Dann Isbell, author of that great new book "Ranking The '60's" took our foolish salute from yesterday one step further by actually calculating The Top 50 "Fool" Songs of the '60's. (We featured about 50 of these throughout the day yesterday on the website ... you can scroll back to listen to any that you may have missed ... but we didn't limit ourselves to one decade ... we were all over the map with this one!!!)
However Dann has assembled the definitive list, based on "rank order" according to each song's actual performance on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.
Hi Kent,
Fifty-four "foolish" songs made it into the Hot 100 during the '60s. Etta James charted with three of them while there was enough foolishness to go around for Aretha Franklin, Bobby Bland, Connie Francis, Gene Chandler, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and the Tams to place two each. Sisters Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick both charted as well, Dee Dee's with my favorite foolish title: "Foolish Fool," and Dionne's with the most relevant title to mark this day, "The April Fools."
Here is a list of the top 50 "foolish" songs of the '60s. Rankings are derived from the compilation Ranking the '60s.
Hi Kent,
Fifty-four "foolish" songs made it into the Hot 100 during the '60s. Etta James charted with three of them while there was enough foolishness to go around for Aretha Franklin, Bobby Bland, Connie Francis, Gene Chandler, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and the Tams to place two each. Sisters Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick both charted as well, Dee Dee's with my favorite foolish title: "Foolish Fool," and Dionne's with the most relevant title to mark this day, "The April Fools."
Here is a list of the top 50 "foolish" songs of the '60s. Rankings are derived from the compilation Ranking the '60s.
- Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool - Connie Francis
- Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin
- Fool #1 - Brenda Lee
- She’s A Fool - Lesley Gore
- Foolish Little Girl - Shirelles
- Fools Rush In - Rick Nelson
- The Fool On The Hill - Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
- What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am) - Tams
- What Kind Of Fool Am I - Sammy Davis Jr.
- Fools Never Learn - Andy Williams
- If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody - James Ray
- I’m A Fool - Dino, Desi & Billy
- A Fool In Love - Ike & Tina Turner
- Fool For You - Impressions
- Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) - Brook Benton
- I’m A Fool To Care - Joe Barry
- Poor Fool – Ike & Tina Turner
- What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am - Bill Deal & The Rhondels
- I Make A Fool Of Myself - Frankie Valli
- I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You) - Connie Francis
- You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love) - Vic Damone
- I Fooled You This Time - Gene Chandler
- The April Fools - Dionne Warwick
- I’d Rather Be An Old Man’s Sweetheart (Than A Young Man’s Fool) - Candi Staton
- Love’s Made A Fool Of You - Bobby Fuller Four
- Foolin’ Around – Kay Starr
- I Pity The Fool - Bobby Bland
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Happenings
- Runnin’ Out Of Fools - Aretha Franklin
- A Day In The Life Of A Fool - Jack Jones
- Foolish Fool - Dee Dee Warwick
- Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy - Tams
- If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody - Maxine Brown
- Fool That I Am - Etta James
- Please Say You’re Fooling - Ray Charles
- These Foolish Things - James Brown
- Take A Fool’s Advice - Nat King Cole
- Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) - Martha & The Vandellas
- I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You) - Flamingos
- If I’m A Fool For Loving You - Bobby Wood
- Who Will The Next Fool Be - Bobby Bland
- What Kind Of Fool Am I - Anthony Newley
- I’m A Fool To Care - Ray Charles
- Fools Rush In - Etta James
- (I’m Just A) Fool For You - Gene Chandler
- What Kind Of Fool Am I? - Robert Goulet
- I’m Not A Fool Anymore - T.K. Hulin
- My Foolish Heart - Demensions
- What A Fool I’ve Been - Carla Thomas
- I’m A Fool To Care - Oscar Black Dann
Thanks for throwing in Del Reeves' "Girl On The Billboard" into your rundown of "fool" songs. A #2 country smash in 1965 (United Artists 824), it only flickered for one week at #95 on the pop charts -- yet should have been a huge pop single as well.
Gary Theroux
We featured this track once before and got a pretty good response ... it was a Top 20 Hit here in Chicago. Another one that spiked the audience was "Do What You Do Do Well" by Ned Miller ... but I think part of that may be because we said "do do" in the column!!! (kk)
Some on-going commentary from Larry Neal ...
Kent,
The first song you posted at 5:30 pm is one I haven't heard in years. Here in OKC, one of our local top 40 DJ's played this tune but said it was by a character he had created for the radio show which he did. I didn't know until several months later that it was really MAH-NA-MAH-NA by Piero Umiliani on Ariel Records.
I do have a copy. Good post. One final thing. It was only played on his show, as I remember. I could be wrong however on that.
And then ...
Kent,
I have just checked my surveys. The record initially made the survey for the week of August 14, 1969 but under the artist doing the tune, it just listed Sound Track. The following week on the survey, the artist listed was Dale and Effie, the two characters created by the DJ. A few weeks later it peaked at number 12 here in OKC. Personally, I didn't remember it getting that high.
Larry Neal
I think here in Chicago it charted by "Sweden Heaven And Hell" ... which I guess is also a "soundtrack" of some sort. The music was featured in numerous TV shows at the time (and Benny Hill for many years afterwards). I remember having a HELL of a time finding this 45 at the time because that wasn't the correct artist name on the label. When I finally DID come across a copy, I was THRILLED!!! (It was many years later in fact!) I couldn't even begin to guess how many times I've played it since then ... but I'm sure it's well into the thousands!!! (kk)
Kent,
Always did like James Ray's song IF YOU GOT TO MAKE A FOOL OF SOMEBODY. I believe Maxine Brown later redid it.
You asked the rhetorical question about the Ike and Tina Song you posted. Not only do I remember it but also POOR FOOL.
I wonder how many of these "foolish" songs you won't be able to post today? I have two in mind which you haven't posted yet, but as they say, "the night is still young".
Larry
More ...
Kent,
Just one more hour to go and you still haven't posted the two 'foolish' songs that I first thought of initially. Again, it goes back to the question of "just how many 'foolish' songs were there and just how many could
you post in a days time? I have really enjoyed this.
Larry
When all was said and done, we posted something like 52 songs in 19 hours ... and all but four of those were "fool"-oriented. Not a bad batch, if I do say so myself!!! (kk)
Kent,
I really did enjoy April Fool's Day and the songs you posted throughout the day with the word 'fool' in the title. You did an excellent job.
I am kind of curious to know the number, not necessarily the title of the songs, that you were not able to post. When I read you were going to do this, the first two songs that came to my mind were Joe Barry's I'M A FOOL TO CARE and Sanford Clark's THE FOOL, which turned out to be your final one.
I also thought of Bobby Bland's I PITY THE FOOL which I really don't remember if you posted.
Again, excellent job.
Larry
48 Fool songs made the site in all ... and they're all still there for anybody who missed any or wants to review them again. "The Fool" seemed like the PERFECT end-song ... much as "The April Fool's" was the right song to launch this piece. I did Ringo Starr's version of "I'm A Fool To Care" ... but skipped the Bobby Bland tune (although it WAS on my original list of titles). There were probably another dozen that I considered ... but some were pretty obscure. Check Dann Isbell's list above and you'll see what I mean! All in all, though, I think a pretty good representation ... with some real forgotten gems thrown in for good measure. Thanks for the kind words, Larry ... glad you enjoyed it! (kk)
The first song you posted at 5:30 pm is one I haven't heard in years. Here in OKC, one of our local top 40 DJ's played this tune but said it was by a character he had created for the radio show which he did. I didn't know until several months later that it was really MAH-NA-MAH-NA by Piero Umiliani on Ariel Records.
I do have a copy. Good post. One final thing. It was only played on his show, as I remember. I could be wrong however on that.
And then ...
Kent,
I have just checked my surveys. The record initially made the survey for the week of August 14, 1969 but under the artist doing the tune, it just listed Sound Track. The following week on the survey, the artist listed was Dale and Effie, the two characters created by the DJ. A few weeks later it peaked at number 12 here in OKC. Personally, I didn't remember it getting that high.
Larry Neal
I think here in Chicago it charted by "Sweden Heaven And Hell" ... which I guess is also a "soundtrack" of some sort. The music was featured in numerous TV shows at the time (and Benny Hill for many years afterwards). I remember having a HELL of a time finding this 45 at the time because that wasn't the correct artist name on the label. When I finally DID come across a copy, I was THRILLED!!! (It was many years later in fact!) I couldn't even begin to guess how many times I've played it since then ... but I'm sure it's well into the thousands!!! (kk)
Kent,
Always did like James Ray's song IF YOU GOT TO MAKE A FOOL OF SOMEBODY. I believe Maxine Brown later redid it.
You asked the rhetorical question about the Ike and Tina Song you posted. Not only do I remember it but also POOR FOOL.
I wonder how many of these "foolish" songs you won't be able to post today? I have two in mind which you haven't posted yet, but as they say, "the night is still young".
Larry
More ...
Kent,
Just one more hour to go and you still haven't posted the two 'foolish' songs that I first thought of initially. Again, it goes back to the question of "just how many 'foolish' songs were there and just how many could
you post in a days time? I have really enjoyed this.
Larry
When all was said and done, we posted something like 52 songs in 19 hours ... and all but four of those were "fool"-oriented. Not a bad batch, if I do say so myself!!! (kk)
Kent,
I really did enjoy April Fool's Day and the songs you posted throughout the day with the word 'fool' in the title. You did an excellent job.
I am kind of curious to know the number, not necessarily the title of the songs, that you were not able to post. When I read you were going to do this, the first two songs that came to my mind were Joe Barry's I'M A FOOL TO CARE and Sanford Clark's THE FOOL, which turned out to be your final one.
I also thought of Bobby Bland's I PITY THE FOOL which I really don't remember if you posted.
Again, excellent job.
Larry
48 Fool songs made the site in all ... and they're all still there for anybody who missed any or wants to review them again. "The Fool" seemed like the PERFECT end-song ... much as "The April Fool's" was the right song to launch this piece. I did Ringo Starr's version of "I'm A Fool To Care" ... but skipped the Bobby Bland tune (although it WAS on my original list of titles). There were probably another dozen that I considered ... but some were pretty obscure. Check Dann Isbell's list above and you'll see what I mean! All in all, though, I think a pretty good representation ... with some real forgotten gems thrown in for good measure. Thanks for the kind words, Larry ... glad you enjoyed it! (kk)
Loving the day of foolishness, Kent.
Not too late to include Lulu's contribution.
David Lewis
Patience, guys, patience! We ended up posting just over 50 "fool" songs ... and I SURE wouldn't forget THIS one ... one of my all-time faves! (kk)
Kent,
You know how much I love 'VON's golden era. And, yes, I feel remarkably blessed that on many occasions the station allowed me to sit in with various jocks.The Nassau Daddy Ed Cook was cooler than cool. I loved Pervis Spann, "The All Night Blues Man" along with silky smooth Joe Cobb. But the main eventers - the Ali and Frazier combo - were without question E. Rodney Jones and Bill "Butterball" Crane.Rodney and Spann promoted a number of shows together including a gig by the Temptations at the old Chicago Coliseum that was the best performance I've ever seen by the David Ruffin - Eddie Kendricks Temps.After WVON changed gears, "Butterball" moved over to WGN where he became a cameraman. We used to shoot the breeze regularly when I was at Channel 5. We both had this dream of resurrecting the old style 'VON to showcase for a new audience. I have no doubt the concept would have been a smash.I do know this from ... '66 through about 1970, WVON was printing money. The station redefined the phrase cash cow.
Were some jocks getting greased to play various songs? Sure. Little Richard once told me he couldn't stand 'VON because he couldn't buy his way into that little cubby hole at 33d and Kedzie.WVON cooler than cool. There has never been a radio station like it - never will be.
Chet Coppock
Heritage Series host: Chicago Blackhawks
Host: Notre Dame football -WLS
Noozebox.com
Were some jocks getting greased to play various songs? Sure. Little Richard once told me he couldn't stand 'VON because he couldn't buy his way into that little cubby hole at 33d and Kedzie.WVON cooler than cool. There has never been a radio station like it - never will be.
Chet Coppock
Heritage Series host: Chicago Blackhawks
Host: Notre Dame football -WLS
Noozebox.com
I listened to WVON the whole way into work this morning - it sounded great. Too bad technology wiped out the AM dial - progress isn't always for the better - especially if by "better" radio means playing Steve Miller 18 times a day. It was fun to travel back this morning - even if the temperature was 6 degrees below zero for that particular broadcast!
Brother, I hear ya ...
Chester
Chester
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't really listen much to WVON back in the day ... I was a WLS / WCFL junkie all the way. If I ventured away at all it was to listen to The White Sox (on either WMAQ or, for a while there, WCFL) ... or because my Mom was listening to WIND. I had NO idea they played this much vintage soul, R&B and blues as part of their regular programming in the mid-'60's. It was great to hear tracks by Little Walter and Ray Charles played right alongside the latest and greatest hits from The Supremes, James Brown and other acts. The vintage commercials were a gas, too. Even listening to a couple of those '60's newscasts was fun. A bit too much hype for their 50th Anniversary Party I thought ... especially since they way they're handling this is "We'd LOVE to have you along ... this is our way of thanking you for your continued support ... oh yeah, and it's going to cost you $250 per ticket to get in!!!" Bad form, guys. If you're throwing yourself a 50th Anniversary Party ... and you want to reward your listeners for their support ... you DON'T charge them an outrageous admission price to attend!!! Give away those tickets as a means of saying "Thank You"!!!
Meanwhile, I checked out WXRT yesterday, too ... and they truly have stolen, I mean borrowed, a page from The Drive's Playbook. The biggest difference is in the two hours I listened to WXRT, I think I recognized exactly two songs ... out of the thirty that they played. Now maybe that's because I'm not a regular listener so I'm not hip to the wide range of music they feature on this station ... but it seems to me that if you're going to play back your library from A to Z, there ought to be a WHOLE lot of recognizable music here. It's great that they're moving forward with this ... the promotion is supposed to last all the way till Memorial Day ... two solid months of A-Z content ... which makes for the most variety possible on the radio dial right now (in the way of no repeats). I'm not sure titles that start with "A" (as in "A Hard Day's Night" or "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" really belong in the "A" category ... jeez, I wonder what their "The" list is going to look like!!! ... but I DO love a promotion like this ... and it WAS nice to hear some things I've never heard before instead of the exact same 40-50 tracks every single day. I'm definitely curious enough to check back throughout the promotion ... so they may have won me over with this one. (kk)
Speaking of Radio ...
re: ON THE RADIO:
>>Attached is a WLS survey, dated June 14, 1963, with Jan and Dean SUF City at #32! (Bill Hengels)
Speaking of Radio ...
re: ON THE RADIO:
>>Attached is a WLS survey, dated June 14, 1963, with Jan and Dean SUF City at #32! (Bill Hengels)
