"Don't Want to Be a Fool" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, released in June 1991 as the second single from his seventh album, Power of Love (1991). The song peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart on September 14. It also peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 2 same year.[3]

"Don't Want to Be a Fool"
Single by Luther Vandross
from the album Power of Love
ReleasedJune 20, 1991 (1991-06-20)[1]
Recorded1991
GenreR&B, soul
Length4:35[2]
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
Producer(s)Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
Luther Vandross singles chronology
"Power of Love/Love Power"
(1991)
"Don't Want to Be a Fool"
(1991)
"The Rush"
(1991)
Music video
"Don't Want to Be a Fool" on YouTube

Critical reception

edit

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic named the song one of the "high points" of the album.[4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Second single from Vandross' current Power of Love disc places the acclaimed vocalist in a familiar R&B ballad setting. Lovely tune has already begun making radio and chart inroads, and should have no trouble matching the success of its predecessor."[5] Henderson and DeVaney from Cashbox described it as "a smooth, mid-tempo "up-town soul" song oozing with emotion."[6]

Track listing

edit
  • US cassette single, CD single
  1. "Don't Want to Be a Fool" — 4:35

Charts

edit
Chart (1991) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 9
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7] 5
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 4

References

edit
  1. ^ "Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News | ajc.com". Nl.newsbank.com. 1991-08-10. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  2. ^ "Luther Vandross - Don't Want To Be A Fool at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  3. ^ "Luther Vandross Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Luther Vandross – Power of Love". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (1991-08-10). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  6. ^ Henderson, Alex; DeVaney, Bryan (1991-08-17). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  7. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.