Angel of Harlem

"Angel of Harlem"
"Angel of Harlem"
Single by U2
from the album Rattle and Hum
B-side	"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel, Love Rescue Me (live from Rattle and Hum)"
Released	5 December 1988
Recorded	1987
Studio	Sun Studio (Memphis)
Genre	Heartland rock; soul;
Length	3:47
Label	Island
Composer(s)	U2
Lyricist(s)	Bono
Producer(s)	Jimmy Iovine
U2 singles chronology
Music video
	"Angel of Harlem" on YouTube

"Angel of Harlem" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the tenth track on their 1988 album Rattle and Hum, and was released as its second single in December 1988. It topped the charts in Canada and New Zealand, and peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number eight on the Dutch Top 40, number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Written as a homage to Billie Holiday, it was released with two different B-sides; one was an original U2 song called "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel", while the other was a live version of Rattle and Hum's "Love Rescue Me".

Content

The lyrical content of the song refers to various New York City-area landmarks, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, WBLS radio, and Harlem. It also refers to jazz-related history including John Coltrane and A Love Supreme, Birdland club, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday ("Lady Day").^{[citation needed]}

History

"Angel of Harlem" was written during 1987's Joshua Tree Tour^{[citation needed]} in "a time of experimentation" and immersion by U2 in "the various facets of American roots music".^[3] U2 lead singer Bono has said that the writing of the song was inspired by U2's initial trip to New York City: "'We landed in JFK and we were picked up in a limousine. We had never been in a limousine before, and with the din of punk rock not yet faded from our ears, there was a sort of guilty pleasure as we stepped into the limousine. Followed by a sly grin, as you admit to yourself this is fun. We crossed Triborough Bridge and saw the Manhattan skyline. The limo driver was black and he had the radio tuned to WBLS, a black music station. Billie Holiday was singing. And there it was, city of blinding lights, neon hearts. They were advertising in the skies for people like us, as London had the year before'".^[3]

The in-studio performance of "Angel of Harlem" that was included in the Rattle and Hum movie dates from a recording session at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, during the later stages of the third leg of the Joshua Tree Tour.^{[citation needed]}

Cash Box said it is "not their most inspiring cut, but there is a familiarity of sound that should bode for radio play".^[4]

The song has also been performed on 2009's U2 360° Tour with dedications to Michael Jackson, and included snippets of "Man in the Mirror" and "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough". In the Berlin concert of the 360° Tour three young fans from Prague, Czech Republic, held signs asking to play "Angel of Harlem" together with U2, Bono invited them to the stage, the band lent them the instruments and they played the song together.^[5]^[6] The song was performed sporadically during 2015's Innocence + Experience Tour and The Joshua Tree Tour 2019.^{[citation needed]} It was also played at 16 of the 40 concerts from the band's 2023–2024 residency U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

Track listings

7-inch and cassette release
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Angel of Harlem"	3:47
2.	"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel"	5:29

12-inch and CD release
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Angel of Harlem"	3:47
2.	"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel"	5:29
3.	"Love Rescue Me" (Live in London, England, 16 October 1988; featuring Ziggy Marley and Keith Richards)	5:24

Personnel

Bono – vocals, guitar
The Edge – guitar, backing vocals
Adam Clayton – bass guitar
Larry Mullen Jr. – drums
The Memphis Horns – brass
Joey Miskulin – organ

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988–1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[7]	18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[10]	26
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[11]	19
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	3
Italy (Musica e Dischi)^[13]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16]	1
Spain (AFYVE)^[17]	11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[18]	25
UK Singles (OCC)^[19]	9
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[21]	38
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[23]	1
West Germany (GfK)^[24]	31

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[25]	100

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[26]	24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[27]	23

References

^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 43.
^ "Stylus Magazine". stylusmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Behind the Song: U2, "Angel of Harlem" « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. 2 February 2020.
^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 10 December 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
^ "U2 POPTARTS • Jak jsme hráli s U2". www.u2poptarts.cz. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^ U2PopTarts (17 July 2010). "Fans on stage with U2: Angel Of Harlem, Berlin 2009 (multicam)". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "U2 – Angel of Harlem". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "RPM100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 16. 13–18 February 1989. p. 6.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 2. 14 January 1989. p. 21.
^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Angel of Harlem". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "U2".
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – U2" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
^ "U2 – Angel of Harlem". Top 40 Singles.
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "U2 – Angel of Harlem". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
^ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "U2 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
^ "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
^ "RPM Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Retrieved 16 March 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "End of Year Charts 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

[1] "Music Week" (PDF). p. 43.

[2] "Stylus Magazine". stylusmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

[auto-3] "Behind the Song: U2, "Angel of Harlem" « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. 2 February 2020.

[cb-4] "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 10 December 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

[5] "U2 POPTARTS • Jak jsme hráli s U2". www.u2poptarts.cz. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

[6] U2PopTarts (17 July 2010). "Fans on stage with U2: Angel Of Harlem, Berlin 2009 (multicam)". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[sc_Australia_U2-7] "U2 – Angel of Harlem". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Flanders_U2-8] "U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[9] "RPM100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 16. 13–18 February 1989. p. 6.

[10] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 2. 14 January 1989. p. 21.

[11] Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_Ireland2_-12] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Angel of Harlem". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

[13] "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "U2".

[sc_Dutch40_U2-14] "Nederlandse Top 40 – U2" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_U2-15] "U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

[sc_New_Zealand_U2-16] "U2 – Angel of Harlem". Top 40 Singles.

[17] Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[sc_Switzerland_U2-18] "U2 – Angel of Harlem". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-19] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

[sc_Billboardhot100_U2-20] "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_U2-21] "U2 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_U2-22] "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_U2-23] "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[sc_West_Germany_U2-24] "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – Angel of Harlem" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[sc_Poland_-25] "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 15 February 2016.

[26] "RPM Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Retrieved 16 March 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[27] "End of Year Charts 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

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v t e Billie Holiday
Discography Awards and nominations
Albums	Billie Holiday Sings/Solitude An Evening with Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday at Jazz at the Philharmonic Stay with Me Music for Torching Velvet Mood Lady Sings the Blues Body and Soul Songs for Distingué Lovers Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport All or Nothing at All Lady in Satin Last Recording The Essential Billie Holiday: Carnegie Hall Concert Recorded Live Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 Lady Day Swings Remixed and Reimagined The Complete Commodore & Decca Masters
Songs	"Ain't Nobody's Business" "As Time Goes By" "Billie's Blues" "Blue Moon" "Body and Soul" "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" "Don't Explain" "Easy Living" "Embraceable You" "Everything Happens for the Best" "Everything Happens to Me" "Fine and Mellow" "Gloomy Sunday" "God Bless the Child" "Good Morning Heartache" "I Cover the Waterfront" "I Loves You, Porgy" "If You Were Mine" "I Thought About You" "I'll Be Seeing You" "I'll Get By" "I'll Never Be the Same" "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" "Just One of Those Things" "Lady Sings the Blues" "Left Alone" "Love for Sale" "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" "Me, Myself, and I" "Miss Brown to You" "My Man" "Moonlight in Vermont" "Night and Day" "No More" "Now or Never" "Our Love Is Different" "P.S. I Love You" "Pennies from Heaven" "Please Don't Do It Here" "Preacher Boy" "Sophisticated Lady" "Stormy Blues" "Stormy Weather" "Strange Fruit" "Sugar" "Summertime" "That Ole Devil Called Love" "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" "Too Marvelous for Words" "Trav'lin' Light" "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" "What Is This Thing Called Love?" "Why Was I Born?" "Willow Weep for Me" "You Go to My Head" "Your Mother's Son-In-Law"
Related articles	"Angel of Harlem" Lady Sings the Blues book film soundtrack Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Statue The United States vs. Billie Holiday soundtrack
Category

v t e Rattle and Hum track listing
Album	"Helter Skelter" "Van Diemen's Land" "Desire" "Hawkmoon 269" "All Along the Watchtower" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Freedom for My People" "Silver and Gold" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "Angel of Harlem" "Love Rescue Me" "When Love Comes to Town" "Heartland" "God Part II" "The Star Spangled Banner" "Bullet the Blue Sky" "All I Want Is You"
Film	"Helter Skelter" "Van Diemen's Land" "Desire" "Exit" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Freedom for My People" "Silver and Gold" "Angel of Harlem" "All Along the Watchtower" "In God's Country" "When Love Comes to Town" "Heartland" "Bad" "Where the Streets Have No Name" "MLK" "With or Without You" "The Star-Spangled Banner" "Bullet the Blue Sky" "Running to Stand Still" "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "All I Want Is You"
The Joshua Tree Achtung Baby

v t e U2 songs
Discography Covers
1970s	"Out of Control"
1980s	"Another Day" "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" "A Day Without Me" "I Will Follow" "An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart" "The Electric Co." "Fire" "Gloria" "October" "A Celebration" "New Year's Day" "Two Hearts Beat as One" "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "Seconds" "Red Light" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "The Unforgettable Fire" "A Sort of Homecoming" "4th of July" "Bad" "Elvis Presley and America" "MLK" "With or Without You" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Where the Streets Have No Name" "In God's Country" "One Tree Hill" "Bullet the Blue Sky" "Running to Stand Still" "Red Hill Mining Town" "Trip Through Your Wires" "Exit" "Mothers of the Disappeared" "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" "Desire" "Angel of Harlem" "When Love Comes to Town" "All I Want Is You" "Hawkmoon 269" "Heartland" "God Part II"
1990s	"Night and Day" "The Fly" "Mysterious Ways" "One" "Even Better Than the Real Thing" "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" "Zoo Station" "Until the End of the World" "So Cruel" "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World" "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" "Acrobat" "Love Is Blindness" "Numb" "Lemon" "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" "Zooropa" "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" "Dirty Day" "The Wanderer" "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" "Miss Sarajevo" "Slug" "Your Blue Room" "Discothèque" "Staring at the Sun" "Last Night on Earth" "Please" "If God Will Send His Angels" "Mofo" "Gone" "Sweetest Thing"
2000s	"The Ground Beneath Her Feet" "Beautiful Day" "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" "Elevation" "Walk On" "Kite" "In a Little While" "Wild Honey" "Peace on Earth" "When I Look at the World" "New York" "Electrical Storm" "The Hands That Built America" "Take Me to the Clouds Above" "Vertigo" "All Because of You" "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" "City of Blinding Lights" "Miracle Drug" "A Man and a Woman" "One Step Closer" "Original of the Species" "Yahweh" "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" "The Saints Are Coming" "Window in the Skies" "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" "Get On Your Boots" "Magnificent" "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" "No Line on the Horizon" "Moment of Surrender" "Unknown Caller" "Stand Up Comedy" "Fez – Being Born" "White as Snow" "Breathe" "Cedars of Lebanon" "Winter"
2010s	"Ordinary Love" "Invisible" "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" "Every Breaking Wave" "Song for Someone" "You're the Best Thing About Me" "Get Out of Your Own Way" "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" "XXX"
2020s	"Your Song Saved My Life" "Atomic City"
Category