Daniel Amos' Shotgun Angel is their transitional album between country and the more straight-ahead rock of Horrendous Disc. A comparison with the Eagles is unavoidable, especially on the title track and "Father's Arms." The group's penchant for silliness shines through on the cowpunk country rave-up "Meal." Side two of the album contains an eschatological rock opera of sorts based on scenes from the book of Revelations. A little too wide-eyed and doomsaying for most modern audiences, but an appropriate song cycle for a band named after two minor prophets. From this song cycle, a notable track is "Better," which sounds uncommonly like psychedelic Beatles. The title track is a cover from another southern California Jesus rock band called the Road Home, whose principal songwriter, Bill Sprouse Jr., had passed away as Daniel Amos was beginning to make themselves known. ~ Mark W. B. Allender, All Music Guide
Terry Scott Taylor (Guitar), Terry Scott Taylor (Vocals), Daniel Amos (DA) (Main Performer), Daniel Amos (DA) (?), Ed McTaggart (Percussion), Ed McTaggart (Drums), Ed McTaggart (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Chamberlain (Guitar), Jerry Chamberlain (Vocals), Mark Cook (Keyboards), Mark Cook (Vocals), Mark Cook (Vocals (Background)), Marty Dieckmeyer (Bass (Electric)), Marty Dieckmeyer (Vocals (Background))
Shotgun Angel is the title of a 1977 album released by Daniel Amos. The album itself is named after a song written by Bill Sprouse Jr.. For additional information on the song itself, see "Shotgun Angel (song)".
The album is named after the song of the same name, which is also found on the album. The song was written years earlier by Bill Sprouse Jr. for his band The Road Home. After Sprouse's untimely death at age 26, Mike Shoup dug up an old 4 track tape and asked Dom Franco of the Maranatha! group Bethlehem to add pedal steel guitar to the song. The rest is history, for when the guys from Daniel Amos heard it they enlisted Franco to play the pedal steel and Mike and Ed to add the CB radio voices on the recording. Not only did it become a popular song at the time for D.A., it would also become the title of their second album.
Although DA's previous release was largely country, this album marked the start of a return to the band's pre-label roots, rock and roll, which took some of their country fans by surprise. Shotgun Angel was half country and half rock-opera. The 'Side 2' of the LP featured lush orchestrations and a string of rock songs linked together in a way that was reminiscent of The BeatlesSgt. Peppers album. The band even made a number of concert performances at this time with a full orchestra backing them.
In 1986, the entire "side two" of the album was remixed and rereleased on a collection called The Revelation. The song "Soon!" was also added.
