# Steven Tyler Thought His Career Was Ruined After Writing This Aerosmith Hit With Desmond Child

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/steven-tyler-thought-his-career-was-ruined-after-writing-this-aerosmith-hit-with-desmond-child/
- Published: 2026-10-29T16:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T05:10:54+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/steven-tyler-thought-his-career-was-ruined-after-writing-this-aerosmith-hit-with-desmond-child/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Tyler feared co-writing “Angel” would harm his career.
- The 1988 single reached the US Top 5.
- Its success helped pave the way for more Aerosmith ballads.

## Summary

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler thought his career might be finished when record executive John Kalodner urged him to write with Desmond Child. Their collaboration produced “Angel”, a ballad that became one of the band’s biggest hits and helped open the way for further successful ballads.

Released in 1988 as the lead single from the album *Permanent Vacation*, “Angel” reached the US Top 5 and was the album’s most successful single. Child recalled that Tyler began the session with the phrase “She’s my angel”; he said the song was autobiographical for Tyler. Aerosmith were initially reluctant to perform it because Tyler viewed it as pop, but it helped establish a place for ballads such as “Cryin’”, “Crazy” and “What It Takes”.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.