"How Do You Talk to an Angel" is a song written by Steve Tyrell, Barry Coffing, and Stephanie Tyrell. It was the theme for the American TV series The Heights. The series follows the fictional band the Heights, and the ballad, recorded by the cast, was released as a single. It reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 1992, but the series was canceled exactly one week after the song fell from its number-one position. Jamie Walters was the lead singer, with supporting vocals by cast mates Shawn David Thompson, Cheryl Pollak, Charlotte Ross and Zachary Throne.
In 1993, the song was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics". The Emmy went to the song "Sorry I Asked" by Kander and Ebb from Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall. No follow-up singles under the Heights name were ever commercially released. Promo CDs were issued to radio for a follow-up "I'm Still on Your Side", but there was no commercial issue for this track as a single.
Walters, the lead singer on the single and the lead actor on the show, later had a No.16 Hot 100 hit with his single "Hold On" in 1994.[ Hold On – Jamie Walters | Billboard.com] It was his only subsequent chart appearance.
Personnel Jamie Walters: lead vocals Steve Tyrell: producer, arranger Bob Mann: arranger, acoustic/electric guitar (inc. solo) Michael Landau: electric guitars Mike Finnigan: piano John "JR" Robinson: drums Leland Sklar: bass Brandon Fields: saxophone Barry Coffing, Guy Moon: keyboards Alex Desert, Charlotte Ross, Cheryl Pollak, Jamie Walters, Ken Garito, Shawn Thompson, Zachary Throne: background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (1992–1993)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 1Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 22Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) 16US Billboard Hot 1001US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)8US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)1US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)13
Year-end charts +Chart (1992)PositionCanada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 93US Billboard Hot 100 59
+Chart (1993)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 24Canada Top Singles (RPM) 84Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 86US Billboard Hot 100 80US Cash Box Top 100 34
Decade-end charts +Chart (1990–1999)PositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan) 77
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSeptember 21, 1992CapitolJapanDecember 24, 1992Mini-CDAustraliaJanuary 18, 1993
References