Written by Ben Peters, the song gained widespread popularity through American country artist Charley Pride. Pride released his version in October 1971 as a single from the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs. The track was produced by Jack Clement.
From its release, the song quickly became Pride’s signature hit. “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” marked Pride’s eighth number one on the country charts and was also his first to crossover onto the pop charts, where it reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single enjoyed a four-month presence on both the country and pop charts. Billboard later ranked it as the 74th most-played song of the 1970s.
Interestingly, the song’s inspiration stemmed from a father’s love rather than romantic affection. Ben Peters, who wrote many hits for Pride, found his muse when his wife reminded him to kiss their newborn daughter Angela before leaving for work. This tender moment sparked the creation of the song.
At the 1973 Grammy Awards, “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” earned the Best Country Song accolade. Pride also won Best Country Vocal Performance, Male that year for his album Heart Songs, although not specifically for this track. His vocal performance on the song was nominated at the 1972 Grammys but lost to Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.”
Charley Pride paid tribute to the song and his career by performing it at the 2017 Grammy Awards, following his receipt of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Lyric
When ever I chance to meet, old friends on the streetThey wonder how does a man get to be this wayAlways got a smiling face, anytime and any placeAnd every time they ask me why I just smile and say‘Cause you’ve got to kiss an angel good morningAnd let her know you think about her when you’re goneKiss an angel good morningAnd love her like the devil when you get back homeThough people may try to guess, the secret of our happinessBut some of them never learn it’s a simple thingThe secret I’ma speaking of, is a woman and a man in loveAnd the answer is in this song that I always sing‘Cause you’ve got to kiss an angel good morningAnd let her know you think about her when you’re goneKiss an angel good morningAnd love her like the devil when you get back homeKiss an angel good morningAnd let her know you think about her when you’re goneKiss an angel good morningAnd love her like the devil when you get back home