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What a Fool Believes

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = What a Fool Believes

| cover = What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers US vinyl 7-inch.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Artwork for one of US 7-inch vinyl pressings, also used for the parent album

| type = single

| artist = The Doobie Brothers

| album = Minute by Minute

| B-side = Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels

| released = January 1979

| recorded = August 1978

| studio = Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California

| venue =

| genre =

| length = (Album / Single Version)
(Extended Version)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Michael McDonald,
Kenny Loggins

| producer = Ted Templeman

| prev_title = Nothin' But a Heartache

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = Minute by Minute

| next_year = 1979

}}

"'What a Fool Believes'" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by the Doobie Brothers (with McDonald singing lead vocals) for their 1978 album 'Minute by Minute'. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, for one week.Joel Whitburn, 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', 1996, Billboard Books, p. 189 The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

The song was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 during the first eight months of 1979. The lyrics tell a story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that one never really existed.

Apparently as a joke, Michael Jackson claimed in a videotaped phone conversation with Elizabeth Taylor in 2003 that he contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so. 'Entertainment Tonight' broadcast this claim, and apparently people did not realize that Jackson was joking. As a result, the band later denied his participation.

Original Kenny Loggins version



Kenny Loggins, co-writer of the song, released his version of "What a Fool Believes" five months prior to the Doobie Brothers version on his second album 'Nightwatch', released on July 12, 1978.

The Doobie Brothers version



In December 1978, five months after Loggins' original recording was released, the Doobie Brothers (with McDonald on vocals) included a cover version on their album 'Minute by Minute', with their version being released as a single the following month. This is the best-known version of the song, debuting at number 73 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on January 20, 1979, and then reaching number one on April 14, 1979, for one week.

This version received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Reception

'Billboard' magazine praised the vocal performance, synthesizers and production. The reviewer described the song as building from a melodic first verse "to a heart warming hook chorus". 'Cash Box' said it has an "easy funk backing, strings overhead and characteristically unique vocals which soar upwards."

'Ultimate Classic Rock' critic Michael Gallucci rated "What a Fool Believes" as the Doobie Brothers all-time greatest song, particularly praising "McDonald's soulful vocals and soft and warm keyboard riffs." In 2021, it was listed at No. 343 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Personnel

*Patrick Simmons guitar

*Jeff "Skunk" Baxter guitar

*Michael McDonald keyboards, synthesizers, lead and backing vocals

*Tiran Porter bass guitar

*Keith Knudsen, Ted Templeman drums

'Additional players'

*Bill Payne synthesizer (with Michael McDonald)

*Bobby LaKind congas

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Other versions by Loggins and McDonald



A live version appears on Loggins' 1980 album 'Kenny Loggins Alive'. Loggins' original version switches several of the gender pronouns, so that it is sung largely from the perspective of the woman in the encounter.

A reissue of the single was released in 1987 credited to the Doobie Brothers featuring Michael McDonald. It was included on McDonald's 1986 compilation album 'Sweet Freedom' and was credited here as Michael McDonald with the Doobie Brothers. It reached No. 57 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1987.

There is a Loggins/McDonald live duet on Loggins' 1993 album 'Outside: From the Redwoods'.

Warner Brothers also released a 12-inch single disco version by the Doobie Brothers in 1978 (backed with "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"), which peaked at number 40 on 'Billboard's Disco Action Chart in April 1979. Mixed by disco producer Jim Burgess, at 5:31 the song is considerably longer than the 3:41 versions on the 7-inch single and the 'Minute by Minute' LP. The 12-inch version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.

Matt Bianco version



British band Matt Bianco released their version of "What a Fool Believes" as a single in 1991. It is from their fourth album 'Samba in Your Casa'. The single reached No. 23 on the Irish Singles Chart in early 1992.

Track listing

:A. "What a Fool Believes" (mixed by Bobby Summerfield)

:B1. "Samba in Your Casa" (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 Franklin from the album 'Aretha',Aretha Franklin has two versions of this song, with the 1999 version being an edited version of the 1980 one. No. 46 in the UK

*1991: George Michael from 'Live in Birmingham', a 1991 live bootleg

*1997: The Wades from 'The Feel Good Factor'

*1998: Peter Cox a top 40 hit in the UK, from the 1998 reissue of his self-titled debut solo album

*2000: Self from 'Gizmodgery'

*2013: Unchain from 'Love & Groove Delivery'

*2014: The Doobie Brothers featuring Sara Evans from their studio album 'Southbound'

References



Further reading



Category:1978 songs

Category:1979 singles

Category:The Doobie Brothers songs

Category:Kenny Loggins songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Grammy Award for Record of the Year

Category:Grammy Award for Song of the Year

Category:Songs written by Kenny Loggins

Category:Songs written by Michael McDonald (musician)

Category:1991 singles

Category:Matt Bianco songs

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:East West Records singles

Category:Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

Category:Song recordings produced by Ted Templeman

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

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