She's a Fool

"She's a Fool" is a song written by Mark Barkan and Ben Raleigh that was originally recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963. The song appeared as a single and on the album Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts. The song was produced by Quincy Jones.[1] The single reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #26 on Billboard's R&B singles chart.[2] It was Gore's second straight single to reach #5, following "Judy's Turn to Cry." [3] It was also her third of four consecutive singles to reach the Top 5 to start her career, "It's My Party" reaching #1 before "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me" following "She's a Fool" and going to #2.[4][5]

"She's a Fool"
Single by Lesley Gore
from the album Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts
B-side"The Old Crowd"
ReleasedSeptember 1963
Recorded1963
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Mark Barkan
Ben Raleigh
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Lesley Gore singles chronology
"Judy's Turn to Cry"
(1963)		 "She's a Fool"
(1963)		 "You Don't Own Me"
(1963)

The lyrics of "She's a Fool" tell of a romantic triangle.[5] The singer is upset that the boy she likes is being treated poorly by his current girlfriend.[6] Allmusic critic Richie Unterberger believes that the success of this song was crucial to Gore's career because it was dissimilar lyrically and musically from the two singles with crying themes that preceded it, and thus she was able to avoid being typecast.[7] Unterbeger praises the song as "a good girl-group single," and remarks on the song's "light jazzy swing" and catchy melody.[7] The production incorporates handclaps, tympani, Piano, drums, strings, and female backup singers, as well as what Unterberger describes as "low, grumbled responsive male vocals that followed Gore's declaration of "she's a fool, with the repeated words: "SHAG-A-DOO-LA"."[7] The music moves to a higher key by half a step, From B Flat to B for the final verse, as well as again, from B to C, in the final repeat of the Chorus,, Gore sings a wordless counterpoint melody, before the song's fade. in common with many rock songs from the 1960s.[7]

Subsequent to its initial release as a single and on Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts, "She's a Fool" has been released on compilation albums including The Golden Hits of Lesley Gore in 1965, It's My Party: The Mercury Anthology in 1996, Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows: The Best of Lesley Gore in 1998, 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection in 2000 and The Ultimate Collection 1963-1968: Start the Party Again in 2005.[7] The song has also been included on such 1960s song compilations as Back to the '60s, Vol. 3, 1960's Rock N Roll and The Girl's Sound: Fifty Hits 1957-1966.[8]

Charts
Chart (1963) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 5
US US R&B Singles 26

References
  1. "Quincy's Top 50 Hits". Billboard Magazine. November 26, 2005. p. 52. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  2. "Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts charts and awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  3. "Lesley Gore charts and awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  4. Bronson, F. (2003). The Billboard book of number 1 hits (5 ed.). Random House. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  5. Studwell, W.E. & Lonergan, D. (1999). The classic rock and roll reader: rock music from its beginnings to the mid-1970s. Psychology Press. p. 252. ISBN 978-0-7890-0151-1.
  6. DeCurtis, A.; Henke, J.; George-Warren, H., eds. (1992). The Rolling stone album guide (3 ed.). Random House. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-679-73729-2.
  7. Unterberger, R. "She's a Fool". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  8. "She's a Fool". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
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