What a Fool Believes
Encyclopedia
"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald
and Kenny Loggins
. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers
for their 1978
album Minute by Minute
. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
on April 14, 1979, remaining in that position for one week. The song received Grammy Awards
in 1980 for both Song of the Year
and Record of the Year
.
"What a Fool Believes" was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1979. The song lyrics tell a story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest of his and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her he never realized didn't exist.
Michael Jackson
claimed to have contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so.
, and a live version on his 1980 album Kenny Loggins Alive
.
There is a Loggins/McDonald live duet on Loggins' 1993 album Outside: From the Redwoods
.
Warner Brothers also released a 12" single
disco version by The Doobie Brothers (backed with "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"). Mixed by disco producer Jim Burgess
, at 5:31 the song is considerably longer than 3:41 versions on the 7" single and the Minute by Minute
LP. The 12" version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.
Live versions of the song often feature a guitar bridge after the second verse.
, released in 1991.
While not a cover version, the 1980 hit "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree
is built around a keyboard riff which is notably similar to that of the Doobie Brothers hit.
, K Bryant Jackson and Veda, appears on the 2005 Public Enemy album New Whirl Odor
.
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
and Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
for their 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
album Minute by Minute
Minute by Minute
Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1978. The album contains their biggest hit, the Grammy-winning "What a Fool Believes". "Depending on You" and the title track were also released as singles...
. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on April 14, 1979, remaining in that position for one week. The song received Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 1980
The 22nd Grammy Awards were held February 27, 1980, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1979.- Award winners :*Record of the Year...
in 1980 for both Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
.
"What a Fool Believes" was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1979. The song lyrics tell a story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest of his and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her he never realized didn't exist.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
claimed to have contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so.
Other versions by Loggins and McDonald
Loggins released a version of the song (five months prior to The Doobie Brothers) on his 1978 album NightwatchNightwatch (album)
Nightwatch is the second solo album from Kenny Loggins, released in 1978 . The album is Loggins' highest charting album on the Billboard 200 to date, reaching number 7....
, and a live version on his 1980 album Kenny Loggins Alive
Kenny Loggins Alive
Kenny Loggins Alive is a live album by soft rock singer, Kenny Loggins. Released in 1980, it contains material from Loggins' three previous solo albums, as well as a previously unreleased song "All Alone Tonight", "I'm Alright" and a cover of The Beatles "Here There and Everywhere"...
.
There is a Loggins/McDonald live duet on Loggins' 1993 album Outside: From the Redwoods
Outside: From the Redwoods
Outside: From the Redwoods is the second live album released by soft rock singer Kenny Loggins. Released in 1993, it is the recording of a 1992 Loggins' concert held "outside" from a venue located within a stand of giant redwood trees. It features reworked versions of many of Loggins' songs, both...
.
Warner Brothers also released a 12" single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
disco version by The Doobie Brothers (backed with "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"). Mixed by disco producer Jim Burgess
Jim Burgess (producer)
James Michael "Jim" Burgess was a disco record producer and New York DJ of the 1970s, and was variously referred to as "one of the hottest DJ's and Remixers of the Disco era"...
, at 5:31 the song is considerably longer than 3:41 versions on the 7" single and the Minute by Minute
Minute by Minute
Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1978. The album contains their biggest hit, the Grammy-winning "What a Fool Believes". "Depending on You" and the title track were also released as singles...
LP. The 12" version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.
Live versions of the song often feature a guitar bridge after the second verse.
Matt Bianco version
"What a Fool Believes" is a 12" vinyl EP by Matt BiancoMatt Bianco
Matt Bianco is a UK band that was formed in 1983. They are mainly known for their success in the mid 1980s and their jazz, Latin-flavoured music....
, released in 1991.
Track listing
- A. "What a Fool Believes" (Mixed by Bobby Summerfield)
- B1. "Samba in Your CasaSamba in Your CasaSamba in Your Casa is the fourth studio album by British pop/jazz/soul/dance band Matt Bianco, released in 1991. It was their first long playing record for EastWest label, and came out one year after their first Greatest Hits album for WEA, the UK #49 The Best of Matt Bianco, and three years after...
" (Cashassa Mix) (Mixed by Bobby Summerfield) - B2. "Say It's Not Too Late"
Other cover versions
Numerous cover versions of the song have been recorded, including:- 1980: Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- from the album ArethaAretha (1980 album)Aretha is the debut album by Aretha Franklin released on Arista Records in 1980. Franklin's first Arista single release, "United Together", reached #3 on the Soul chart and crossed over to #56 on Billboard's Hot 100. The album itself peaked at #47 and spent 30 weeks on Billboard's main album... - 1991: George MichaelGeorge MichaelGeorge Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
- from Live In Birmingham, a 1991 live bootlegBootleg recordingA bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging... - 1996: Compilation album Romantic Guitars: AmourRomantic Guitars: AmourAlbum Information:...
- 1997: The Wades - from The Feel Good FactorThe Feel Good FactorThe Feel Good Factor is a 1997 album by The Wades, released by HITCITY Records and Kingsway Music .- Track listing :#"Dancing Never Stops"#"What A Fool Believes"#"Another Day"#"Another Day In Deep Funk Slow Jam Remix"#"When Will We Learn"...
- 1998: M PeopleM PeopleM People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
- from The Best of M PeopleThe Best of M People- Classic version :...
(also on 1999 album TestifyTestify (M People album)Testify is a compilation album released only in North America by British house music band M People. It contains the three new tracks that the band recorded for their British compilation album The Best of M People the previous year, and the artwork is taken from the photographs used for that album...
) - 1998: Peter CoxPeter Cox (musician)Peter John Cox is an English singer-songwriter, currently the lead singer in Manfred Mann's Earth Band, but is best known as one half of the 1980s blue-eyed soul duo Go West.-Early career and Go West:...
- from Peter CoxPeter Cox (album)Peter Cox is the debut solo album from Go West frontman Peter Cox. It features 11 tracks mostly written by Cox and album producer Peter-John Vettese.-Track listing:# Ain't Gonna Cry Again# If You Walk Away# Change# One More Kiss# I'll Be Good To You... - 1999: Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
- from Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Aretha Franklin album)Greatest Hits is a 1998 Aretha Franklin compilation. It is currently the only single compilation that covers a wide span of Franklin's career, from her Atlantic days to her last big hit, 1998's "A Rose Is Still A Rose."-Disc 1:... - 2000: SelfSelf (band)Self is an American alternative pop/rock band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and largely the brainchild of writer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Mahaffey....
- from GizmodgeryGizmodgeryGizmodgery is the fifth album by alternative pop/rock band Self, released in 2000 by Spongebath Records. The LP was recorded entirely with children's toy instruments....
, a record which was recorded entirely with toy instruments - 2000: Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
- from Dionne Sings Dionne Vol.2Dionne Warwick discographyThis article presents the discography of American recording artist Dionne Warwick, who is ranked second among female vocalists with the most Billboard Hot 100 chart hits during the rock era with 56.-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Live albums:... - 2004: Courtney Murphy - Australian Idol 2004
- 2007 Carol Welsman - from the CD Carol Welsman
- 2007: LackthereofLackthereofLackthereof is the solo project of Danny Seim, a founding member of the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena.-History:The first six Lackthereof albums were recorded at home and given out to Seim's friends on cassettes and CD-R's...
- from Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilationBridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilationBridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation is a compilation album released April 17, 2007 by Arena Rock Recording Co. to benefit .- Track listing :-Bonus tracks :-External links:****... - 2008: Neri per Caso & Mario BiondiMario Biondi (musician)Mario Biondi is an Italian singer.Born in Bitetto, the son of a popular song singer, during his youth sang in various small choirs. Years after he accompanied Franco Califano, Peppino Di Capri, Fred Bongusto, Rosario Fiorello and others on their Concert tours...
- from the album Angoli diversi - 2010: The Idea of NorthThe Idea of NorthThe Idea of North are an Australian a cappella vocal ensemble, founded in Canberra in 1993. The group's name is taken from radio broadcasts of pianist Glenn Gould....
and James MorrisonJames Morrison (musician)James Morrison AM is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing...
- from the album Feels Like Spring
While not a cover version, the 1980 hit "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree
Robbie Dupree
Robert Dupuis , better known by his stage name Robbie Dupree, is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1980 top ten pop hit, "Steal Away"....
is built around a keyboard riff which is notably similar to that of the Doobie Brothers hit.
Appearances in other media
- A fictional account of the creation of this song was featured in the first episode (June 2005) of Yacht RockYacht rockYacht Rock was an online video series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American soft rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The series debuted on Channel 101 at the June 26, 2005 screening. It placed in the top five at subsequent screenings until the June 25, 2006 screening,...
, an Internet series featuring characters of Michael McDonald and the Doobies. In the parody, Kenny Loggins inspires McDonald to write the song after Doobie guitarist Jeff "Skunk" BaxterJeff BaxterJeff "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s...
threatens to kick McDonald out of the band unless he writes a hit song for them. - The song was used in "The Monkey SuitThe Monkey Suit"The Monkey Suit" is the twenty-first episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 14, 2006. In the episode, Ned Flanders is shocked after seeing a new display at the museum about evolution...
", the 21st episode of the 17th season (14 May 2006) of The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
TV show. It was used as background music for an animatronic representation of biblical creation theory. - The song was used in several Stella shortsStella shortsThe Stella shorts are a collection of short films by the comedy group Stella. The short films were produced and written by Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, David Wain, who also star in the shorts with a number of guest actors...
, including "Whiffleball," "Audition" and "Poker." - The song was featured on the original movie soundtrack of Frankie and Johnny.
- A cover of the song was featured on an episode of the television show 30 Rock30 Rock30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
entitled "St. Valentine's Day". - The song featured in Jeremy ClarksonJeremy ClarksonJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
's Top Gear review of the BMW M5BMW M5The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon , but the overall performance of a sports car. It utilized the 535i chassis and an evolution of the engine from...
. - A cover of Petula ClarkPetula ClarkPetula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
's "DowntownDowntownDowntown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
" on the Canadian sketch comedy series SCTVSecond City TelevisionSecond City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
includes a variation of the beginning of "What a Fool Believes". A Michael McDonald impersonator sings backup in the song. - Another Michael McDonald lookalike sings the song's melody with different words in the Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
sketch "The Camp Michael McDonald Channel". The McDonald impersonator also sings different words to the tune of "Takin' It to the Streets" and McDonald's solo hit "Sweet Freedom". - MF DoomMF DoomDaniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
sampled the song in "Mandrake", an instrumental beat on his "Metalfingers Presents: Special Herbs, The Box Set" collection. - The Doobie Brothers performed the song as the musical guests on the 27 January 1979 episode of Saturday Night Live (season 4)Saturday Night Live (Season 4)Saturday Night Live aired its fourth season during the 1978–1979 television season on NBC. The fourth season started on October 7, 1978 and ended on May 26, 1979. The season four DVD was released on December 2, 2008....
.
Other songs with this name
An unrelated song with the same title, written by Kavon Shah, C RidenhourChuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, K Bryant Jackson and Veda, appears on the 2005 Public Enemy album New Whirl Odor
New Whirl Odor
New Whirl Odor is the ninth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released in the U.S. on November 1, 2005. The title name for the album is a pun for New World Order. The song "MKLVFKWR" features the artist Moby....
.