B-side "Have A Good Time" Format 7" 45 RPM Single | Released March 1976 Recorded 1975 | |
Genre Pop rock, blues rock, electric blues, soft rock Length 4:35 (album version)
2:59 (single version) | ||
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" is a single written and performed by blues guitarist Elvin Bishop. It appeared on his 1975 album Struttin' My Stuff and was released as a single the following year. Bishop does not sing lead vocals on the track; feeling that his gravelly voice wouldn't do the song justice, he invited vocalist Mickey Thomas, who was a background singer in his band at the time, to sing it. The song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in May 1976. The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 23, 1976. In Canada, the song reached number 22 on the singles chart and number 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song became a Gold record.
Contents
Based on his work with Bishop, Thomas was invited to become the lead singer for Jefferson Starship. The song is featured in the films Queens Logic (1991), Illtown (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Summer of Sam (1999), Big Daddy (1999), According to Spencer (2001), The Devil's Rejects (2005), The Family Stone (2005), Invincible (2006), The Education of Charlie Banks (2007), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), Stand Up Guys (2012), Lovelace (2013) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
Style
In their 1990 essay "Rock and Sexuality", Simon Frith and Angela McRobbie offer the song as one which "lyrically captures" their idea of an essential distinction in rock music between "cock rock" and "teeny bop".
Personnel
Cover versions
In 1985, T. G. Sheppard had a #21 country hit with a cover of the song.
In 1991, Henry Lee Summer covered this song which appeared on his album Way Past Midnight, and the Queens Logic soundtrack (with the lead guitar solo played by Joe Walsh).
In 2004, country music artist Mark Wills covered this song for the southern rock tribute album Southern Rock Country Style.
In 2006, Rod Stewart covered this song for the album Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time.
In 2010, Japanese band Superfly covered this song for the compilation album Wildflower & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3'.
In 2013, The Winery Dogs covered this song for their live album, Unleashed In Japan 2013.
In 2013, a re-imagined version of the song (sung from the female perspective) was recorded and released by Kirsten Thien on her album Solo Live from the Meisenfrei Blues Club.