"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967. Later, it appeared on many of her albums. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues chart and number two on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
History
Jerry Wexler, a producer for Atlantic Records, asked Covay to write songs for Otis Redding. Covay recorded a demo of "Chain of Fools," a song he had written as a young person while singing gospel with his brothers and sisters. The demo included Covay singing and playing guitar, with him also adding background vocals. After listening to the demo, Wexler decided to give the song to Aretha Franklin instead of Redding. The song became one of her many successful singles.
Reception
The song reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and remained there for four weeks. "Chain of Fools" also reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, following "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred & His Playboy Band. It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and later received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004, the song was ranked #249 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The distinctive tremolo guitar sounds at the beginning were played by Joe South. The song was shortened for the LP and 45 formats; the original longer version was included on the quadrophonic LP The Best of Aretha Franklin in 1973 (later released on a quadrophonic DVD by Rhino in 2010) and on the 1995 Rhino remaster of Lady Soul. Cash Box described the song as "a smashing entry that will top both blues and pop charts" with "heavy rhythmic push" and "an overwhelming vocal impact."
Live versions of the song were included on the albums Aretha in Paris (1968) and VH1 Divas Live (1998, featuring Mariah Carey).
Personnel
- Aretha Franklin: lead vocals and piano
- Jimmy Johnson and Joe South: guitars
- Spooner Oldham: Wurlitzer electric piano
- Tommy Cogbill: bass
- Roger Hawkins: drums
- The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin & Ellie Greenwich: background vocals
Notable cover versions
In 1969, Finnish jazz singer Carola performed rhythm & blues music, recording a television video for the song "Chain of Fools." The choreography, created by Heikki Värtsi, included dance moves typical of girl groups and a scene where Carola acted as if she was whipping a man in a cave.
Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson each performed the song in the style of Aretha Franklin for the miniseries Genius: Aretha (2021) and the biographical film Respect (2021).