Fool #1

Album: Brenda, That's All (1961)
Charted: 38 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Originally titled "The Biggest Fool Of All," this country-pop ballad finds Brenda Lee struggling with the news that her boyfriend is a serial cheater and wondering how many other girls he's fooled. The single did well for Lee, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100, but more importantly it gave an up-and-coming country singer her big break.

    The song was written by Kathryn R. Fulton for Sure-Fire Music, a publishing company owned by the country duo The Wilburn Brothers. They also ran a talent agency, and one of their latest finds was a Kentucky-born singer they met at the Grand Ole Opry: Loretta Lynn. Hoping to land her a record deal, they brought a demo of her singing "The Biggest Fool Of All" to Owen Bradley, the vice president of Decca Records' Nashville division. Bradley was also Lee's producer and he insisted she sing the tune instead. The Wilburn Brothers agreed - in exchange for Lynn getting a contract. Two years later, Lynn released her debut album on Decca, Loretta Lynn Sings, with Bradley as her producer.
  • This was released as the second single from Lee's seventh studio album, Brenda, That's All, following "You Can Depend On Me," which was originally recorded by Louis Armstrong.
  • This was also a Top 40 hit in the UK. Lee became popular there after appearing on the British teenage music program Oh Boy! in 1959 and taking the #3 spot on the pop chart with "Sweet Nothin's" in 1960.
  • Loretta Lynn did end up recording this after all. Her version was included on her sophomore album, Before I'm Over You (1964), produced by Owen Bradley. It was also covered by Johnny Tillotson, Connie Smith, and Marie Osmond.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.