A decade before Barbara Mandrell retired from performing in 1997 and released her final concert at the Grand Ole Opry, which aired as a TV special (Barbara Mandrell and the Do-Rites: The Last Dance), the country singer released her eighteenth solo album, Sure Feels Good.
Produced by Mandrell’s longtime collaborator Tom Collins, who also worked on her 1982 No. 1 hit “Till You’re Gone,” Sure Feels Good, featured a collection of country pop hits, and opened on a cover of Waylon Jennings‘ 1963 song “Just to Satisfy You,” originally released as the title track of the outlaw’s 1969 album.
Side two of the album also opened with another song co-written by Jennings and Roger Murrah, “Angels Love Bad Men,” which was first recorded by Mandrell, alongside Jennings, who joined her on vocals. Released as the third single, “Angels Love Bad Men” went to No. 49 on the Country chart.
“I received a lot of marvelous songs for the album, but I was flattered and honored that Waylon Jennings and Roger Murrah wrote ‘Angels Love Bad Men’ for me,” said Mandrell. “I mentioned to Waylon that a lot of people think of Barbara Mandrell as an angel and Waylon Jennings as a bad man, so I said, ‘Would you do a guest appearance?’ I was really pleased that he wanted to sing with me on the song.”
Videos by American Songwriter
[RELATED: The Only Song Dolly Parton Wrote for Waylon Jennings, “Waltz Me to Heaven”]
The Highwaymen’s Version
The lyrics follow the habitual cycles of good girls falling for bad boys and fit well around Mandrell’s sweet, feminine vocals and Jennings’ outlaw scratch.
When his stolen gold is turned to rust
He rides off in a cloud of dust
Looking for a border he can cross
She’ll stand by and watch him go
Wonder will he ever know
The hurts she’s feeling now, and what they’ve lost
Angels love bad men
That’s how it’s always been
They give their whole hearts when they fall
Angels love bad men
That’s how it’s always been
Love holds their hearts against the wall
When his corporate day comes to an end
He rides away in his Mercedes-Benz
Soon, he’s lost beneath the neon skies
Outside of town in their suburban home
She spends another night alone
Wonders what went wrong and wonders why
In 1990, Jennings, along with his Highwaymen bandmates Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash, recorded their rendition of “Angels Love Bad Men” for the supergroup’s second album, Highwayman 2.
Along with collaborating with Barbara, Jennings also shared the stage with her sister singer Louise Mandrell.
Photo: Waylon Jennings on August 27, 1987, Nashville, Tennessee. (Beth Gwinn/Getty Images)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.