Fooled Around and Fell in Love
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" is a song 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.
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" | ||||
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Single by Elvin Bishop | ||||
from the album Struttin' My Stuff | ||||
B-side | "Have A Good Time" | |||
Released | March 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:35 (album version) 2:59 (single version) | |||
Label | Capricorn | |||
Songwriter(s) | Elvin Bishop | |||
Producer(s) | Bill Szymczyk | |||
Elvin Bishop singles chronology | ||||
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Background
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.[3] The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 23, 1976.[4] In Canada, the song reached number 22 on the singles chart[5] and number 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[6] The single reached number 3 in the New Zealand Singles Chart.[7]
Based on his work with Bishop, Thomas was invited to become the lead singer for Jefferson Starship (who would later evolve into simply Starship).[2]
In popular culture
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), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie (2017).
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".[8]
Personnel
- Mickey Thomas: lead and backing vocals
- Elvin Bishop: lead guitar
- Johnny 'V' Vernazza: Lead and rhythm guitar, dueling guitar leads with Elvin, backing vocals.
- Philip Aaberg: piano
- Mike Keck: organ[9][10]
- Donny Baldwin: drums, percussion
- Michael Brooks: bass
- Bill Szymczyk: producer
- Reni Slais: backing vocals[11]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Cover versions
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" | ||||
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Single by T. G. Sheppard | ||||
from the album Livin' on the Edge | ||||
B-side | "Banging My Heart" | |||
Released | May 11, 1985 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Elvin Bishop | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Hall | |||
T. G. Sheppard singles chronology | ||||
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In 1978, the Julian Laxton Band from South Africa covered the song, reaching #13 there.[20]
In 1985, T. G. Sheppard had a #21 country hit with a cover of the song. A music video was also produced for this version and has aired on CMT, TNN and GAC.[21]
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 2003, Phish covered this song during a live show at Star Lake Amphitheatre in Burgettstown, PA.[22]
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.
In 2014, Morgan James covered the song in a YouTube video.
In 2019, Miranda Lambert released a cover of the song featuring her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour support acts Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Elle King and Caylee Hammack. It won the Academy of Country Music Award for Vocal Event of the Year and was nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musical Event of the Year.
References
- Pollock, Bruce (2014). Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era. Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-135-46296-3.
- Janovitz, Bill. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
- "RIAA records search". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1976-07-26. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- Fricth, Simon; McRobbie, Angela (1990). Frith, Simon; Goodwin, Andrew (eds.). On Record: Rock, Pop and the Written Word. London: Routledge. p. 320. ISBN 0-415-05306-4. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- "Elvin Bishop - Struttin' My Stuff". Discogs. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- Barnes, Bill (16 February 2017). "I REMEMBER CLIF". Confessions of a Lapsed Bohemian. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- https://www.wolfgangs.com/music/elvin-bishop/audio/20050002-2164.html?tid=3154
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 26 July 1976. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1976-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
- "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- "Top Selling Singles of 1976 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1976. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1976". cashboxmagazine.com. 25 December 1976. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- TG Sheppard - Fooled Around And Fell In Love on YouTube
- "Jul 29, 2003 Setlist - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 25 February 2019.