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What Kind of Fool Am I?

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" is a popular song written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1962. It was introduced by Anthony Newley in the musical Stop the World – I Want to Get Off. It comes at the end of Act Two to close the show.[1][2] Bricusse and Newley received the 1961 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.[3] At the 1963 Grammy Awards, it won the award for Song of the Year and was the first by Britons to do so.

For the Rick Springfield song, see What Kind of Fool Am I (Rick Springfield song).

"What Kind of Fool Am I?"

"Gonna Build a Mountain"

1962 (1962)

1962

Easy listening, R&B

2:58

Reprise

Background[edit]

This song was recorded whilst Newley was on the road with this production in the United States, after its successful run in the United Kingdom. By the time the cast reached New York, Tony Bennett had re-recorded the song.

The song was a hit for in the year of its publication, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 6 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.[4]

Sammy Davis Jr.

included the song on his 1963 album Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests.

Andy Williams

In 1963 released this song as a Columbia Record single and her version reached No. 47 on the UK charts.

Shirley Bassey

included a version of the song on her 1963 debut album, I'll Cry If I Want To.[5]

Lesley Gore

Lesser chart records were recorded by: and the writer, Anthony Newley. James Brown recorded "What Kind of Fool Am I?" for his 1970 album Soul on Top.

Robert Goulet

In 1964, jazz pianist featured a latin jazz cover on his album The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi. A live version appeared on The Navy Swings the following year (not released until 2010).

Vince Guaraldi

covered this song on his 1963 album Broadway, I Love You.[6]

Sergio Franchi

covered the song on his 1963 album Just Turn Me Loose![7]

George Maharis

covered the song on his 1963 release The Songs I Love.[8]

Perry Como

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" is also known as the of Regine Velasquez. Done in a power ballad style and with powerful vocals, the song reached platinum status on its 1994 CD-release and is included on her multiplatinum international album Listen Without Prejudice. It achieved at least 2× platinum per Asian country in the cited year.

signature song

Italian crooner performed the song in English in 1966, followed by an Italian version (as "Che Uomo Inutile" on his 1967 album L'Immensità.

Johnny Dorelli

recorded the song for his album Alone (Again) in December 1975, not released until 1977.

Bill Evans

and Tom Harrell included the song in their 1991 album Moon and Sand.[9]

Jacky Terrasson

The American indie folk rock band recorded a cover of the song on their 2007 album War Elephant.

Deer Tick

recorded the song on his 2010 album Tried and True.

Clay Aiken

recorded the song for his third album P J Proby...In Town (1965).

P. J. Proby

recorded the song for his 2012 album "Simply Broadway."

Brian Stokes Mitchell

parodied the song as "One Hippopotami" on his 1963 album My Son, the Nut.

Allan Sherman

performed this song on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 31, 1970, where he was repeatedly interrupted by the Sesame Street character Grover. Several other Muppet monsters made cameo appearances in the finale.

Kermit the Frog

Song legacy[edit]

This song was the inspiration for a Gary Larson cartoon depicting scientists examining human subjects with the caption "Yes, they're all fools, gentlemen... But the question remains, 'What KIND of fools are they?'".