What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)

For the 1992 country song by Lee Roy Parnell, see What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am.

"What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)"
Single by the Tams
from the album Presenting The Tams
B-side	"Laugh It Off"
Released	1964
Recorded	1963
Genre	Southern soul[1] R&B[1] pop[1]
Length	2:00
Label	ABC-Paramount
Songwriter(s)	Ray Whitley
The Tams singles chronology
"Silly Little Girl" (1964) "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (1964) "It's All Right (You're Just In Love)" (1964)

"What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)"
Single by Bill Deal and the Rhondels
from the album The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels
B-side	"Are You Ready For This?"
Released	1969
Recorded	1968
Genre	Bubblegum pop, southern soul
Length	2:13
Label	Heritage
Songwriter(s)	Ray Whitley
Producer(s)	Jerry Ross
Bill Deal and the Rhondels singles chronology
"May I" (1968) "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (1969) "I've Been Hurt" (1969)

"What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" is a 1964 single written by Ray Whitley and recorded by the Tams.^[2]

Background

This track was one of the many hit records recorded at Rick Hall's FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Musicians on this track included Norbert Putnam on bass, Jerry Carrigan on drums, David Briggs on piano, Terry Thompson and Earl "Peanut" Montgomery on guitar, and Jill Shires on flute.

Chart performance

The single was the group's most successful release on both the United States R&B and pop charts. "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3]

Cover versions

• The song was covered by Bill Deal and the Rhondels in 1969, and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4]
• Del Shannon covered this song on his posthumously-released album Rock On!.^[5]

References

1. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 355. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
2. "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 566.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 224.
5. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.