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There's a Honky Tonk Angel

Rating:
4.5 / 5

Words & Music: Troy Seals Danny Rice

When was the last time you kissed me
And I don't mean a touch now and then
It's been a long time since you felt like my woman
And even longer since I felt like your man

So tell me if you think it's over
And I'll leave it up to you how it ends
'Cause if you don't want the love I can give you
Well there's a honky tonk angel who will take me back in

You never look at me and say "I love you"
How much more do you think I can stand
Oh, there's an old friend out there and she's waiting
Lord she's happy just holding my hand

So tell me if you think it's over
And I'll leave it up to you how it ends
'Cause if you don't want the love I can give you
Well there's a honky tonk angel who will take me back in
Yes, there's a honky tonk angel who will take me back in

Recordingdate: 1973/12/15, first released on: Promised Land (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of There's a Honky Tonk Angel:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(guitar)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with There's a Honky Tonk Angel.

old shep wrote on April 18, 2008
Promised land was one of my favourite Elvis albums ever, this song recorded by Conway Twitty and a major hit for him, was also put out by Cliff Richard and later withdrawn when he realised just what a Honky Tonk Angel is! Elvis is in great voice here and his version stands out as the best.
Colonel wrote on July 06, 2008
Promised land is one of my favorite albums. Just great. This song I loved since I heard it for the first time. I think they should have excluded the title track and let "There's a honky tonk angel" be the opener. Add another ballad from the sessions and you would have a great collection of sad songs. Not to diss the track "Promised land", that one is great, but it doesn't fit really with the rest of the album. Anyway....
2kisses&3scarfs wrote on July 06, 2008
I always love listening to this song. Elvis really pours his heart into it.
Steve V wrote on July 06, 2008
Nice song but this was when I realized Elvis was no longer a rock artist and was no longer going to get airplay on contemporary top 40 radio. He was now considered a Country artist almost exclusively in the USA and competing with the likes of Twitty and others. Yes Promised Land did not belong on this LP as it was lightyears better than all the other songs combined.
My boy, my boy wrote on July 06, 2008
The musicians sound great on this one. Elvis delivers a great emotional performance here. That's what he loved the most doing by then, gospel and ballads...and you can hear it !
Clambake67 wrote on July 06, 2008
Love this song!!! also 1 of my favorite albums as well>>>not a bad track on the entire album.All other versions of this song by other singers can not compare to Elvis'.
JerryNodak wrote on September 21, 2008
I love Conway Twitty, but Elvis knocks the socks off Conway with his version.
MJB63 wrote on April 04, 2009
'Great country song.Elvis recorded his version 4 months before Conway Twitty had a hit with it...i've heard he wanted to do It's Only Make Believe.I can imagine how great that would have been.
Ruthie wrote on April 14, 2009
Country, rock, pop, gospel, whatever, I love it all. I am much more interested in his voice & what he does with a song to care about what genre it is. This is a classic.
Deano1 wrote on October 27, 2010
Solid performance of a straight forward country song. Not spectacular and not a highlight of the LP "Promised Land". This song is a little bit of a let down after the great hard driving "PL" leads off the album. Overall, side one of the LP is a little uneven and features the three worst songs on the LP (When I say, worst, that it isn't to say they are bad. They just aren't top notch). Elvis' version of this song is much better than Conway Twitty; but if you are an Elvis fan I can't possibly see liking a rendition of any song by Conway over Elvis' version. Elvis' voice was infinitely better.
Biffx wrote on September 18, 2012
This one is just plain beautiful and sung with great passion. This is a song I cant just listen to one time and instantly reach for the repeat button. A stunner for sure a 5 Star recording.
Pieter wrote on September 18, 2012
I think take 1 is better than the master!
ElvisSacramento wrote on September 29, 2012
This is such a magnificent song and Elvis' rendition of it is fabulous. Elvis' version stands out as the best.
sugartummy wrote on May 22, 2013
I think it was Vernon Presley who talked Elvis into recording this. Thank God he did. It's a beautiful song and a excellent rendition.
Gorse wrote on July 17, 2013
Not the highhlight of a great album but a more than adequate performance full of soul and commitment. I am a lifelong fan because he encompassed such a wide variety of styles and he sure was more than competent at couintry.
cookingfat wrote on October 18, 2013
A really good song and memorable performance.Also a first class album too
Cruiser621 wrote on January 07, 2019
An easy 5-stars song; more like 10. I love all versions of this tune.
bajo wrote on September 11, 2020
A very good song made even better by Elvis! Always liked it, and if I may: I would have used it as the flip on the Promised Land single!
marty wrote on September 11, 2020
When I bought the LP in the early 80's I was still a teenager. I heard the first song (Promised Land) and got really exited only to get disappointed that there were no more rockers like this in the album! I started to appreciate "There's a Honky Tonk Angel" more when I bought "Our Memories Of Elvis Volume 2". It is now my second favorite from the album. Five stars
DerekH wrote on October 26, 2022
A good recording from a good album. One of his best in the 70's
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