Chain of Fools

For the 2000 film, see Chain of Fools (film).

"Chain of Fools"
Single by Aretha Franklin
from the album Lady Soul
Released	1967
Format	7" single
Genre	Rock and roll, soul
Length	2:47
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	Don Covay
Producer	Jerry Wexler
Certification	Gold
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967) "Chain of Fools" (1967) "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (1968)

"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart, staying there for four weeks, and went to number two on the pop chart in January 1968.

It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and later a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004, this song was ranked #249 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The trademark tremolo guitar licks at the introduction were played by Joe South.

A live recording featured on the album "Aretha in Paris" (1968).

"Chain Of Fools" is an unauthorized rewrite of the gospel song "Pains Of Life", released earlier in 1967 by Elijah Fair & The Sensational Gladys Davis Trio. "Pains Of Life" has the same melody as the later song, as well the chorus "Pain Pain Pain", which is echoed as "Chain Chain Chain" in the Franklin recording.

In the 1996 movie Michael, Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" is the juke box selection played as Michael (John Travolta) dances with - at the start - 2 waitresses and then - finally - most of the women in the restaurant/bar.

The song is featured in a 1986 episode of Valerie (later known as The Hogan Family).

Chart positions

Charts	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues	1

Cover versions

• In 1969, Finnish jazz singer Carola tried out rhythm & blues, recording a television video of "Chain of Fools". The tongue-in-cheek choreography by Heikki Värtsi included girl group dancing and Carola whipping a man in a cave.

• In 1969 jazz flutist Herbie Mann covered the song on his album Memphis Underground

• British Heavy Metal band Tank covered the song on their 1984 album Honour & Blood.

• Carol Grimes also covered the song on her 1989 album Why Don't They Dance.

• "Chain of Fools" was one of the soul songs covered by the 1990 Irish film The Commitments. It was sung by The Commitments band's female singers "The Commitmentettes" and features in the movie's self-titled soundtrack album.

• In 1990 the American hard rock band Little Caesar covered the song on their self-titled debut album.

• A blues boogie version by R. L. Burnside appears on his 2000 album Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down.

• In 2000 Australian Rock artist Jimmy Barnes did a cover version of this song for his live album Soul Deeper.

• In 2001 the American Rock/Punk band Lit made a cover of the song for their album Atomic, where it is a bonus song.

• In 2001, Italian group Zu covered the song with Eugene Chadbourne and Roy Paci on the 2001 album Motorhellington.

• A German version, entitled Schön, Schön, Schön, was published in 2003 by the German soul singer Stefan Gwildis.

• In the 2003 film School of Rock, the character Tomika (played by Maryam Hassan) performs part of the song as an audition to become a backing singer in the band.

• Fantasia Barrino performed a cover of the song on American Idol 3 (2004) and later included a studio version in her debut album Free Yourself.

• Joe Cocker covered the song on his 2004 album Heart & Soul

• In 2005, cover version "Chain Of Fools: Revisited" appeared on the album Timeless Playground by Milto Eph.

• Brazilian singers Pitty and Negra Li covered the song on 2007 EP Estúdio Coca-Cola - Pitty e Negra Li

• A version by Eva Cassidy appears on her 2008 album Somewhere.

• On American Idol season 7 (2008), contestant Syesha Mercado sang this song during Hollywood week.

• Nicole Scherzinger samples "Chain of Fools" in the New Kids on the Block song "Grown Man", from their 2008 album The Block.

• 2009 Blues Music Award Nominee Jean Shy and her band The Shy Guys performed, and recorded this song live at an Open Air Concert in Duisburg, Germany. It was released on their CD Unchain My Heart.

• A cover was made for the 2009 game Karaoke Revolution.

• In American Idol season 9 (2010), Katie Stevens performed this song during the Top 10 week.

• Richard Marx covered the song at a concert, which included additional lyrics: "Killing time/At the Bottom Line/Feeling fine/At the Bottom Line."

• The song is used as "Lei Lei Lei" as the ending theme to Ok, il prezzo è giusto!, the Italian version of The Price is Right.

• The song is also one of Gabby Kenny's cover songs.

• The Chopsticks (a Hong Kong female duo, made up of Sandra Lang (仙杜拉) & Amina (亞美娜)), covered this as a medley song with "Sunny"、"Gimme Little Sign" & "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" on their 1971 LP 《All Of A Sudden》issue.

• In 1993, the Italian singer, Giorgia, made a live version of this song.

External links

Preceded by "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues number-one single January 20 - February 10, 1968

Succeeded by "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations