52 Years Ago Today, Charley Pride’s “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'” Topped The Charts

What’s the secret to a lasting relationship? Charley Pride answered exactly that with his country hit, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.” The track was first released on October 23, 1971, and this December 4 marks 52 years since Pride’s song reached No. 1 on the charts across genres.

The premise is simple and sensual. A man and woman remain in a happy marriage. Their friends ask the man what the secret is behind their ongoing love. The man explains he gets to “kiss an angel good mornin’,” in reference to his wife, and to “love her like a devil.” Soon after release, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” would become Pride’s signature song and would extend his reign beyond the country charts and into pop charts.

Charley Pride breaks out into the pop music charts with “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin”’

Written by Ben Peters and recorded by Pride, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” appears as the first track in the album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs, the artist’s 13th studio album. The album saw Pride win the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards. As a whole, the album spent 16 weeks at the No. 1 spot on Billboard magazine’s country album ranking.

RELATED: Charley Pride: A Musical Powerhouse Who Made Country History

As for “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” it peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also became the eighth in Pride’s discography to reach number one on the country charts. But it went beyond that and became his first – and only – song to reach the Top 40 on the pop charts.

A quality song by a masterful artist

Since Pride released “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” there have been several covers, including ones by George Jones, Conway Twitty, Roy Clark, and Alan Jackson. But there will always be something special and unique about the original, which perfectly marries Pride’s powerful vocals with a premise that’s both tantalizing and heartwarming.

It also bears historical significance in the world of music, representing a standout moment of country transcending into pop in a way that’s accessible to fans of multiple genres while staying authentic to its country roots. It was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but its a favorite that knows no boundaries.

It stands out in Pride’s career as the biggest time he accomplished something so groundbreaking, although even without it, he had countless accomplishments to his name. Namely, from 1966 to 1987, he sported 52 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. An Entertainer of the Year award winner, and one of only three African-American members of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride died in 2020 at the age of 86 but left an indelible impact on the world of country and pop music that’s still celebrated 52 years after his song topped the charts.