Cowboys and Angels (George Michael song)

Last updated

"Cowboys and Angels"
Cowboys and angels.jpg
Single by George Michael
from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
B-side "Something to Save"
Released18 March 1991 (1991-03-18) [1]
Genre Jazz
Length7:14
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) George Michael
Producer(s) George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Heal the Pain"
(1991)
"Cowboys and Angels"
(1991)
"Soul Free"
(1991)
Licensed audio
"Cowboys and Angels" on YouTube

"Cowboys and Angels" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on Epic Records in March 1991 as the fifth single from his second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990). The song became the first single released by Michael to miss the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 45. The album was released in the UK on 3 September and in the US on 11 September; each single had finished lower than its predecessor and "Cowboys and Angels" continued the pattern, although the other four had all reached the threshold of the top 40. It was also Michael's longest single to date, at 7 minutes 14 seconds. The saxophone solo is by Andy Hamilton [2] and the song is notable for being written in waltz time.

Contents

In a 2004 interview with Adam Mattera for UK magazine Attitude , Michael revealed the song was about a short-lived love triangle where he was in love with a man while a female friend was in love with him, but none knew of the others' feelings: "She was in love with me because she couldn't get me, and I was in love with him because I couldn't get him... It's a very personal lyric, but it's about the ridiculousness of wanting what you can't have." [3]

Critical reception

James Brown from NME wrote, "This song is George Michael's finest 45 for years. A soothing, moving croon in the company of some gentle jazz bass and percussion and a strong arrangement that shadows GM throughout. Reminiscent of a film noir soundtrack as opposed to all that late '80s matt black lifestyle schmaltz he'd decided to become king of. By far the most sophisticated song of the week without even trying, and it never becomes boor-ish." [4]

Track listing

The single included the track "Something to Save" as a B-side. Some releases of the single also included a 4 minute 34-second radio edit of the song, which omitted the 42-second piano intro and an entire verse from the album version.

  1. "Cowboys and Angels" – 7:14
  2. "Cowboys and Angels" (radio edit) – 4:34
  3. "Something to Save" – 3:18

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [5] 164
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 26
France (SNEP) [7] 36
Ireland (IRMA) [8] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [9] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [10] 20
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 45

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vienna (Ultravox song)</span> 1981 single by Ultravox

"Vienna" is a song by British new wave band Ultravox from their 1980 fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's third single on 9 January 1981 by Chrysalis Records and features Midge Ure singing the lead vocal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want Your Sex</span> 1987 single by George Michael

"I Want Your Sex" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Released as a single on 18 May 1987 (US) and 1 June 1987 (UK), it was the third hit from the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II and the first single from Michael's debut solo album Faith. It peaked at number two in the US and number three in the UK, and was a top five single in many other countries.

<i>Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1</i> Studio album by George Michael

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 is the second solo studio album by the English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 3 September 1990 by Columbia Records. The album was Michael's final album of all-new material on Columbia until 2004's Patience. Listen Without Prejudice was a stark departure from Michael's previous album, 1987's Faith, with largely acoustic instrumentation and a sombre intensity in many of the lyrics and melodies. While the album topped the UK Albums Chart, disappointing sales in the United States led to Michael's legal battles against Sony Music, in which he accused the corporation of not fully supporting him as an artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Careless Whisper</span> 1984 single by George Michael

"Careless Whisper" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter George Michael. Released as the second single from Wham!'s second studio album Make It Big (1984), it was written by Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, with Michael producing the song. Although the song was released as part of Make It Big, the single release is credited to either Wham! featuring George Michael or solely to George Michael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gett Off</span> 1991 single by Prince and the New Power Generation

"Gett Off" is a song written and produced by American musician Prince, released in June 1991 by Paisley Park and Warner Bros. as the lead single from his thirteenth album, Diamonds and Pearls (1991). The album was his first with his backing band the New Power Generation. "Gett Off" was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number four in the United Kingdom; the maxi-single was too long and pricey to appear on the UK Singles Chart, so this release was classified as an album, peaking at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart in August 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom! '90</span> 1990 single by George Michael

"Freedom! '90" is a song written, produced, and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael, and released by Columbia Records in October 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's former band Wham!, also entitled "Freedom". The song's backing beat is a sample from James Brown's song "Funky Drummer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heal the Pain</span> 1991 single by George Michael

"Heal the Pain" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael and released on Epic Records in February 1991. A contemplative, acoustic guitar-based love song, it was the fourth of five UK singles taken from his second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith (George Michael song)</span> 1987 single by George Michael

"Faith" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written and produced by Michael, it was released via Columbia Records as the second single from his 1987 debut solo album of the same name. It held the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks and, according to Billboard magazine, was the number-one single of the year in the United States in 1988. The song also reached number one in Australia and Canada and number two on the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, it placed at number 322 on the Songs of the Century list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Try (George Michael song)</span> 1988 single by George Michael

"One More Try" is a song recorded by English singer and songwriter George Michael from his debut solo studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 11 April 1988 as the album's fourth single by Columbia Records. The song hit number one on all of the US Billboard Hot 100, the Hot Black Singles and the Hot Adult Contemporary charts. Its music video was directed by Tony Scott and filmed in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissing a Fool (song)</span> 1988 single by George Michael

"Kissing a Fool" is a song written and performed by English singer and songwriter George Michael, released by Columbia Records in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Michael discography</span>

English singer-songwriter George Michael's releases consist of five studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, 44 singles, six promotional singles, 36 music videos, and five video albums. In his career, Michael sold an estimated 100 million to 125 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkey (song)</span> 1988 single by George Michael

"Monkey" is a US number-one hit song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. It was released as a single in 1988 and reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. "Monkey" debuted at number 42 on 9 July 1988, reaching number-one for two weeks, beginning on 27 August 1988.

"Love Can Build a Bridge" is a song written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Barlow Jarvis, and recorded by American country music duo the Judds. It was released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album of the same name. It was a top-five country hit in mid-1991. The song has inspired several cover versions, including one by Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry, and Eric Clapton that topped the UK Singles Chart in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer (Adamski song)</span> 1990 single

"Killer" is a song by British DJ and record producer Adamski. It was written by Adamski and British singer-songwriter Seal, who also provided vocals. It was released in March 1990 by MCA Records as the first single from Adamski's second album, Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy (1990), and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent four weeks at the top in May and June 1990 and sold over 400,000 copies in the UK, earning it gold certification. It also reached number one in Belgium and Zimbabwe and number two in the Netherlands and West Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album, Caribou (1974), and was released as a single that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai song)</span> 1994 single by Jamiroquai

"Space Cowboy" is the international lead single from British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai's second studio album, The Return of the Space Cowboy (1994). Released on 26 September 1994 by Sony Soho Square, the single peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number six in Italy, and number three in Iceland. In the United States, it gave the band their first number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In June 2006, it re-entered the UK Dance Chart at number one. Its music video was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton. The single contains remixes by David Morales, which further put the single in club circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Love Alone Is Not Enough</span> 2007 single by Manic Street Preachers featuring Nina Persson

"Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" is a song by Welsh rock group Manic Street Preachers. It is a duet with Nina Persson, lead singer of Swedish band the Cardigans. Released on 23 April 2007 as the second single from the album Send Away the Tigers, it peaked at number two in the United Kingdom, number one in Scotland, and in the top 10 in Ireland and Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Love Somebody (song)</span> 1967 single by Bee Gees

"To Love Somebody" is a song written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Produced by Robert Stigwood, it was the second single released by the Bee Gees from their international debut album, Bee Gees 1st, in 1967. The single reached No. 17 in the United States and No. 41 in the United Kingdom. The song's B-side was "Close Another Door". The single was reissued in 1980 on RSO Records with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" as its flipside. The song ranked at number 94 on NME magazine's "100 Best Tracks of the Sixties". It was a minor hit in the UK and France. It reached the top 20 in the US. It reached the top 10 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teardrops (Womack & Womack song)</span> 1988 single by Womack & Womack

"Teardrops" is a song by American husband-and-wife duo Womack & Womack, released on 5 August 1988 by Island Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Conscience (1988). The song was written by Womack & Womack, while production was helmed by Chris Blackwell. Although the song was not a hit in their native United States, it charted highly in the United Kingdom and several European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There's Nothing Like This (song)</span> 1990 song from Omar

"There's Nothing Like This" is a song by British soul singer and songwriter Omar, initially released by in 1990 as his debut-single. The song is taken from the singer's debut album of the same name (1990), and was re-released in 1991, peaking at number 14 in the UK. Additionally, it peaked at number 13 in Luxembourg, number 27 in Germany, number 34 in Sweden and number 35 in France. The song remains his biggest and most well-known hit to date. A music video was produced to promote the single and has a sepia tone. In 2013, a new version of "There's Nothing Like This" was released, featuring Welsh musician Pino Palladino.

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 16 March 1991. p. 19.
  2. "Exclusive Interview *Edward Barker*". george-michael-news. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  3. "George Michael's candid 2004 interview with Attitude". Attitude. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  4. Brown, James (23 March 1991). "Singles". NME . p. 16. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  5. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received May 29, 2015". imgur.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  7. "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in French). Les classement single.
  8. The Irish Charts Archived 2009-06-02 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – George Michael" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  11. Top 75 Releases. Retrieved 22 May 2011.