Don't Want to Be a Fool

Last updated
"Don't Want to Be a Fool"
Don't Want To Be(1991).jpg
Single by Luther Vandross
from the album Power of Love
ReleasedJune 20, 1991 (1991-06-20) [1]
Recorded1991
Genre R&B, soul
Length4:35 [2]
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
Producer(s) Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
Luther Vandross singles chronology
"Power of Love/Love Power"
(1991)
"Don't Want to Be a Fool"
(1991)
"The Rush"
(1991)
Music video
"Don't Want to Be a Fool" on YouTube

"Don't Want to Be a Fool" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, released as the second single from his seventh album, Power of Love (1991). The song peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart on September 14, 1991. It also peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 2, 1991. [3]

Contents

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic picked the song as one of the "high points" of the album. [4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Second single from Vandross' current Power of Love disc places the acclaimed vocalist in a familiar R&B ballad setting. Lovely tune has already begun making radio and chart inroads, and should have no trouble matching the success of its predecessor." [5] Alex Henderson and Bryan DeVaney from Cashbox described it as "a smooth, mid-tempo "up-town soul" song oozing with emotion." [6]

Track listing

  1. "Don't Want to Be a Fool" — 4:35

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 9
align="left"US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [7] 5
US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard )4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamonds and Pearls (song)</span> 1991 single by Prince and The New Power Generation

"Diamonds and Pearls" is the title track of American musician Prince and The New Power Generation's 1991 album. The song is an upbeat ballad, given a rock edge with guitar and heavy drumming. It also features the vocals of NPG member Rosie Gaines. The ballad is an expression of love and not lust, as is the theme on some of the other singles from the album. It was a top 10 hit, reaching number three in the US and the top spot on the R&B chart. The pearls in the accompanying music video come from Connie Parente, a Los Angeles jewelry collector and designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Love (song)</span> 1981 single by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and Pop icon singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with fellow R&B singer Mariah Carey and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers has also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all-time.

"Dance with My Father" is a song by Luther Vandross and the title track to his thirteenth studio album. It was released in May 2003 as the album's lead single. With Richard Marx, Vandross wrote the song based on his personal experience. The lyrics recall childhood memories with Vandross' father, who used to dance with him and his mother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Woman</span> 1991 single by Lisa Stansfield

"All Woman" is a song recorded by British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield for her second album, Real Love (1991). It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. It was released as the second single on 9 December 1991 in the United Kingdom and in early 1992 in the rest of the world. The Nick Brandt-directed music video was also released. The song reached number twenty in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number fifty-six on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number twenty-one on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart. The single's B-side included previously unreleased track, "Everything Will Get Better." The latter was remixed by Danny Tenaglia and reached number thirty-six on the Hot Dance Club Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power of Love/Love Power</span> 1991 single by Luther Vandross

"Power of Love/Love Power" is a single by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released on April 9, 1991 as the lead single from his 1991 album of the same name. The hit song spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart, and peaked at number four on the US pop chart, becoming his biggest pop solo hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Be with You</span> 1991 single by Mr. Big

"To Be with You" is a song by American rock band Mr. Big. The ballad was released in November 1991 as the second single from their second album, Lean into It (1991). The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and topped the charts in 11 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Ain't Over 'til It's Over</span> 1991 single by Lenny Kravitz

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000. The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can Make It Better</span> 1996 single by Luther Vandross

"I Can Make It Better" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. It was released in 1996 as the second single from his tenth and platinum album, Your Secret Love (1996). The song reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and peaked in the top fifty on the UK Singles Chart. A music video was also produced to promote the single.

<i>One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Luther Vandross

One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2 is the third compilation album released by American singer Luther Vandross, released on September 15, 1997 by Epic Records. It is his second compilation album to be released stateside, and is a continuation of his triple-platinum selling first compilation The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love (1989). One Night with You contains four newly recorded songs including the R. Kelly-penned and Grammy-nominated "When You Call on Me/Baby That's When I Come Runnin'" and selections compiled from his later studio albums such as Songs (1994), This Is Christmas (1995), Never Let Me Go (1993), Power of Love (1991) and Your Secret Love (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Love Cries</span> 1991 song by Donna Summer

"When Love Cries" is the first single from Mistaken Identity, the fifteenth studio album by American singer Donna Summer. It was written by Summer, Keith Diamond, Paul Chiten, Anthony Smith and Larry Henley and produced by Diamond. It was released in August 1991 by Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Bros. in Europe. The song peaked at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 on the Billboard R&B charts. "When Love Cries" would turn out to be Summer's final single to reach the R&B charts in the United States. Despite being the lead single for her new album and its relative success, there was no music video made for the song.

<i>The Ultimate Luther Vandross</i> 2001 greatest hits album by Luther Vandross

The Ultimate Luther Vandross is a greatest hits album by American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross, released in 2001. The compilation was re-released in 2006 with a different track listing, along with two previously unreleased songs. The unreleased cut "Got You Home" which appears on the 2006 edition of the compilation, earned Vandross a posthumous nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always and Forever (Heatwave song)</span>

"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rush</span> 1991 single by Luther Vandross

The Rush is a song by American recording R&B artist Luther Vandross', released as the third single from his 1991 album, Power of Love. It reached number six on the US R&B Singles chart and peaked at number 73 on Billboard's Hot 100 in January 1992. The next single to follow was "Sometimes It's Only Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't You Know That?</span> 1981 single by Luther Vandross

"Don't You Know That?" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. The song was released as the second single in support of the album Never Too Much.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sometimes It's Only Love</span> 1992 single by Luther Vandross

"Sometimes It's Only Love" is a 1991 song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. The single was released in 1992 in support of his album Power of Love. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard's Hot R&B Singles and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Secret Love (song)</span> 1996 single by Luther Vandross

"Your Secret Love" is a 1996 song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. It was released as the lead single in support of his tenth studio album, Your Secret Love (1996). The single peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nights in Harlem</span> 1998 single by Luther Vandross

"Nights in Harlem" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. It was written by Vandross along with Fonzi Thornton and Rex Rideout for his eleventh studio album I Know (1998). The uptempo song served as the album's lead single. Following its release, it peaked number 4 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)</span> 1993 single by Luther Vandross

"Little Miracles " is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross. The single supports his 1993 platinum album, Never Let Me Go. The song became a top ten hit on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles and reached top 30 on the UK Singles Chart. It also became the most successful single from the album on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number sixty-two. It was nominated for best R&B songwriting at the 36th Grammy Awards in March 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Knows (Luther Vandross song)</span> 1993 single by Luther Vandross

"Heaven Knows" is a 1993 song by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released as the second single from his eight studio album, Never Let Me Go (1993). It peaked in the top 30 on both Billboard's Hot R&B Singles and the Hot Dance Club Play, and also at thirty-three on the Hot Adult Contemporary Singles chart.

"Never Let Me Go" is a blues ballad song by American R&B/blues singer Johnny Ace, written by Joseph Scott and released in 1954 under Duke Records. The song is featured on the albums My Songs and Memorial. "Never Let Me Go" was one of his eighth consecutive top ten R&B hits in a row, including "My Song", "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Pledging My Love," "Saving My Love for You," and "Anymore". The song was R&B hit and peaked to No. 9 in October 1954 on Billboards Rhythm & Blues Records chart.

References

  1. "Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News | ajc.com". Nl.newsbank.com. 1991-08-10. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  2. "Luther Vandross - Don't Want To Be A Fool at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  3. "Luther Vandross Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Luther Vandross – Power of Love". AllMusic . Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  5. Flick, Larry (1991-08-10). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 67. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  6. Henderson, Alex; DeVaney, Bryan (1991-08-17). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox . p. 5. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  7. "Luther Vandross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.