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Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)

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"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
Single by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
from the album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
B-side"Please Be Mine"
ReleasedJanuary 10, 1956
RecordedNovember 1955
GenreDoo-wop, rock and roll
Length2:20
LabelGee
Songwriter(s)Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant[1]
Producer(s)George Goldner
Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers singles chronology
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
(1956) 		"I Want You to Be My Girl"
(1956)
Audio sample
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,[2] No. 6 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart,[3] and No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in July.[4][5] Many renditions of the song by other artists have also been hit records in the U.S., including versions by the Diamonds (in 1956), the Beach Boys (in 1964), and Diana Ross (in 1981).

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)[6]—and ranked No. 314 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[7] In 2001, the 1955 recording of the song on Gee Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[8]

Background and authorship

[edit]

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."[9]

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.[10] After a lengthy court battle, songwriting credits were awarded to original Teenagers members Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant in December 1992.[11]

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.[12] The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a further appeal. [13] The current publisher of the song is EMI Music Publishing, which still lists these two as the songwriters.

Beach Boys version

[edit]
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
Single by the Beach Boys
from the album Shut Down Volume 2
A-side"Fun, Fun, Fun"
ReleasedFebruary 3, 1964
RecordedJanuary 7–8, 1964
Length2:07 (original version)
  • 2:33 (extended version)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Frankie Lymon, Morris Levy
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Little Saint Nick"
(1963) 		"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
(1964) 		"I Get Around"
(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.[14] The Beach Boys' version of the song charted at #120.[15] 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]

Personnel

[edit]

Sourced from Craig Slowinski.[16]

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians

Diana Ross version

[edit]
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Why Do Fools Fall in Love
B-side"Think I'm in Love"
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1981
Recorded1980
GenreR&B[17]
Length2:51
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Herman Santiago
Producer(s)Diana Ross
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Endless Love"
(1981) 		"Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
(1981) 		"Mirror Mirror"
(1981)
Music video
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" on YouTube

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,[18] 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.[4]

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]

In the music video, Ross performs the song on Fremont Street in Las Vegas.[19]

Track listings

[edit]
  • 7" single
  1. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - 2:51
  2. "Think I'm In Love"
  • UK remix CD
  1. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (159.0 bpm) - 2:53
  2. "I'm Coming Out" (Joey Negro Extended 12", 109.7 bpm) - 6:05
  3. "The Boss" (David Morales Club, taken from: Diana Extended/The Remixes, 124.0 bpm) - 6:29
  4. "Love Hangover" (Joey Negro Hangover Symphony, 121.0 bpm) - 8:57
  • UK reissue 7"
  1. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  2. "I'm Coming Out" (Joey Negro 7" Mix)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1994) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) 36

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Legacy

[edit]

Film

[edit]

The title of a 1998 biographical film depicting the original life of Frankie Lymon was named after the song.

Lawsuits

[edit]

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

[edit]

The recording by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers is featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti, 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

[edit]
  • 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.[44]
  • Gale Storm released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #9 on the Billboard pop chart.[45]
  • Gloria Mann released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #59 on the Billboard pop chart.[46]
  • Alma Cogan released a version of the song as a single in 1956 that reached #25 in the UK.[47]
  • 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.[48]
  • 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.[49]
  • 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.[50]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Perez-Pena, Richard (November 19, 1992). "Here's Who First Asked Rock's Big Question". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 368.
  3. ^ Marsh, Dave (May 7, 1999). The heart of rock & soul: the 1001 greatest singles ever made - Dave Marsh - Google Books. Hachette Books. ISBN 9780306809019. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". Everyhit.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). En-field, Middle-sex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 26–7. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0899190251. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  7. ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
  9. ^ Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks, "The Teenagers", based on interviews with Jimmy Merchant.
  10. ^ "Why Do Fools Fall In Love? by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - Songfacts".
  11. ^ Merchant v. Lymon, 828 F.Supp. 1048 (S.D.N.Y. July 23, 1993).
  12. ^ Merchant v. Levy, 92 F.3d 51 (2d Cir. August 7, 1996).
  13. ^ Merchant v. Levy, 519 U.S. 1108 (U.S. 1997).
  14. ^ "The Beach Boys, "Fun, Fun, Fun" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "The Beach Boys, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  16. ^ Black, Frank (December 3, 2014). "FRIDAY NIGHT BOYS: The Beach Boys 1964: Keep an Eye on Summer - new copyright extension release". FRIDAY NIGHT BOYS. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  17. ^ Molanphy, Chris (March 15, 2024). "Gotcha Covered Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "Diana Ross, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Positions". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  19. ^ "Diana Ross - Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. April 28, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  20. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  21. ^ "Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0438." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0452." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Diana Ross". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 219. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  27. ^ "Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  29. ^ "Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  32. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  33. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  37. ^ "Chart File Top 100" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications. December 26, 1981. p. 27. Retrieved June 13, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  38. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1981". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  40. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1982". Longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  42. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall in Love". British Phonographic Industry.
  44. ^ "The Diamonds, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  45. ^ "Gale Storm, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  46. ^ "Gloria Mann, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  47. ^ "Alma Cogan, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  48. ^ "The Happenings, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  49. ^ "Ponderosa Twins Plus One, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Positions". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  50. ^ "Joni Mitchell, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Chart Position". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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