Released January 1979 Recorded August 1978 Length 3:41 | Format 7" | |
B-side "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels" |
"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 14 April 1979 for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Contents
- Personnel
- Other versions by Loggins and McDonald
- Matt Bianco version
- Track listing
- Other cover versions
- Appearances in other media
- References
"What a Fool Believes" was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during the first eight months of 1979. The song 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.
Michael Jackson once claimed he contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.
Personnel
Additional Players:
Other versions by Loggins and McDonald
Kenny Loggins released a version of the song (five months prior to The Doobie Brothers) on his 1978 album Nightwatch, and a live version on his 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.
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 the 3:41 versions on the 7" single and the Minute by Minute LP. The 12" version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.
Matt Bianco version
"What a Fool Believes" is a 12" vinyl EP by Matt Bianco, released in 1991.
Track listing
Other cover versions
Numerous cover versions of the song have been recorded, including: