| "Everybody Plays the Fool" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side A of US single | ||||
| Single bythe Main Ingredient | ||||
| from the albumBitter Sweet | ||||
| B-side | "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me?)" | |||
| Released | June 1972[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1972 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio C (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producers |
| |||
| The Main Ingredient singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Everybody Plays the Fool" is a 1972 song first recorded by AmericanR&B groupThe Main Ingredient, and written byJ. R. Bailey,Rudy Clark andKen Williams. It was the first single released from the group's albumBitter Sweet, released with theB-side "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me?)". "Everybody Plays the Fool" was the group's highest charting hitsingle, reaching No. 3 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1972. It also peaked at No. 2 on theBillboardR&B chart and at No. 25 on theBillboardadult contemporary chart.[3] It was certifiedgold by theRIAA.[4]
The song was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best R&B Song at the1973 ceremony, losing to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".
A 1991 cover of the song byAaron Neville, from the albumWarm Your Heart, was also successful, reaching #8 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart and #1 inNew Zealand.
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 44 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] | 6 |
| USBillboardHot 100[6] | 3 |
| USEasy Listening (Billboard) | 25 |
| USBest Selling Soul Singles (Billboard) | 2 |
| USCash Box Top 100[7] | 1 |
| Chart (1972) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia[8] | 136 |
| Canada[9] | 66 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[10] | 29 |
| USCash Box Top 100[11] | 29 |
| "Everybody Plays the Fool" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byAaron Neville | ||||
| from the albumWarm Your Heart | ||||
| B-side | "House on a Hill" | |||
| Released | August 15, 1991 | |||
| Length | 4:25 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producers | ||||
| Aaron Neville singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
American singerAaron Neville recorded acover version of "Everybody Plays the Fool" in 1991 which also hit the Top 10 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, reaching No. 8 in the fall of that year, and it spent 20 weeks on the chart.[4][13] This was Neville's third Top 10 hit on the pop chart, following "Tell It Like It Is" (1967, No. 2) and hisduet withLinda Ronstadt, "Don't Know Much" (1989, No. 2). Neville's single also went to No. 1 on theBillboard adult contemporary chart.[3] In addition, it was a No. 1 single in New Zealand.
The song received a positive review fromAllMusic. Alex Henderson felt that "Everybody Plays the Fool" showed that Neville still had plenty of warmth and charisma.[12] Pan-European magazineMusic & Media stated that "theNew Orleanssoul brother has found the right catchy tune on areggae beat to establish his enormous vocal acrobatics onEHR level again."[14] David Fricke fromRolling Stone described the song as a "rinky-dink reggae cover".[15]
Neville's music video was set inNew Orleans, and featured an appearance of his niece,Arthel Neville.
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | 52 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] | 19 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[18] | 3 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] | 1 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[13][20] | 8 |
| USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)[20] | 1 |
| USHot R&B Singles (Billboard) | 2 |
| USCash Box Top 100[21] | 11 |
| Chart (1991) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[22] | 28 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[23] | 14 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[24] | 87 |
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