A Fool in Love
Encyclopedia
" A Fool in Love" is a soul
single released as the debuting single for Ike & Tina Turner
, released in 1960 on the Sue Records label.
, formerly known as Anna Mae Bullock and during the early years of her tenure with Ike
and his Kings of Rhythm band, Little Ann.
Ike Turner originally encountered Anna Mae Bullock in the mid 1950s, when him and his band the Kings of Rhythm
held a regular night spot at Club Manhattan in St Louis. At first Turner was ambivalent to Bullock's attempts to sing with the band, but eventually she impressed him sufficiently that she became an occasional vocalist in Ike's shows at the age of 18.. Bullock, going under the name "Little Ann", became the spotlight of a soul revue led by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm band.
Ike Turner wrote "A Fool In Love" for a male singer, Art Lassiter with his backing singers the Artettes. Lassiter did not attend on the recording date as a result of a dispute he had with Turner over the financial arrangements for the recording; however the Artettes were at the session. Turner decided to rechristen them The Ikettes
, and gave the song to Bullock to sing, to lay down a guide track for Lassiter to record over if and when the financial dispute was settled. Turner sent the recording as it was to Sue Records
in New York, where label owner Juggy Murray
insisted that Bullock's vocal remain, as it made the track. Murray offered a $25,000 advance for the song, convinced it was a hit.
The song was issued under the Ike and Tina pseudonym and became the duo's first hit single, reaching number two on the R&B singles
chart and number twenty-seven on the US pop singles
chart.
The first time Tina Turner performed this song on national television was on the October 3, 1960 episode of American Bandstand, while she was nine months pregnant with Ike's child. Also Tina performed this song on Ally McBeal
and during her 2000 concert tour,and her performance of this song can be seen on the One Last Time concert DVD, from her Twenty Four Seven Tour.
Cover versions include Tamyra Gray
and Fantasia Barrino
both from American idol
. A more recent cover is by olly Murs
from The X Factor (UK Series 6)
.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
single released as the debuting single for Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner were an American rock & roll and soul duo, made of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 1970s. Spanning sixteen years together as a recording group, the duo's repertoire included rock & roll, soul, blues and funk...
, released in 1960 on the Sue Records label.
Production history
The song featured the first charted hit scored by Tina TurnerTina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, formerly known as Anna Mae Bullock and during the early years of her tenure with Ike
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
and his Kings of Rhythm band, Little Ann.
Ike Turner originally encountered Anna Mae Bullock in the mid 1950s, when him and his band the Kings of Rhythm
Kings of Rhythm
The Kings of Rhythm are a American rhythm & blues and soul group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has undergone considerable lineup changes...
held a regular night spot at Club Manhattan in St Louis. At first Turner was ambivalent to Bullock's attempts to sing with the band, but eventually she impressed him sufficiently that she became an occasional vocalist in Ike's shows at the age of 18.. Bullock, going under the name "Little Ann", became the spotlight of a soul revue led by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm band.
Ike Turner wrote "A Fool In Love" for a male singer, Art Lassiter with his backing singers the Artettes. Lassiter did not attend on the recording date as a result of a dispute he had with Turner over the financial arrangements for the recording; however the Artettes were at the session. Turner decided to rechristen them The Ikettes
The Ikettes
The Ikettes were a trio of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, a prominent American rhythm and blues group from the 1960s.-Career:...
, and gave the song to Bullock to sing, to lay down a guide track for Lassiter to record over if and when the financial dispute was settled. Turner sent the recording as it was to Sue Records
Sue Records
Sue Records was founded in 1957 by Henry 'Juggy' Murray in New York City.Also within the group was Symbol Records and Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O.Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans....
in New York, where label owner Juggy Murray
Juggy Murray
Henry 'Juggy' Murray Jr. was an influential rhythm and blues music producer....
insisted that Bullock's vocal remain, as it made the track. Murray offered a $25,000 advance for the song, convinced it was a hit.
The song was issued under the Ike and Tina pseudonym and became the duo's first hit single, reaching number two on the R&B singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and number twenty-seven on the US pop singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart.
The first time Tina Turner performed this song on national television was on the October 3, 1960 episode of American Bandstand, while she was nine months pregnant with Ike's child. Also Tina performed this song on Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
and during her 2000 concert tour,and her performance of this song can be seen on the One Last Time concert DVD, from her Twenty Four Seven Tour.
Cover versions include Tamyra Gray
Tamyra Gray
Tamyra Monica Gray is an American actress, singer and songwriter, who finished fourth place on the first season of the musical reality competition American Idol in 2002. Record and television executive Simon Cowell — who judged the show for nine seasons — was disappointed when she was voted off...
and Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which...
both from American idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. A more recent cover is by olly Murs
Olly Murs
Oliver Stanley "Olly" Murs is an English singer-songwriter and TV presenter. Murs rose to fame after being the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor...
from The X Factor (UK Series 6)
The X Factor (UK series 6)
The sixth series of British television music competition The X Factor started on ITV on 22 August 2009 and was won by Joe McElderry on 13 December 2009. Cheryl Cole emerged as the winning mentor for the second consecutive year, the first time in the show's history that a mentor has won back-to-back...
.
Personnel
- Lead vocal by Tina Turner
- Background vocals by The IkettesThe IkettesThe Ikettes were a trio of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, a prominent American rhythm and blues group from the 1960s.-Career:...
- Produced and written by Ike Turner