Fool (If You Think It's Over)

Fool (If You Think It's Over) was Chris' first proper single, being the most popular track on his début album, Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?. Chris was unhappy with the original recording and has re-recorded the song twice: once in a different key with different instrumentation, and another time in the Memphis Soul style he originally intended.

Production Details

 * Recorded 1978
 * Producer Gus Dudgeon
 * Engineer Stuart Epps
 * Label Magnet
 * Released April 1978

Personnel (1978)

 * Chris Rea Piano, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Synthesiser, Writer
 * Dave Mattacks Drums
 * Frank Ricotti Congas, Vibes
 * Dave Markee Bass
 * Paul Keogh Electric Guitar
 * Pete Wingfield Electric Piano
 * Steve Gregory Saxophone
 * Stuart Epps Backing Vocals
 * Richard Hewson Orchestral Arrangement

Available on

 * Whatever Happened To Benny Santini? (album)
 * Era 1 1978-1984

Song synopsis
A girl is distraught at losing her first love and believes she will never love again. The protagonist scolds her for lacking foresight and encourages her to think differently.

Background
Some years prior, Chris' sister Paula had been distraught at losing her first boyfriend after they broke up. Fool acts as Chris' way of giving her guidance and advice - it is unclear whether or not the song's lyrics were in any way referential as to how he actually responded to the situation.

Recording
The song was recorded during the Benny Santini sessions at The Mill, a recording studio owned by Chris' allocated producer, Gus Dudgeon. Chris' original intention was to record the song as a Memphis Soul-type record , specifying that the song was meant to sound like something Al Green would have recorded. Dudgeon's final mix of the song does not reflect Rea's original intentions, instead resembling a California Sound record. According to Rea, the song is also in the wrong key, being in G major. Rea's dissatisfaction led to him not performing lead guitar on the record, apparently out of spite - which in turn led to Rea being advertised as a Pianist/Singer/Songwriter much like Billy Joel by Magnet. The album mix lasts 4:44.

Edits
A Spanish-language version of the song was dubbed in 1980, featuring extra overdubs such as refined keyboard, synth strings and a heavier reverb. Interestingly, the lyrics bear no resemblance to the English ones whatsoever. The single edit, lasting 3:30, has an incredibly obvious edit - a clumsy fade - which jumps from 2:52 to 4:04. The string section sounds off as a result of the cut. When Top Of The Pops required a version of the song to be played back live for Chris to mime to, as per the programme's requirements, the string section was muted in order to hide the edit. This inadvertently led to a somewhat awkward performance.

A cover was made by Elkie Brooks in 1982.

1988 Version
Chris re-recorded Fool in 1988 for the compilation album New Light Through Old Windows. This version resembles the 1978 version, but has more of Chris' soul-influenced elements added to it, as well as some Latin-sounding Spanish guitars and percussion. The instruments used and different production values make the song more appropriately fit in with Chris' later musical endeavours.

This is the version that is more commonly re-released, having appeared on numerous compilation albums and re-releases, whilst the Santini version gets radio airplay. This version would not be definitive, however, as Chris would re-record the song again in the true Memphis Soul style in 2008.