Elvin Bishop – Fooled Around And Fell In Love

Description

“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” is a song written and performed by blues guitarist Elvin Bishop with Mickey Thomas on lead vocals. It appeared on his 1975 album Struttin’ My Stuff, and was released as a single the following year.

Background

Bishop does not sing lead vocals on the track. He felt that his gravelly voice would not do the song justice; he invited vocalist Mickey Thomas, who was a background singer in his band at the time, to sing it. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in May 1976. The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 23, 1976. In Canada, the song reached #22 on the singles chart and #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single reached #3 in the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Based on his work with Bishop, Thomas was invited to become the lead singer for Jefferson Starship (which would later evolve into simply Starship).

The song is featured in the films Queens Logic (1991), Illtown (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Summer of Sam (1999), Big Daddy (1999), According to Spencer (2001), The Devil’s Rejects (2005), The Family Stone (2005), Invincible (2006), The Education of Charlie Banks (2007), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), Stand Up Guys (2012), Lovelace (2013), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie (2017).

Style

In their 1990 essay “Rock and Sexuality”, Simon Frith and Angela McRobbie suggest the song “lyrically captures” the distinction in rock music between “cock rock” and “teeny bop“.

Personnel

Mickey Thomas – lead and backing vocals
Elvin Bishop – lead guitar
Johnny ‘V’ Vernazza – lead and rhythm guitar (duelling guitar leads with Bishop), backing vocals.
Philip Aaberg – piano
Mike Keck – organ
Donny Baldwin – drums, percussion
Michael Brooks – bass
Reni Slais – backing vocals
Bill Szymczyk – producer

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Elvin Bishop

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	16
Canada RPM Top Singles	22
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	8
New Zealand (RIANZ)	3
UK Singles (OCC)	34
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	3
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	3

Julian Laxton Band

Chart (1978)	Peak position
South Africa (Springbok)	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Single	167
New Zealand	13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	56
U.S. Cash Box	28

Cover versions

In 1978, the Julian Laxton Band from South Africa reached #13 ther
In 1985, T. G. Sheppard had a #21 country hit with a cover. A music video was also produced and has aired on CMT, TNN and GAC.
In 2019, Miranda Lambert released a track featuring her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour support acts Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Elle King and Caylee Hammack. It won the Academy of Country Music Award for Vocal Event of the Year and was nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musical Event of the Year.
In 2006, Rod Stewart performed his rendition of the song on Still the Same… Great Rock Classics of Our Time.