RAY BROWN & THE WHISPERS
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Rudy Clark)
Australia 1965
#1 Sydney #4 Melbourne #2 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #1 Perth

Chart-topping Sydney band that originated in the surf music scene as The Nocturnes. After acquiring Ray Brown as their lead singer, they went on to become one of the most popular Australian bands of the British Invasion era.

The B-side was Go To Him, something of a cult classic in its own right.

Further reading: Ray Brown history at Milesago.

Disambiguation: 1. This is not Ray Brown, the American jazz bassist (1926-2002). 2. These Whispers are not the American R&B vocal group formed in 1964.

 
THE A-CADS
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Rudy Clark)
South Africa 1965

Single on RCA Victor (SA), the band's follow-up to their #1 hit Hungry For Love.

Johannesburg band formed 1965 who had an impact on South African music comparable to that of The Easybeats in Australia (see Beat Merchants and the Underground Legends at SA's Rock Legends).

There is an official A-Cads site that includes discography, biography and a family tree of group membership.

Thanks to Tertius Loew.
ROOSEVELT GRIER
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Rudy Clark)
USA 1964
Original version?

Single on RIC label, also on album Soul City. Arranged by Jack Nitzsche and produced by Bobby Darin.

This and the Little Joey & The Flips version seem to have been around at the same time.

Writer Rudy Clark was an associate of Bobby Darin, the producer of Roosevelt Grier's version. Darin also owned Trio Music, the company that published Fool, Fool, Fool.

Roosevelt Grier (b.1932): American football player better known as 'Rosey' Grier whose recording career began with A Records in 1960. He recorded for several labels throughout the 60s and into the 70s, but he also diversified into acting and sewing crafts (he published Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men in 1973). Grier also worked as a bodyguard for Robert Kennedy, and is known for subduing and disarming Kennedy's assassin in 1968. He was ordained as a minister in the 80s.

Reference: Roosevelt Grier entry at All Music Guide. The Wikipedia entry focuses on Grier's careers in football and other areas, rather than on his music. See also Rosey Grier's filmography at IMDb.
LITTLE JOEY & THE FLIPS
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Rudy Clark)
USA 1964
Original version?

Single on Cameo by Philadelphia doo-wop group led by Joey Hall, best remembered for Bongo Stomp (1962, #33 USA).

Songwriter Rudy Clark's compositions include The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) (Betty Everett and others), Good Lovin' (The Young Rascals, The Olympics) and James Ray's I've Got My Mind Set On You, best known through George Harrison's version, Got My Mind Set On You.

Further reading: 1. Little Joey & The Flips history at NME.com. 2. Photo, personnel and discography at Doo-wop Groups and Discography.

Thanks to Phil Chapman.
BARBARA LEWIS
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Rudy Clark)
USA 1967
Red herring

Same title and same songwriter but not the same song as "Fool, Fool, Fool" by Ray Brown & The Whispers.

Strange But True Dept: This is a second song by Rudy Clark with the title Fool, Fool, Fool.

Single on Atlantic label.

Thanks to Phil Chapman.
THE CLOVERS
Fool, Fool, Fool
(Nugetre [Ahmet Ertegun])
USA 1951
Red herring

Same title, but not the same song as 'Fool, Fool, Fool' by Ray Brown & the Whispers.

Also recorded by Kay Starr (USA 1952), Wilma Reading (Australia 1960) and by Elvis Presley at Sun Records.

Corrections or comments? Contact the writer.