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Steven Tyler Thought His Career Was Ruined After Writing This Aerosmith Hit With Desmond Child
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”.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Aerosmith are an American rock band whose success began in the 1970s, led by singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. By the late 1980s, they were working to reach listeners again after a period of commercial difficulty and changes in the band’s fortunes.
Songwriter Desmond Child was known for helping rock acts shape songs for a wider pop audience. Record executive John Kalodner encouraged Aerosmith to work with him, a move that raised questions for Tyler about whether writing a more polished ballad fit the band’s identity.
The collaboration formed part of Aerosmith’s return to commercial success and helped make ballads a lasting part of their sound. That shift matters because songs in this style became some of the band’s best-known recordings.