What a Fool Believes


"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album Minute by Minute. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979 for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
The song was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during the first eight months of 1979. The lyrics tell a story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that one never really existed.
It was claimed that Michael Jackson contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.

Reception

Billboard Magazine singled out the vocal performance, synthesizers and production for praise. Billboard described the song as building from a melodic first verse "to a heart warming hook chorus."

Personnel

Additional players

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other versions by Loggins and McDonald

Kenny Loggins released a version of the song on his 1978 album Nightwatch, and a live version on his 1980 album Kenny Loggins Alive. Loggins' original version switches several of the gender pronouns, so that it is sung largely from the perspective of the woman in the encounter.
There is a Loggins/McDonald live duet on Loggins' 1993 album .
Warner Brothers also released a 12-inch single disco version by the Doobie Brothers in 1978, which peaked at number 40 on Billboards Disco Action Chart in April 1979. Mixed by disco producer Jim Burgess, at 5:31 the song is considerably longer than the 3:41 versions on the 7-inch single and the Minute by Minute LP. The 12-inch version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.

Matt Bianco version

"What a Fool Believes" is a 12" vinyl EP by Matt Bianco, released in 1991.

Track listing

Numerous cover versions of the song have been recorded, including: