Angelia (song)

"Angelia" is a ballad recorded by Richard Marx and the fourth released single on his second album, Repeat Offender.
"Angelia" hit number 2 on the US Cash Box singles chart, and number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on December 2, 1989. It was also a top-40 hit in Australia and made the top 50 in the UK. On the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, "Angelia" peaked at number 2 for several weeks behind the Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville duet "Don't Know Much".

Background

Richard Marx based the sound of "Angelia" on Def Leppard's 1983 album Pyromania and the 1987 album Hysteria. During recordings of "Angelia", engineer and co-producer David Cole along with Richard Marx tried to copy the sounds of the guitars and drums that Def Leppard and producer Robert "Mutt" Lange had used on the Hysteria and Pyromania records.
During a night out with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, Richard Marx was told that Def Leppard attempted to emulate Angelia for a song that was to appear on the next Def Leppard album, Adrenalize. The song Def Leppard recorded with "Angelia" in mind was likely the hit "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)".
The production and sound of the song "Angelia" is Richard Marx's favorite from his second album, Repeat Offender. Michael Landau played the guitar solo on the song.

Personnel

Richard Marx – lead and backing vocals
C. J. Vanston – keyboards, arrangements
Bruce Gaitsch – guitar
Michael Landau – guitar, guitar solo
Jim Cliff – bass
Prairie Prince – drums
Marc Russo – saxophone

Track listing

All songs written Richard Marx and produced by Marx and David Cole.

"Angelia" – 4:08
"Endless Summer Nights" – 5:44