A single from the bargain bins and it haunted me for some reason, the voice of Michael McDonald alone struck me and the song is well written I feel . . . . . otherwise wouldn't be seen with a Doobie Brothers track in the collection somehow . . . . . . . a doobie maybe but that's a whole other story!

On this day in music history: April 14, 1979 - “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week, also peaking at #72 on the R&B singles chart on April 7, 1979. Written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, it is the second chart topping single for the Northern California based rock band. McDonald and Loggins write the song in early 1978, with Loggins first recording a version of it for his album “Nightwatch”. The Doobie Brothers cut their own version shortly afterward, but once in studio, recording it proves to be a struggle. McDonald and producer Ted Templeman has a particular vision for how the song should sound, wanting it to have a “loose, floppy feel”. They spend five to six days recording and re-recording the basic track, which is particularly taxing on drummer Keith Knudsen. Finally, the master take is finally achieved with Templeman and Knudsen playing drums in tandem. Issued as the first single from their album “Minute By Minute” in December of 1978, the song becomes a smash. The track is also remixed by legendary club DJ Jim Burgess, and is released as a 12" single. Entering the Hot 100 at #73 on January 20, 1979, it climbs to the top of the chart twelve weeks later. “What A Fool Believes” wins two Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year in 1980. One of The Doobie Brothers most frequently covered songs, “Fool” is also recorded by Aretha Franklin, Matt Bianco, M People, Peter Cox (Go West), and Dionne Warwick. The Doobies themselves re-record the song with country singer Sara Evans in 2014. “What A Fool Believes” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.


thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves