Chain of Fools (song)

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“Chain of Fools”
Single by Aretha Franklin from the album Lady Soul
Released	1967
Format	7" single
Genre	Soul
Length	2:47
Label	Atlantic Records
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)

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

"Chain of Fools" is a successful 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. Peaking at #1 on the R&B chart for four weeks, and going to #2 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^[1]. The trademark tremelo guitar licks at the introduction were played by Joe South.

During the Democratic National Convention this song was played as the crowd linked arms to form a human chain and swayed back and forth, singing "Chain of Fools" as Barack Obama was on stage.

Contents 1 Chart positions 2 Cover versions 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Chart positions

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

[edit] Cover versions

• "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.

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

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

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

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

• The song is used as "Lei Lei Lei" as the ending theme to Ok Il Prezzo E Giusto.

• Carol Grimes has also covered the songswith powerfull vocals on here why don't they dance album.

• A cover was made for the game Karaoke Revolution.

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

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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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

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

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