018 Christmas concert.[8]
Chris Rupp released a version on his 2018 A New Day: A Cappella, Vol II featuring Tim Foust from Home Free[9]
Chart performance
edit"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.[1] 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 & Tracks | 51 |
| Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 28 |
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 22 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ a b Cheap Seats (CD booklet). Alabama. RCA Records. 1993. 66296-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Overall, Rick (24 June 1996). "Alabama energized: Country giants get creative". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Owen, Randy (2008). Born Country. Harper One. pp. 222–6. ISBN 9780061673146.
- ^ Roland, Tom (March 1994). "Album reviews: Cheap Seats". New Country. 1 (1): 48–49. ISSN 1074-536X.
- ^ "Demi Lovato – Angels Among Us". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Angels Among Us Music Video – United In Voice". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2017-12-05. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Angels among Us (Music Video) | the Tabernacle Choir with Kristin Chenoweth". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ "A New Day: A Cappella Vol 2 CD". Chris Rupp Store. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ "American single certifications – Alabama – Angels Among Us". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 11, 2022.