Everybody's Somebody's Fool
Encyclopedia
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is a song written by Jack Keller
(music) and Howard Greenfield
(lyrics) which was a #1 hit for Connie Francis
in mid 1960.
Although "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was written as a bluesy ballad, Francis envisioned the song as polka
style number feeling that as such it would fare well in the West German market and producer Arnold Maxin followed Francis' advisement in the 7 April 1960 session at Olmstead Studios (NYC) when Francis cut the song with the Joe Sherman Orchestra.
In the US "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was intended to serve as the B-side for the track "Jealous of You (Tango Della Gelosia)", which like Francis' precedent A-side hit "Mama" was a ballad of Italian origin; however most American radio stations preferred to play "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and - while "Jealous of You" did reach #19 - "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
on 27 June 1960 and remained there the following week. The first of Francis' three US #1's, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was also ranked on the R&B chart at #2 and was the only one of Francis' major hits to cross over to the C&W
charts where it peaked at #24.
A #5 hit in the UK, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was #1 in Australia for three weeks in July 1960 and in South Africa ranked as the #15 hit for that year.http://tsort.info/music/78zuvx.htm
Francis' instincts re the West German hit potential of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" proved correct: rendered as "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel" became the best-selling single of 1960 in West Germany where the original English version of the song also reached #25 in West Germany. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was also #1 in Norway for eight weeks. Translated versions of the song include those made by Celly Campello (in Portuguese as "Alguém é bobo de alguém"), Marketta Joutsi (in Finnish as "Pajunköyttä") and Siw Malmkvist
(in Swedish as "Tunna skivor"). Subsequent to "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", Francis herself began to cut versions of all her single releases in several different languages.
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was remade in 1979 by Debby Boone
who had previously had Top 20 C&W hits with her Connie Francis hit remakes "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
" and "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart
"; however Boone's version of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" only reached #48 C&W. The song has also been an album cut for Lynn Anderson
, Pat Boone
, Ann Breen, Sierra Hull, Margo, Jody Miller
, Marie Osmond
, Sandy Posey
and Bobby Vee
.
The song originally recorded by Connie Francis entitled "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is often confused with an earlier song of the same title written by Ace Adams and Lionel Hampton
which has been recorded by LaVern Baker
, Michael Jackson
, Etta James
, the Heartbeats
(#78/ 1957), Clyde McPhatter
, Little Jimmy Scott, Kay Starr
, Dakota Staton
and Dinah Washington
.
The arrangement performed by Connie Francis is noted for its organ introduction.
Jack Keller (songwriter)
Jack Keller A legend in his own right, Jack Keller wrote hit songs in every genre of music over a period of nearly 40 years with success in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville....
(music) and Howard Greenfield
Howard Greenfield
Howard Greenfield was an American lyricist and songwriter, who for several years in the 1960s worked out of the famous Brill Building...
(lyrics) which was a #1 hit for Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
in mid 1960.
Although "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was written as a bluesy ballad, Francis envisioned the song as polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
style number feeling that as such it would fare well in the West German market and producer Arnold Maxin followed Francis' advisement in the 7 April 1960 session at Olmstead Studios (NYC) when Francis cut the song with the Joe Sherman Orchestra.
In the US "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was intended to serve as the B-side for the track "Jealous of You (Tango Della Gelosia)", which like Francis' precedent A-side hit "Mama" was a ballad of Italian origin; however most American radio stations preferred to play "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and - while "Jealous of You" did reach #19 - "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" reached #1 on the 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...
on 27 June 1960 and remained there the following week. The first of Francis' three US #1's, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was also ranked on the R&B chart at #2 and was the only one of Francis' major hits to cross over to the C&W
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
charts where it peaked at #24.
A #5 hit in the UK, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was #1 in Australia for three weeks in July 1960 and in South Africa ranked as the #15 hit for that year.http://tsort.info/music/78zuvx.htm
Francis' instincts re the West German hit potential of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" proved correct: rendered as "Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel" became the best-selling single of 1960 in West Germany where the original English version of the song also reached #25 in West Germany. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was also #1 in Norway for eight weeks. Translated versions of the song include those made by Celly Campello (in Portuguese as "Alguém é bobo de alguém"), Marketta Joutsi (in Finnish as "Pajunköyttä") and Siw Malmkvist
Siw Malmkvist
Siw "Siwan" Gunnel Margareta Malmkvist is a Swedish singer who is popular in Scandinavia and Germany...
(in Swedish as "Tunna skivor"). Subsequent to "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", Francis herself began to cut versions of all her single releases in several different languages.
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was remade in 1979 by Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
who had previously had Top 20 C&W hits with her Connie Francis hit remakes "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller which was a #1 hit for Connie Francis in 1960.-1960 hit:...
" and "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart
Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart
"Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" is a popular song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller recorded by Connie Francis in a 18 October 1960 New York City session conducted and arranged by Stan Applebaum; the same session produced "Where the Boys Are" to which "Breakin' in a Brand New...
"; however Boone's version of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" only reached #48 C&W. The song has also been an album cut for Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
, Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
, Ann Breen, Sierra Hull, Margo, Jody Miller
Jody Miller
Jody Brooks is an American country music singer. Born as Myrna Joy Miller, she was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Oklahoma.-Career:...
, Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Sandy Posey
Sandy Posey
Sandy Posey is an American popular singer, who enjoyed success in the 1960s with singles such as her 1966 recording of Martha Sharpe's composition, "Single Girl." She is often described as a country singer, although, like Skeeter Davis her output has varied...
and Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
.
The song originally recorded by Connie Francis entitled "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is often confused with an earlier song of the same title written by Ace Adams and Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
which has been recorded by LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" , "Jim Dandy" , and "I Cried a Tear" .-Early life:She was born Delores LaVern Baker in Chicago, Illinois...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, the Heartbeats
The Heartbeats
The Heartbeats were a 1950s American doo-wop group best known for their song "A Thousand Miles Away", which charted at #53 in the US Billboard listings in 1957....
(#78/ 1957), Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
, Little Jimmy Scott, Kay Starr
Kay Starr
Kay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
, Dakota Staton
Dakota Staton
Dakota Staton , also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period, was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No...
and Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
.
The arrangement performed by Connie Francis is noted for its organ introduction.
See also
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1960 (U.S.)
- List of number-one hits of 1960 (Germany)
- List of number-one hits in Norway