The Story of Angel Face

*Angel Face* chronicles the life and times of the fictional Stephen Sanchez persona *“The Troubadour Sanchez”*— who finds fame based on his 1958 hit "Until I Found You" only for his world to flip upside down upon meeting his love, *"Evangeline"*, in 1964.

This information is taken from the rear sleeve of the *Angel Face* vinyl.

*Angel Face* is purposefully a storyteller album full of lore, as its tracklist, which was specifically planned so that it tells its overreaching love story arc through the songs, can be split into two, each following a different persona of Sanchez and a cast of characters between two distinct years.

An exclusive one night only cinematic experience of *Angel Face* and its story was livestreamed on 3 October 2023 called *Angel Face: The Live Visual Album*, powered by Lenovo and Intel Evo.

## Part 1: The Moon Crests

The year is 1958. *Stephen Sanchez & The Moon Crests* are making their television debut on the Connie Co Show with their hit single, "Until I Found You". After a tantalizing performance, the group skyrocketed. With that, came their new cool cat manager, Don Dallia, and a beloved deal with Mercury Records. It was a real chance to immortalize the music, but not without a cost.

* Related songs: "Until I Found You", "I Need You Most Of All", "Shake", "Something About Her", "No One Knows", "Caught In A Blue".

## Part 2: The Loss To Be Boss

As much as the group was renowned as a whole, it was the voice of the young crooner that made them famous. And just like many of the greats before them, the young crooner has to lose the essence of himself to become who he was truly meant to be. A once *Elvis Presley and The Blue Moon Boys* now turned Elvis, The King, *James Brown and His Famous Flames* turned, James Brown, Godfather of Soul. Now, it as our time. *Stephen Sanchez* stands alone without his *Moon Crests*.

## Part 3: Mighty Mighty Troubadour

Years go by, with details a reader such as yourself need no concern for. All you need to know is that might, might voice and a catalogue of his took the world by storm. He had 'em swooninp, hips movin', dead weeds in a field became flowers bloomin', and with all of that came a new name, "*The Troubadour Sanchez*".

## Part 4: Hunter & Evangeline

It's summer in 1964. *Evangeline*, sits alone at a party in Los Angeles. It was the kind of party you throw in hopes of running into love or all kinds of trouble. Both appear the same when you're looking for it. Our angel, starry eyed, losing sense of time and oneself, tumbles through her handbag for a cigarette to ease the tension, unknowingly being watched from afar by the mysterious eyes of a man named *Hunter*. As she puts the cigarette between her lips, he moves in to light her up. A desire for love pulls her in, consumes her before she can escape the unknown dangers that lie ahead.

* Related songs: "Only Girl" (and music video), "High".

## Part 5: The Angel & The Angel Face

It's fall in 1964. After an exponential career, we see *The Troubadour* embark on his very first residency at The Angel Club where he meets the angel face, *Evangeline*. She sits alone, citrus martini in hand waiting for *Hunter* to arrive with The Mad Mob. And *The Troubadour*? Well, his residency landed him a room walking distance away from the club. Performing hits from the golden years to new, this would be the heart throb's first time back in Los Angeles since his 1958 television debut. As he walks into the club he catches the eyes of *Evangeline*. He approaches her with a gentle "Hello" and an unforgettable charm. In that moment, a fire was set between the two and their deadly interaction would unknowingly be seen from afar by "Big Blue", the 3rd out of the 3 goons led by *Hunter*. Word made it's way to *Hunter's* ear and with advertising for *The Troubadour's* residency shows already through the roof, ever boy, girl, man, woman, young or old, dead or alive knew he was coming. Even those that want *The Troubadour* dead, those being *Hunter* and The Mad Mob.

* Related songs: "Evangeline" (and music video).

## Part 6: The Troubadour & Evangeline

Shortly after he was seen leaving The Angel together, the two lovers made their way through the night and found themselves in a theatre. Crackling music filled the room. they swayed slow, quickly falling for one another. The seconds left like years. Now, unknowingly to *The Troubadour*, *Evangeline* still had a flame burning for the fearsome *Hunter*, but her resistance became obsolete in his arms and her fear for *The Troubadour's* life grew. She had to warn him. With her confession, the pair made plans to leave Los Angeles for good. Opening night at The Angel was their ticket out of there. A whopping $25,000 guaranteed. He needed to play just one show, but that one would be his last.

* Related songs: "Evangeline" (and music video), "Doesn't Do Me Any Good", "Be More".

## Part 7: The Death Of The Troubadour

A final evening in Los Angeles together. *Evangeline* swoons to the crooner's who strained voice accompanied by a nylon string guitar. They sit reminiscing on their time spent together, the pacing of their love, and the weight of their souls, dreaming. A few minutes remain before fan girl's sold out show. The plan? Pack the car full, wait outside the club, dash off stage and out of the back door as soon as the final song finishes. Before leaving the club, green room to walk on stage, she kisses him. It was a kiss that felt as tender as the first, and as desperate as the last. Walking on stage, it all seemed easy enough until *Hunter* & The Mad Mob were spotted sitting in the front row. He had the look of death in his eyes and the smell of blood lingered from his breath. This was it. A final show before the showdown.

With all of his soul *The Troubadour* sang, just as he always did. As the final note fell from his throat, *Hunter* & The Mad Mob rushed the stage. The audience gasped at the brawl ensuing before the, and soon panic erupted. Dodging blows left and right, *The Troubadour* took some and landed some. For his love and his life he fought and managed to knock out all three goons. Just before landing a final blow, *Hunter* pulled the revolver from his waist band and sunk a single bullet into *The Troubadour's* chest. No fist can dodge a bullet. Police rushed the building as he fell to his knees, comforted by warm blood and *Evangeline* seen running towards him, The Mad Mob lay unconscious and handcuffed beside him with *Hunter* nowhere to be found. Tears fall on his face as *Evangeline* presses her nose into his. He leaves her with the same look of love he gave her the first time he saw her. And with a final breath he whispers, "Don't cry new angel face, send my heart with a kiss". As the life drains from his chest and the color from his face, she does. And as her lips land she flees from the stage and out the back door, into the night and never to be seen again.

* Related songs: "Death Of The Troubadour", "Send My Heart With A Kiss".

## Song Chronology

Based on the story of the album, the *Angel Face* songs can be put into this chronological order: "Something About Her", "I Need You Most Of All", "Until I Found You", "Shake", "No One Knows", "Caught In A Blue", "Only Girl" (and music video), "High", "Evangeline" (and music video), "Be More", "Doesn't Do Me Any Good", "Death Of The Troubadour", "Send My Heart With A Kiss".

### Alternative Song Chronology

The story of the album, tracklist order, and the meaning of the 1964-based songs are slightly misaligned. These songs can be placed into this alternative chronological order: "Evangeline", "Only Girl", "High", "Doesn't Do Me Any Good", "Be More", "Death Of The Troubadour", "Send My Heart With A Kiss".

## Characters

 1964
 *Hunter* | A member of a notorious gang back in 1960s who previously dated *Evangeline*, owns a club where the *Troubadour Sanchez* has a residency at. They are rivals seeking to be with *Evangeline* in 1964. He shoots *Troubadour Sanchez* out of jealousy.Portrayed by Joe Maskall in music videos.

### 1958

Songs which follow the characters *Stephen Sanchez & The Moon Crests* and *Georgia*. These songs, such as "Until I Found You", are inspired by a 1950s sound. Here, the story told through the songs is about how *Stephen* first fell into love with *Georgia* in 1958.

* 1958 songs: "Caught In A Blue", "I Need You Most Of All", "No One Knows", "Shake", "Something About Her", "Until I Found You".

### 1964

Songs which follow the characters *Troubadour Sanchez*, *Evangeline*, and her past lover named *Hunter*. These songs, such as "Evangeline", are inspired by a 1960s sound. Here, the story told through the songs is the creation of a continuing love affair in 1964, as both *Troubadour Sanchez* and *Hunter* are in love with *Evangeline*; such as the lyrics in "Only Girl" acting as a dialogue for both men towards her.

* 1964 songs: "Be More", "Death Of The Troubadour", "Doesn't Do Me Any Good", "Evangeline", "High", "Only Girl", "Send My Heart With A Kiss".

## Trivia

* Originally, the story was meant to end with *The Troubadour Sanchez* and *Evangeline* running off into the sunset together, happily in love. Once Sanchez got in the studio with collaborator Ben Schneider, he started feeling like its finale was "lame".
	+ He recalls Schneider telling him, "Devastation is what makes love worth it. It makes the story true. This doesn't sound true". So, they decided the album's narrative should conclude with *The Troubadour* getting murdered by *Hunter* with a shot to the chest.

* Interestingly, this story is similar to Barry Manilow's 1978 international hit "Copacabana".
	+ Where a woman (*Lola*) and her partner (*Tony*) work at a nightclub, one night a customer (*Rico*) takes a fancy to *Lola*, but *Tony* intervenes when *Rico* becomes aggressive. The ensuing brawl ends in "blood and a single gunshot"; after, *Lola* shrieks at the sight of *Tony* dead.

## Navigation

 *Angel Face* Tracklist
 1958

## References

2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oY\_fZCVzgI
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 https://youtube.com/watch?v=\_GXEZIXVs0E
4. ↑ https://www.grammy.com/news/stephen-sanchez-tour-until-i-found-you-interview-evangeline-elton-john
5. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw5nupINQUI/
6. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx84-IDO5\_E/
7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230919152719/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230919751406/en/
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XKFrudbV4IiuE5WuTPRmT
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWcxnnLvPM
10. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubadour#:~:text=%3A%20one%20of%20a%20class%20of,was%20courtly%20love%20compare%20trouv%C3%A8re
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/stephen-sanchez-elton-john-glastonbury-radar-3472629
12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiLht-\_EseM
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/stephen-sanchez-only-girl/
14. ↑ https://www.popdust.com/new-music-2659927482.html
15. ↑ https://www.thestevenwickblog.com/post/stephen-sanchez
16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x\_xVNi0b10w
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://people.com/stephen-sanchez-angel-face-album-exclusive-interview-7973721
18. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copacabana\_(song)