Chain of Fools (song)
Encyclopedia
"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay
. Aretha Franklin
first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart, staying there for four weeks, and went to number two on the pop chart in January 1968.
It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award
. In 2004, this song was ranked #249 on Rolling Stone
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
. The trademark tremolo guitar licks at the introduction were played by Joe South
.
A live recording featured on the album "Aretha in Paris
" (1968).
"Chain Of Fools" is an unauthorized rewrite of the gospel song "Pains Of Life", released earlier in 1967 by Elijah Fair & The Sensational Gladys Davis Trio. "Pains Of Life" has the same melody as the later song, as well the chorus "Pain Pain Pain", which is echoed as "Chain Chain Chain" in the Franklin recording.
In the 1996 movie Michael
, Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" is the juke box selection played as Michael (John Travolta
) dances with - at the start - 2 waitresses and then - finally - most of the women in the restaurant/bar.
The song is featured in a 1986 episode of Valerie (later known as The Hogan Family
).
Don Covay
Don Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart, staying there for four weeks, and went to number two on the pop chart in January 1968.
It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award
Grammy Hall of Fame Award
The Grammy Hall of Fame Award is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance"...
. In 2004, this song was ranked #249 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
. The trademark tremolo guitar licks at the introduction were played by Joe South
Joe South
Joe South is a multi-talented American singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Career:...
.
A live recording featured on the album "Aretha in Paris
Aretha in Paris
Aretha In Paris is a live album by Aretha Franklin released in 1968. The album was recorded in Paris on May 7, 1968. It reached the Top 20 of Billboards album chart...
" (1968).
"Chain Of Fools" is an unauthorized rewrite of the gospel song "Pains Of Life", released earlier in 1967 by Elijah Fair & The Sensational Gladys Davis Trio. "Pains Of Life" has the same melody as the later song, as well the chorus "Pain Pain Pain", which is echoed as "Chain Chain Chain" in the Franklin recording.
In the 1996 movie Michael
Michael (1996 film)
Michael is a 1996 American fantasy film directed by Nora Ephron and released in 1996. The film stars John Travolta as the Archangel Michael, who is sent to Earth to do various tasks, including mending some wounded hearts...
, Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" is the juke box selection played as Michael (John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
) dances with - at the start - 2 waitresses and then - finally - most of the women in the restaurant/bar.
The song is featured in a 1986 episode of Valerie (later known as The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family is an American television situation comedy that aired from March 1, 1986 to July 20, 1991...
).
Chart positions
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 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... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues 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,... |
1 |
Cover versions
- In 1969, Finnish jazz singer Carola tried out rhythm & blues, recording a television video of "Chain of Fools". The tongue-in-cheek choreography by Heikki Värtsi included girl group dancing and Carola whipping a man in a cave.
- In 1969 jazz flutist Herbie MannHerbie MannHerbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
covered the song on his album Memphis UndergroundMemphis UndergroundMemphis Underground is a 1969 album by jazz flautist Herbie Mann, that attempts to fuse the genres of Jazz and Rhythm & Blues . While Mann and the other principal soloists were leading jazz musicians, the album was recorded in Chips Moman's American Studios in Memphis, a studio used by many...
- British Heavy Metal band TankTank (band)Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
covered the song on their 1984 album Honour & BloodHonour & BloodHonour & Blood is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Tank, released in 1984. By the time of this album Algy Ward was the last original member of the group remaining, as the Brabbs brothers had been replaced by Cliff Evans on guitar and Graeme Crallan on drums...
.
- Carol GrimesCarol GrimesCarol Grimes is a smooth jazz and world music singer.Grimes came to prominence in 1969 as a member of Delivery, associated with the Canterbury Scene. During the 1970s she performed regularly on the London blues circuit with her band The London Boogie Band...
also covered the song on her 1989 album Why Don't They Dance.
- "Chain of Fools" was one of the soul songs covered by the 1990 Irish film The CommitmentsThe Commitments (film)The Commitments , the soundtrack for the film, was released on 13 Aug 1991. "Mustang Sally" was released as a single. Most of the songs on the album are performed by the cast band, but two are by Irish singer Niamh Kavanagh.-Track listing:-Chart positions:-The Commitments, Vol...
. It was sung by The Commitments band's female singers "The Commitmentettes" and features in the movie's self-titled soundtrack album.
- In 1990 the American hard rock band Little CaesarLittle Caesar (band)-History:The band was founded late in the 1980s by Ron Young, who had previously worked as a nightclub bouncer. The group independently released an EP which led to their signing with DGC Records, a subsidiary of Geffen Records, in 1989. John Kalodner did A&R work for the group, and Bob Rock...
covered the song on their self-titled debut album.
- A blues boogie version by R. L. BurnsideR. L. BurnsideNot to be confused with R. H. Burnside, stage director.R. L. Burnside , born Robert Lee Burnside, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who lived much of his life in and around Holly Springs, Mississippi. He played music for much of his life, but did not receive much attention...
appears on his 2000 album Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down.
- In 2000 Australian Rock artist Jimmy BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
did a cover version of this song for his live album Soul Deeper.
- In 2001 the American Rock/Punk band Lit made a cover of the song for their album AtomicAtomic (album)Atomic is Lit's third album, released on October 16, 2001. It peaked at #36 on the Billboard 200."Happy In The Meantime" is located on the soundtrack for Mr. Deeds and is played as the credits roll....
, where it is a bonus song.
- In 2001, Italian group ZuZu (band)- Biography :Hailing from Ostia, a town near Rome, Zu are an atypical trio made of drums, electric bass, baritone saxophone and electronics. Formed in Rome in 1997, they began as composers and players for theatre performances. The band is composed of three members: Luca Mai on baritone saxophone,...
covered the song with Eugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneEugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
and Roy Paci on the 2001 album Motorhellington.
- A German version, entitled Schön, Schön, Schön, was published in 2003 by the German soul singer Stefan Gwildis.
- In the 2003 film School of RockSchool of RockSchool of Rock, also called The School of Rock, is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black...
, the character Tomika (played by Maryam Hassan) performs part of the song as an audition to become a backing singer in the band.
- Fantasia BarrinoFantasia BarrinoFantasia 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...
performed a cover of the song on American Idol 3 (2004) and later included a studio version in her debut album Free YourselfFree YourselfFree Yourself is the debut album by American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, which was released on November 23, 2004. The album was a great success for Barrino, selling over 240,000 units in its first week, and reaching number eight on the United States Billboard 200 chart...
.
- Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
covered the song on his 2004 album Heart & Soul
- In 2005, cover version "Chain Of Fools: Revisited" appeared on the album Timeless Playground by Milto Eph.
- Brazilian singers PittyPittyPriscilla Novaes Leone , better known as Pitty, is a Brazilian rock singer.She had played in two bands, Shes and Inkoma, before starting her solo career in 2003. She has sold over 2 million copies in her career, being one of the best selling rock artists in the 2000s...
and Negra LiNegra LiNegra Li is a Brazilian actress, singer and dancer. She was one of the lead actresses in the 2006 musical drama film Antônia.- Discography :-References:...
covered the song on 2007 EP Estúdio Coca-Cola - Pitty e Negra Li
- A version by Eva CassidyEva CassidyEva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
appears on her 2008 album Somewhere.
- On American Idol season 7American Idol (season 7)The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
(2008), contestant Syesha Mercado sang this song during Hollywood week.
- Nicole Scherzinger samples "Chain of Fools" in the New Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
song "Grown ManGrown ManGrown Man is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, released on October 2, 1995 on Virgin Records. The release is generally considered less stark and somewhat more humorous that its predecessor, History....
", from their 2008 album The BlockThe Block (album)The Block is the fifth studio album by New Kids on the Block. The album was released on September 2, 2008, along with a deluxe edition that included four bonus tracks. It sold 100,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at number one on the U.S. Top Pop Albums chart and at number two on...
.
- 2009 Blues Music Award Nominee Jean ShyJean ShyJean Shy is an internationally acclaimed soul, Blues, jazz and Gospel singer, songwriter, music producer, and actress. Born in Chicago, Shy's vocal background had its beginning in Gospel music. Mahalia Jackson was her first musical Idol. Elvis Presley inspired her to become a professional...
and her band The Shy Guys performed, and recorded this song live at an Open Air Concert in Duisburg, Germany. It was released on their CD Unchain My Heart.
- A cover was made for the 2009 game Karaoke RevolutionKaraoke RevolutionKaraoke Revolution and its many sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix Music Systems and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Concept for Karaoke Revolution was...
.
- In American Idol season 9American Idol (season 9)The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010 and concluded on May 26, 2010 on Fox. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge. Idol Gives Back also returned for the season and was...
(2010), Katie StevensKatie StevensKatherine Mari "Katie" Stevens is an American singer from Middlebury, Connecticut who finished in eighth place on the ninth season of American Idol.-Biography:...
performed this song during the Top 10 week.
- Richard MarxRichard MarxRichard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
covered the song at a concert, which included additional lyrics: "Killing time/At the Bottom Line/Feeling fine/At the Bottom Line."
- The song is used as "Lei Lei Lei" as the ending theme to Ok, il prezzo è giusto!, the Italian version of The Price is RightThe Price Is RightThe Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
.
- The song is also one of Gabby Kenny's cover songs.
- The Chopsticks (a Hong Kong female duo, made up of Sandra LangSandra LangSandra Lang is a former Taishan Cantopop singer, active in the 1970s. - Career :During the late 1960s Sandra Lang's career began under the HK English pop group named The Chopsticks. The group did not last long, as Lang soon went solo for TVB....
(仙杜拉) & Amina (亞美娜)), covered this as a medley song with "SunnySunnySunny may refer to:*An abundance of sunlight*It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a television show*Nissan Sunny, a vehicle*Seiyu Group, a Japanese supermarket, an Indonesian cargo ship in service 1959–69...
"、"Gimme Little SignGimme Little Sign"Gimme Little Sign" is a classic soul music song by Brenton Wood. It was released in 1967 on the album The Oogum Boogum Song. It was written by Jerry Winn, Alfred Smith and Joseph Hooven...
" & "Uptight (Everything's Alright)Uptight (Everything's Alright)"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
" on their 1971 LP 《All Of A Sudden》issue.
- In 1993, the Italian singer, GiorgiaGiorgiaGiorgia is the Italian cognate of the female name Georgia. It may refer to:*Giorgia Apollonio, an Italian curler*Giorgia Bronzini, an Italian professional racing cyclist*Giorgia Carrossa, an Italian figure skater...
, made a live version of this song.