Why Do Fools Fall in Love (album)
| Why Do Fools Fall in Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Diana Ross | ||||
| Released | September 14, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980-1981 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul, adult contemporary | |||
| Length | 35:46 | |||
| Label |
Capitol (Europe) RCA (North America) | |||
| Producer | Diana Ross | |||
| Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Why Do Fools Fall in Love | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [2] |
Why Do Fools Fall in Love is a 1981 album by American singer Diana Ross on the RCA label. It reached #15 in the USA (#4 R&B), #17 in the UK and the top ten in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
It was the first album Ross recorded after leaving the Motown label, when she signed a $20 million deal with RCA. Originally, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were slated to produce the follow-up to the platinum Diana album. However, their schedules were filled with commitments to also produce Debbie Harry's solo debut, Johnny Mathis and another Chic album. Ross had given her word to RCA president, Robert Summers to deliver an album for the 1981 holiday selling season.
The album was the first to be produced by the singer herself, and it became her second RIAA-certified platinum album (That was also misleading, since Motown was inconsistent to joining the RIAA for most of their 1960s and 1970s releases. She would have considerably more certifications). It was also certified Gold in the UK and Canada.
The album includes the Top 10 hits "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and "Mirror Mirror". It also includes "Work That Body", co-written by Ross with Paul Jabara and Ray Chew. Though it just missed the Top 40 in the United States, "Work That Body" was a Top 10 hit in the U.K. and Top 15 in The Netherlands. A solo version of "Endless Love" is also included on the album, a rerecording of her number one duet with Lionel Richie from earlier that year. "It's Never Too Late" was also released as a single in some international territories.
Ross also embarked on a world tour in support of the album.
The album was remastered and re-released on September 2, 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, with bonus material.[3]
Track listing
| Side A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" | Frankie Lymon, Morris Levy | 2:53 |
| 2. | "Sweet Surrender" | Leonard Stack, Cheryl Christiansen | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Mirror Mirror" | Michael Sembello, Michael Matkowsky | 6:08 |
| 4. | "Endless Love" | Lionel Richie | 4:56 |
| Side B | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "It's Never Too Late" | Dan Hartman | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Think I'm In Love" | L. Cheryl Taylor | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Sweet Nothings" | Ronnie Self, Dub Albritton | 3:00 |
| 4. | "Two Can Make It" | Dean Pitchford, Tom Snow | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Work That Body" | Diana Ross, Paul Jabara, Ray Chew | 5:01 |
| 2014 Expanded Edition Bonus Tracks (Funky Town Grooves) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 10. | "Mirror Mirror" (7" Mix) | 3:59 |
| 11. | "Mirror Mirror" (7" Alternate Version) | 4:06 |
| 12. | "Work That Body" (7" Mix) | 3:34 |
| 13. | "Work That Body" (12" Mix) | 6:31 |
| 14. | "Work That Body" (Extended Remix) | 6:22 |
| 15. | "Endless Love" (Edited Version) | 3:46 |
Personnel
- Diana Ross - producer (All tracks), lead vocals (All tracks), backing vocals (tracks A1-A4, B2-B4)
- Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone (track B3)
- Rob Mounsey - musical arrangements (tracks A1)
- Leata Galloway - backing vocals (tracks B1, B5)
- Randy Brecker - horn arrangements (tracks A3, B3)
- Don Brooks - harmonica (track A2)
- Francisco Centeno - bass (tracks A2, B4)
- Ray Chew - musical arrangements (tracks A2-B1, B4-B5), acoustic piano (A2-B1, B3-B5), electric piano (A1, B2)
- Margaret Dorn - backing vocals (tracks B1, B5)
- Ron Frangipane - musical arrangements, acoustic piano, synthesizer (track B2)
- Eric Gale - rhythm guitar (track A3), electric guitar (A1-A2, B1-B4)
- Yogi Horton - drums (All tracks)
- Neil Jason - bass (tracks A1, A3-B3, B5)
- Ralph MacDonald - percussion (tracks A1, A3, B1-B3, B5)
- Jeff Mironov - rhythm guitar (track A3), electric guitar (A1, A4-B3, B5)
- Leon Pendarvis - musical arrangements (track B3), electric piano (B1, B3)
- Pat Rebillot - acoustic piano (track A4)
- Paul Riser - horn & string arrangements (tracks A2, A4-B2, B4)
- Ed Walsh - synthesizer (track A4)
- Millie Whiteside - backing vocals (tracks B1, B5)
- Lionel Richie - lead & backing vocals (track A4)
- Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC - mastering
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| U.S.A[4] | Platinum |
| Finland[5] | Gold |
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑
- ↑ "Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Expanded Edition)". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ↑ Gold & Platinum - RIAA.com
- ↑ Kulta- ja platinalevyt - IFPI.fi
