Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)
{{short description|1956 single by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Why Do Fools Fall in Love
| cover = US_78_why_do_fools_fall_in_love_teenagers.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
| album = The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
| B-side = Please Be Mine
| released = January 10, 1956
| recorded = November 1955
| studio =
| genre = Doo-wop, rock and roll
| length = 2:20
| label = Gee
| writer = Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/19/nyregion/here-s-who-first-asked-rock-s-big-question.html|title=Here's Who First Asked Rock's Big Question|first=Richard|last=Perez-Pena|date=November 19, 1992|access-date=April 28, 2021|website=The New York Times}}
| producer = George Goldner
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = I Want You to Be My Girl
| next_year = 1956
| misc =
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by The Teenagers.ogg
| description = 13-second audio sample of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
}}
}}
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (initially "Why Do Birds Sing So Gay?") is a debut single by American rock and roll band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers that was released on January 10, 1956. It reached No. 1 on the R&B chart,{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=368}} No. 6 on Billboard
The song was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings—published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981){{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=0899190251|chapter=A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg70/basics.php|access-date=March 16, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}—and ranked No. 314 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{cite magazine |title=Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/frankie-lymon-and-the-teenagers-why-do-fools-fall-in-love-20110526 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=October 1, 2015}} In 2001, the 1955 recording of the song on Gee Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#w|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com}}
Background and authorship
In late 1955, The Teenagers (at that time calling themselves The Premiers) auditioned a song called "Why do Birds Sing So Gay?" for George Goldner, recording producer and owner of Gee Records. Herman Santiago, tenor of the group, had written the song based on a line from some love letters given to the guys by a tenant in bassist Sherman Garnes' apartment building. One of them featured the words "Why do birds sing so gay?," which fit in with lyrics of other songs that Herman had been writing based on a 1-6-2-5 chord pattern. Herman adjusted the harmony to take advantage of Frankie Lymon's high tenor/soprano. At Goldner's suggestion, some of the lyrics were changed. During the audition, Lymon's voice stood out and Goldner recommended the lead in subsequent recording sessions be given to Lymon. The singer did some improvising and recreated the melody to match his own style. According to Jimmy Merchant, what happened at the recording session was a combination of "Frankie's singing ability coupled with George Goldner's special ability to bring out the best in Frankie."Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks, "The Teenagers", based on interviews with Jimmy Merchant.
Although early vinyl single releases of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" credit Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, and George Goldner as co-writers of the song, later releases and cover versions were attributed only to Lymon and record producer George Goldner. Goldner's name was later replaced by Morris Levy when Levy bought Goldner's interest in Gee Records, the Teenagers' record company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/frankie-lymon-the-teenagers/why-do-fools-fall-in-love|title=Why Do Fools Fall In Love? by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - Songfacts}}
After a lengthy court battle, songwriting credits were awarded to original Teenagers members Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant in December 1992.{{cite court |litigants=Merchant v. Lymon|vol=828 |reporter=F.Supp. |opinion=1048 |pinpoint= |court=S.D.N.Y.|date=July 23, 1993 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=43526739017844608 |access-date=April 5, 2023| }}
However, this ruling was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit because Santiago and Merchant did not bring the case to court soon enough. This gave the song rights back to Lymon and Levy.{{cite court |litigants=Merchant v. Levy |vol=92 |reporter=F.3d |opinion=51 |pinpoint= |court=2d Cir.|date=August 7, 1996 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17363566383284114372 |access-date=April 5, 2023| }} The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a further appeal.{{cite court |litigants=Merchant v. Levy |vol=519 |reporter=U.S. |opinion=1108 |pinpoint= |court=U.S.|date=1997| }} The current publisher of the song is EMI Music Publishing, which still lists these two as the songwriters.
Beach Boys version
{{Infobox song
| name = Why Do Fools Fall in Love
| cover = Why_Do_Fools_Fall_in_Love_Beach_Boys.jpg
| caption = U.S. picture sleeve (reverse)
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Beach Boys
| album = Shut Down Volume 2
| A-side = Fun, Fun, Fun
| released = February 3, 1964
| recorded = January 7–8, 1964
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 2:07 (original version)
- 2:33 (extended version)
| label = Capitol
| writer = Frankie Lymon, Morris Levy
| producer = Brian Wilson
| prev_title = Little Saint Nick
| prev_year = 1963
| next_title = I Get Around
| next_year = 1964
}}
The song was used as a B-side for the Beach Boys single "Fun, Fun, Fun", which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.{{cite web|title=The Beach Boys, "Fun, Fun, Fun" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Fun%2C+Fun%2C+Fun+by+The+Beach+Boys&id=41265|access-date=December 8, 2016}} The Beach Boys' version of the song charted at #120.{{cite web|title=The Beach Boys, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+The+Beach+Boys&id=41266|access-date=December 8, 2016}} It was included on the Beach Boys 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2 and had only appeared in mono since the release of the single back in 1964.
The single mix of the song was later found and used on the 2007 The Warmth of the Sun compilation and on The Original US Singles Collection The Capitol Years 1962–1965. This box set, released in 2008, also used a recently found mono single edit mix. In 2009, a new stereo mix was created with a newly discovered intro, due to the discovery of the original multitrack masters by Jon Stebbins and is featured on the band's compilation Summer Love Songs. The song was also performed as part of the band's 50th Anniversary Tour, usually during the first half of the shows. One of the performances was later included on the live album from the tour.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
= Personnel =
The Beach Boys
- Al Jardine – harmony and backing vocals
- Mike Love – intro bass vocal, harmony and backing vocals
- Brian Wilson – lead, harmony, and backing vocals, upright piano
- Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals
- Dennis Wilson – harmony and backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Leon Russell – upright piano, tack piano
- Al De Lory – grand piano
- Bill Pitman – acoustic guitar
- Tommy Tedesco – electric guitar
- Ray Pohlman – bass guitar
- Jimmy Bond – double bass
- Hal Blaine – drums, timpani
- Frank Capp – glockenspiel, temple blocks, castanets
- Steve Douglas – tenor saxophone
- Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone
- Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone
Diana Ross version
{{Infobox song
| name = Why Do Fools Fall in Love
| cover = Why_Do_Fools_Fall_in_Love_-_Diana_Ross.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Diana Ross
| album = Why Do Fools Fall in Love
| B-side = Think I'm in Love
| released = September 25, 1981
| recorded = 1980
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = R&B{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2024/03/what-fast-car-by-luke-combs-tells-us-about-the-art-of-the-cover-song
|title= Gotcha Covered Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date= March 15, 2024|access-date= March 19, 2024}}
| length = 2:51
| label = RCA Records
| writer = Herman Santiago
| producer = Diana Ross
| prev_title = Endless Love
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Mirror Mirror
| next_year = 1981
| misc = {{External music video|type=single|header=Music video|1={{YouTube|VFRBK5Phd4w|"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"}}}}
}}
American singer Diana Ross released a cover version on the RCA label on September 25, 1981, as the first single from her album of the same name (1981). She also produced her rendition of the song. It was a hit, peaking at No. 2 on the US adult contemporary chart, No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart, No. 6 on the US R&B chart, and No. 7 on Billboard's Pop Singles Chart,{{cite web|title=Diana Ross, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Positions|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love%3F+by+Diana+Ross&id=11803|access-date=December 8, 2016}} and earning her a British Phonographic Industry silver disc award for sales in excess of 250,000 copies. It also reached No.1 in Belgium and the Netherlands and climbed to the top 10 in Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland as well as making the top 20 in Australia, Canada and West Germany. A reissue of Ross' cover peaked at No. 36 on the UK chart in July 1994.
After Ross returned the song to the top ten, a controversy ensued concerning Lymon's estate. Three women involved in lawsuits and countersuits over Lymon's copyrights and royalties each claimed to be Lymon's rightful widow. The string of court cases were portrayed in the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
In the music video, Ross performs the song on Fremont Street in Las Vegas.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1u9hg_diana-ross-why-do-fools-fall-in-lov_music |title=Diana Ross - Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Video Dailymotion |publisher=Dailymotion.com |date=April 28, 2007 |access-date=March 18, 2014}}
=Track listings=
- 7" single
- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - 2:51
- "Think I'm In Love"
- UK remix CD
- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (159.0 bpm) - 2:53
- "I'm Coming Out" (Joey Negro Extended 12", 109.7 bpm) - 6:05
- "The Boss" (David Morales Club, taken from: Diana Extended/The Remixes, 124.0 bpm) - 6:29
- "Love Hangover" (Joey Negro Hangover Symphony, 121.0 bpm) - 8:57
- UK reissue 7"
- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
- "I'm Coming Out" (Joey Negro 7" Mix)
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Weekly charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1981–82)
! Peak |
|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 |title=Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) |website=Australian-charts.com |access-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|15 |
| {{single chart |Flanders|1|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Canadaadultcontemporary|5|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |chartid=0438|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Canadatopsingles|17|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |chartid=0452|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=219|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Diana Ross|page=219|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=July 4, 2022|language=fi}}
| style="text-align:center;"|25 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|9|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|access-date=June 22, 2017}} |
| {{single chart |Dutch40|1|year=1981|week=51 |access-date=September 30, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Dutch100|1|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |New Zealand|3|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Switzerland|9|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |UK|4|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |date=19811206|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Billboardhot100|6|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Billboardadultcontemporary|2|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| {{single chart |Billboardrandbhiphop|6|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
| US Cash Box Top 100
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
| {{single chart |West Germany|17|song=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|artist=Diana Ross |songid=790|access-date=September 27, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
Year-end charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1982)
! Position |
|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1982|title=Jaaroverzichten 1982|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=September 30, 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|49 |
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1982 |title=Top 100 Hits for 1982 |website=Longboredsurfer.com |access-date=January 17, 2016}}
| style="text-align:center;"|54 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1982|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 30, 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|46 |
| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1982|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 30, 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|43 |
{{col-end}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1994)
! Peak |
|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"|36 |
=Certifications=
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Diana Ross|title=Why Do Fools Fall in Love|award=Silver|relyear=1981|certyear=1981|id=8253-2600-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Legacy
= Film =
The title of a 1998 biographical film depicting the original life of Frankie Lymon was named after the song.
= Lawsuits =
Disputes regarding the original recording's copyright and ownership of royalties emerged in the decades following Lymon's death, with cases lasting until the 1990s.
= Soundtrack =
The recording by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers is featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti (which is set in 1962), in a scene where Richard Dreyfuss's character first notices a mysterious blonde girl; as well as the 1999 film October Sky, it is featured when Jake Gyllenhaal's character Homer Hickam and his friends are spending the night out at the dance club.
Other charting versions
- The Canadian group the Diamonds did a more traditional doo wop version that came out two months after Lymon's in March 1956. This version stayed 19 weeks on the Billboard chart, topping out at No. 12.{{cite web|title=The Diamonds, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+The+Diamonds&id=42403|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- Gale Storm released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #9 on the Billboard pop chart.{{cite web|title=Gale Storm, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love%3F+by+Gale+Storm&id=16810|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- Gloria Mann released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #59 on the Billboard pop chart.{{cite web|title=Gloria Mann, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love%3F+by+Gloria+Mann&id=17997|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- Alma Cogan released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #25 in the UK.{{cite web|title=Alma Cogan, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+Alma+Cogan&id=1949|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- The Happenings released a slower version of the song, in a harmony-driven soft rock arrangement, as a single in 1967 that reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|title=The Happenings, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+The+Happenings&id=43121|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- Ponderosa Twins Plus One released a version of the song as a single in 1972 that reached #40 on the US R&B chart and #102 on the Billboard pop chart.{{cite web|title=Ponderosa Twins Plus One, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Positions|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+Ponderosa+Twins&id=82584|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
- Joni Mitchell, backed by The Persuasions, released a live version of the song as a single in 1980 that reached #102 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.{{cite web|title=Joni Mitchell, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Why+Do+Fools+Fall+in+Love+by+Joni+Mitchell&id=23337|access-date=December 8, 2016}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{The Teenagers}}
{{Shut Down Volume 2}}
{{The Beach Boys singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:His Master's Voice singles