What Kind of Fool Am I?

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" is a popular song written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1962. It was introduced by Anthony Newley in the musical "Stop The World - I Want To Get Off". The song was a hit for Sammy Davis, Jr. in the year of its publication, peaking at #17 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart and at #6 on the "Billboard" Easy Listening chart. [Hyatt, Wesley (1999). "The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits" (Billboard Publications)] It also won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. In 1963 Shirley Bassey released this song as a Columbia Record single and her version reached #47 on the UK charts. Lesser chart records included Robert Goulet and the writer, Anthony Newley.

James Brown recorded "What Kind of Fool Am I?" for his 1970 album "Soul on Top".

Regine Velasquez version

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" is known as the signature song of Regine Velasquez. Done in power ballad style and powerful vocals, the song help reach platinum status on its 1991 CD-release and is included on her multiplatinum international album "Listen Without Prejudice".

* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkjJ_t9vvEU Live Performance] - Regine Velasquez singing What Kind of Fool Am I? at her Twenty concert.

This song comes at the end of Act One of "Stop the World, I want to get off", the perfect showstopper as the curtains fall to take the audience in to the interval. The solo performer belts out this sad song that is full of emotion.

This song was recorded whilst Newley was on the road with this production in the States, after it had flopped in the UK. It flopped in the UK because Newley didn't appear in the show. By the time the cast reached New York, Tony Bennett had re-recorded the song; scored a hit, which saved and revived his own flagging career.

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