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Poor Little Fool (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Poor Little Fool” | |
|---|---|
| Single by Ricky Nelson | |
| from the album Ricky Nelson | |
| B-side | “Don’t Leave Me This Way” |
| Released | June 23, 1958 |
| Recorded | April 17, 1958 |
| Studio | United Recording Studios, Hollywood, California |
| Genre | Countryrock doo-wop |
| Length | 2:32 |
| Label | Imperial |
| Songwriter(s) | Sharon Sheeley |
| Producer(s) | Ricky Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, Jimmie Haskell |
| Ricky Nelson singles chronology | |
| “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” / “Believe What You Say“ (1958)”Poor Little Fool“ (1958)”Lonesome Town” / “I Got a Feeling“ (1958) | |
“Poor Little Fool” is a song written by Sharon Sheeley and first recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1958.
Background
Sheeley wrote the song when she was 15 years old. She had met Elvis Presley, and he encouraged her to write. It was based on her disappointment following a short-lived relationship with Don Everly of The Everly Brothers. Sheeley sought Ricky Nelson to record the tune. She drove to his house, and claimed her car had broken down. He came to her aid, and she sprang the song on him. Her version was at a much faster tempo than his recording.
The song was recorded by Ricky Nelson on April 17, 1958, and released on Imperial Records through its catalog number: 5528. The recording features the background vocals of the Jordanaires. On August 4, 1958, it became the first number-one song on Billboard magazine‘s then-new Hot 100 chart, replacing the magazine’s Jockeys and Top 100 charts. It spent two weeks at the number-one spot. It also reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country and Rhythm and Blues charts. Following its success, Sheeley worked with Eddie Cochran.
“Poor Little Fool” became a radio hit when it was released as part of a four-song extended-play 45 rpm disc, which was excerpted from the artist’s second LP, Ricky Nelson. Responding to the buzz, Lew Chudd, the founder and head of Imperial Records, rushed out a single version (on both 45 and 78 rpm). Nelson objected, however, believing that the move would hurt sales of the EP. Under his contract with Imperial, the singer had approval rights for all picture-sleeve art, so to express his displeasure with Chudd’s decision, he chose not to select a photograph for the “Poor Little Fool” single. As a result, “Poor Little Fool” was the only Ricky Nelson single released by Imperial to be issued in the United States without a photo in a plain-label, cut-out sleeve.
Critical reception
Cashbox called the song a “beautiful rock-a-ballad that should jump into the winners’ circle in short order”. Tom Breihan of Stereogum called “Poor Little Fool” a “negligible midtempo bopper” with a whiny vocal performance and a “staid plonk” of a rhythm.
Charts
| Chart (1958–1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (CHUM Hit Parade) | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 6 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers | 3 |
| US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Best Sellers | 3 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 2 |
Cover versions
- The “Dodgers” and Johnny Angel released a cover version of the song in 1958 on Skyway 45-119-AA.
- The Fleetwoods recorded a version in 1962 on their album The Best Goodies of the Oldies.
- Terry Black released a version of the song in 1965 on his debut album, Only 16, and it reached number six in Canada.
- Frank Mills released a version in 1972 in Canada. It was one of two of his mainly instrumental recordings to include his own vocals.
- Patti Page
- Sy Chap & Ed Cee
- Sha Na Na
- Jeena & The Roomates
- The Firebirds
Ricky Nelson (Album)
| Ricky Nelson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Ricky Nelson | |
| Released | July 1958 |
| Genre | Rock and roll rockabilly |
| Label | Imperial |
| Producer | Charles “Bud” Dant |
| Ricky Nelson chronology | |
| Ricky (1957)Ricky Nelson (1958)Ricky Sings Again (1959) | |
| Singles from Ricky Nelson | |
| “Poor Little Fool“ Released: June 23, 1958″I’m in Love Again” Released: February 1963 | |
Ricky Nelson is the second studio album by American singer Ricky Nelson, released in July 1958 by Imperial Records.
The album features of then-recent hits and older songs updated for his style, including a cover of Bobby Lee Trammell “Shirley Lee”, Little Walter’s “My Babe“, “Unchained Melody“, Fats Domino‘s “I’m in Love Again”, and Roy Orbison‘s “Down the Line” it also contained Ricky Nelson’s first composition, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, The Jordanaires provide backing vocals.
The album debuted on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart in the issue dated July 28, 1958, and remained on the chart for nine weeks, peaking at number 7. It debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated June 21, 1958, and remained on the chart for 13 weeks, peaking at number 4.
The singles from the album, “Poor Little Fool” became the first number-one song on Billboard magazine‘s then-new Hot 100 chart, in the issue dated July 7 1958, eventually spending two weeks at number one during its 15-week stay. on the Cashbox singles weeks it spent one week at number two during its 15-week stay. and number four in The U.K during its 14-week stay. “I’m in Love Again” was issued as a single 5 years later to coincide with the release of the 1963 Imperial compilation Best Sellers by Rick Nelson, and entered the Hot 100 issue dated February 23, 1963, peaking at number 67 during its six-week stay. and number 51 on the Cashbox singles during its six-week stay.
The album was released on compact disc by Capitol Records on June 19, 2001, as tracks 16 through 27 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 1 through 12 consisting of Nelson’s debut studio album Ricky. Bear Family included also the album in the 2001 The American Dream box set. Ricky Nelson was included in a box set entitled Four Classic Albums Plus Box Set, which contains all 4 of his studio albums, and was released on July 1, 2016.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Disc | |
A review by AllMusic said that Ricky Nelson “remained a slavish imitator of the Sun Records rockabilly style on his sophomore long-player, but he had improved enormously in the endeavor”, and gave the album a positive rating.
Ken Graham of Disc described the album as “entertaining”
Track listing
- “Shirley Lee” (Bobby Lee Trammell) – 2:00
2. “Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You)” (Jimmie Hodges) – 2:51
3. “There’s Good Rockin’ Tonight” (Roy Brown) – 1:50
4. “I’m Feelin’ Sorry” (Jack Clement) – 2:19
5. “Down the Line” (Roy Orbison, Phillips) – 2:33
6. “Unchained Melody” (Alex North, Hy Zaret) – 2:21
7. “I’m in Love Again” (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino) – 2:20
8. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (Ricky Nelson) – 2:29
9. “My Babe” (Willie Dixon) – 2:33
10. “I’ll Walk Alone” (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 2:39
11. “There Goes My Baby” (James Burton, James Kirkland) – 2:15
12. “Poor Little Fool” (Sharon Sheeley) – 2:33
Charts
Album
| Chart (1958) | Peakposition |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Best Selling LPs (Billboard) | 7 |
| U.S. Cashbox | 4 |
Singles
| Year | Title | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Cashbox | U.K. Singles Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | “Poor Little Fool“ | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1963 | “I’m in Love Again” | 67 | 51 | — |
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