"Fools Fall in Love" is a song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.[1] It was originally recorded by the Drifters, who took it to number 10 on the R&B chart in 1957.[2] The song reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

"Fools Fall in Love"
Single by The Drifters
B-side"It Was a Tear"
ReleasedMarch 1957
GenreR&B
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
The Drifters singles chronology
"I Gotta Get Myself a Woman"
(July 1956)
"Fools Fall in Love"
(1957)
"Drifting Away from You"
(May 1957)

Jacky Ward version edit

In 1977, "Fools Fall in Love" was recorded by Jacky Ward. His version reached number 9 on the US country music chart,[4] and number 16 on the Canadian country chart.

Other versions edit

  • Sammy Turner recorded a version in 1960.[5]
  • Elvis Presley recorded a more up-tempo version on May 28, 1966.[6] His rendition, charting in tandem with "Indescribably Blue", reached #number 11 in Australia.[7] Elvis's cover also reached number 102 in the U.S. as a separate B-side.
  • Two renditions, one upbeat and one torch ballad, were included in the musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe, a jukebox musical of songs by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
  • John Pizzarelli recorded an up-tempo jazz version in 1994.[8]
  • Ally McBeal featured a ballad version of the song sung by Jennifer Holliday in the second-season episode "Fools Night Out".[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Emerson, Ken (2006), Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era, Penguin, p. 26, ISBN 1101156929.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 173.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 258.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 371.
  5. ^ Discogs
  6. ^ Neale, David (2003), Roots of Elvis, iUniverse, p. 36, ISBN 1101156929.
  7. ^ Go-Set, 29 March 1967
  8. ^ Video on YouTube
  9. ^ Video on YouTube