What Kind of Fool Am I?

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" is a popular song written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1962. It was introduced by Anthony Newley in the musical Stop The World - I Want To Get Off. It comes at the end of Act Two to close the show.[1][2] Bricusse and Newley received the 1961 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically,[3] At the 1963 Grammy Awards, it won the award for Song of the Year and was the first Britons to do so.

"What Kind of Fool Am I?"
Single by Sammy Davis Jr.
from the album What Kind of Fool Am I - and Other Show-Stoppers
Released	1962 (1962)
Songwriter(s)	Leslie Bricusse Anthony Newley

Background

This song was recorded whilst Newley was on the road with this production in the United States, after its successful run in the United Kingdom. By the time the cast reached New York, Tony Bennett had re-recorded the song.

Cover versions

• The song was a hit for Sammy Davis Jr. in the year of its publication, peaking at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at #6 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.[4]
• Andy Williams included the song on his 1963 album Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests.
• In 1963 Shirley Bassey released this song as a Columbia Record single and her version reached #47 on the UK charts.
• Lesley Gore included a version of the song on her 1963 debut album, I'll Cry If I Want To.[5]
• Lesser chart records were recorded by: Robert Goulet and the writer, Anthony Newley. James Brown recorded "What Kind of Fool Am I?" for his 1970 album Soul on Top.
• In 1964, jazz artist Vince Guaraldi did a latin jazz cover for his album The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi. Sergio Franchi covered this song on his 1963 RCA Victor Red Seal album Broadway, I Love You.[6]
• George Maharis also covered the song on his 1963 album Just Turn Me Loose![7]
• Perry Como covered the song on his 1963 release The Songs I Love.[8]
• "What Kind of Fool Am I?" is also known as the signature song of Regine Velasquez. Done in a power ballad style and with powerful vocals, the song reached platinum status on its 1994 CD-release and is included on her multiplatinum international album Listen Without Prejudice. It achieved at least 2x platinum per Asian country in the cited year.
• In Italy, the crooner Johnny Dorelli performed the song before in English in 1966, and then, in italian, with the title "Che Uomo Inutile", conteined on his 1967 album L'Immensità.
• Bill Evans recorded the song for his album Alone (Again) in December 1975, not released until 1977.
• The American indie folk rock band Deer Tick recorded a cover of the song on their 2007 album War Elephant.
• Clay Aiken recorded the song on his 2010 album Tried and True.

Parodies and popular culture

• Allan Sherman parodied the song as "One Hippopotami" on his 1963 album My Son, the Nut.
• Kermit the Frog performed this song on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 31, 1970, where he was repeatedly interrupted by the Sesame Street character Grover. Several other Muppet monsters made cameo appearances in the finale.

Song legacy

This song was the inspiration for a Gary Larson cartoon.

References

1. itunes
2. allmusicals.com
3. Lister, David, Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion, The Independent, 28 May 1994
4. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)
5. Unterberger, R. "I'll Cry If I Want To". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
6. http://www.discogs.com /sergio-franchi
7. George Maharis
8. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/81057