Fool if you think it's over-Chris Rea

WindyNook said:
Sorry Buffalo great song gash version.
Saw him first perform it as support act for Lindisfarne at their Christmas concert in 1978.
Seen him many times since the last time was at the Sage just a week before he collapsed on stage in Oxford December 2017. Been trying on and off since then to find out how he's getting on but news is hard to come by
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Ha, no problem. I love his stuff, all views are subjective. I like to listen to different versions, there's some great European remixes of some of his other songs.
 
Here is a bit from this site about my brother....

picturestocktonarchive.com

Local 60s group from Stockton.

A 60s local group from Stockton, name unknown. Photograph courtesy of John Robson.
picturestocktonarchive.com picturestocktonarchive.com

" Al Todd on March 24, 2017 at 2:34 pm said:

For those that haven’t heard, another colourful roadie fron our area passed away recently. I first met Malcolm ‘George’ Woodhead in around 1964. He was a still at school with Robert ‘Bob’ Evans, who became a member of ‘The Elastic Band’, fronted by Eugene McCoy. George teamed up with Will Grimston to become virtual freelance roadies and it was always a pleasure to have them transport our motley group (Denver Mule, amongst others) I remember when Fairport Convention were playing at the Redar Jazz Club and George was in the audience. There was a group of unruly over-refreshed lads talking loudly over Fairports performance and, in the middle of a gentle and heartfelt number (the name of which escapes me) George, obviously overcome by the beautiful music, stood up from his chair and shouted out with a volume the would have done credit to ‘The Who’,”Hoy! ******* shurrup or I’ll pan yer!!!!!” Amazing isn’t it? that I cannot for the life of me remmeber the music, but I will always remember that emotive outburst!"
 
The commercial success of the song particularly in the USA revitalised Chris Rea’s career. Nice story about him getting home to Middlesbrough at Christmas in 1978 to find a huge royalty cheque on his doormat. Elkie Brookes’ cover actually did better in the UK than the original.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
The commercial success of the song particularly in the USA revitalised Chris Rea’s career. Nice story about him getting home to Middlesbrough at Christmas in 1978 to find a huge royalty cheque on his doormat. Elkie Brookes’ cover actually did better in the UK than the original.
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My understanding is that when it was written it was supposed to be a blues type track. As Chris was really interested in that type of music. As seen later on in his career.

I think that Magnet, who he had signed with, wanted to market him as something like a cross between Billy Joel and Elton John. I think the song was produced in a way he did not like. Also, I think he had to play the piano on the song. As part of the image thing.

If my memory serves me right he used to play a blues version of it when he was touring in the early years.
 
Saw Chris in his early days. At York uni. Had his family there ( his sisters were attractive) all wearing pin badges sayingWhatever Happened to Benny Santini. Lived next door to a sister for a while in Guisborough- and big American cars often turned up!!!
 
Nosmo-King said:
Saw Chris in his early days. At York uni. Had his family there ( his sisters were attractive) all wearing pin badges sayingWhatever Happened to Benny Santini. Lived next door to a sister for a while in Guisborough- and big American cars often turned up!!!
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I think his daughter lectures in art history
 
spanishman said:
My understanding is that when it was written it was supposed to be a blues type track. As Chris was really interested in that type of music. As seen later on in his career.

I think that Magnet, who he had signed with, wanted to market him as something like a cross between Billy Joel and Elton John. I think the song was produced in a way he did not like. Also, I think he had to play the piano on the song. As part of the image thing.

If my memory serves me right he used to play a blues version of it when he was touring in the early years.
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From Wiki ....

"Fool (If You Think It's Over)" was the lead single from Rea's debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? which was recorded at producer Gus Dudgeon's Thames Valley recording studio The Mill. The song's inspiration was the experience Rea's younger sister Paula had had some years previously of being devastated at losing her first boyfriend, "Fool..."'s lyrics being the advice (real or imagined) with which Rea had responded to his sister's experience.[3] Rea would recall that he had written "Fool..." as a song which Al Green might record:[4][5] (quote:) "I’d always seen it as a Memphis [soul] song [but] I never had the chance to voice my opinion about what I thought about the production" of his own recording of the song [3] of which Rea has elsewhere stated: "[It was in the] wrong key. It ended up being this huge California thing [see California Sound]. It’s the only track I never played guitar on which tells you something about the spirit of it. On top of that, it was just a huge hit. So there was nothing I could do. It was like: 'This is not me!'"[6] Rea did play keyboards on "Fool..." with the track's background vocals provided by Rea and the Mill's assistant engineer Stuart Epps
 
Malaguena said:
From Wiki ....

"Fool (If You Think It's Over)" was the lead single from Rea's debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? which was recorded at producer Gus Dudgeon's Thames Valley recording studio The Mill. The song's inspiration was the experience Rea's younger sister Paula had had some years previously of being devastated at losing her first boyfriend, "Fool..."'s lyrics being the advice (real or imagined) with which Rea had responded to his sister's experience.[3] Rea would recall that he had written "Fool..." as a song which Al Green might record:[4][5] (quote:) "I’d always seen it as a Memphis [soul] song [but] I never had the chance to voice my opinion about what I thought about the production" of his own recording of the song [3] of which Rea has elsewhere stated: "[It was in the] wrong key. It ended up being this huge California thing [see California Sound]. It’s the only track I never played guitar on which tells you something about the spirit of it. On top of that, it was just a huge hit. So there was nothing I could do. It was like: 'This is not me!'"[6] Rea did play keyboards on "Fool..." with the track's background vocals provided by Rea and the Mill's assistant engineer Stuart Epps
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Ta for that. I also remember that the song was written for his sister.

Soul not blues?
 
WindyNook said:
Like loads of American versions over British ones. Here's an example Buff but it might be before your time

Much better than Amen Corner
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Oh ...controversial lol! I prefer Amen Corner's version purely because I've always been a fan of AFL - However, I prefer the original version by The Outsiders to both these covers
 
buffaloboro said:
There is an interesting cover of this song and I've posted the link. Read the information given by the up loader ( Jorge m)- basically there was a huge legal wrangle in the USA re both versions. I tried to copy what was written on you tube but I couldn't.
I think this is a better version.. Any thoughts?
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That's pants that version. Not as good as Elkie Brooks never mind Chris Rea.. Only my opinion of course.
 
asredastheycome said:
He didn't look healthy on that show.

Used see him playing all over locally when .........Benny Santini came out. Although he went on to bigger things his early stuff is still my favourite.
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The album came out in 78. I was at uni in London by then. A long time ago.
 
An excellent song. By far Chris Rea's best imo. And despite only reaching No.30 in the UK charts it was massive in the US, making into the Billboard top 100 for 1978.

He even had the ultimate 'honour' of being described by legendary DJ Casey Kasem as a...
"Londoner"! :cry:
 
since1970 said:
An excellent song. By far Chris Rea's best imo. And despite only reaching No.30 in the UK charts it was massive in the US, making into the Billboard top 100 for 1978.

He even had the ultimate 'honour' of being described by legendary DJ Casey Kasem as a...
"Londoner"! :cry:
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For me Seabird is the best one.
 
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