Shirley Bassey - What Kind Of Fool Am I? (1963 Recording)

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1963 Shirley Bassey recorded and released this Columbia Single, 'What Kind Of Fool Am I?, in 1963 as the Side (A). The Side (B) Was the song, 'Till'. This single was a minor hit for Shirley on the UK charts, peaking at # 47.

ABOUT this song:
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. It comes at the end of Act Two to close the show. Bricusse and Newley received the 1961 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, and the 1963 Grammy Award for Song of the Year, becoming the first Britons to do so.

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. It also won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Andy Williams included the song on his 1963 album Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests. In 1963 Shirley Bassey released this song as a Columbia Record single and her version reached #47 on the UK charts. Lesley Gore included a version of the song on her 1963 debut album, I'll Cry If I Want To.[5] 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. In 1964, jazz artist Vince Guaraldi did a latin jazz cover for his album "The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi". Sergio Franchi covered this song on his 1963 RCA Victor Red Seal album Broadway, I Love You.[6] George Maharis also covered the song on his 1963 album "Just Turn Me Loose!"

"What Kind of Fool Am I?" also 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 1994 CD-release and is included on her multiplatinum international album "Listen Without Prejudice". Achieved At least 2x Platinum Per Asian Country in the cited year.

LYRICS:
What kind of fool am I
Who never fell in love
It seems that I'm the only one
That I have been thinking of

What kind of man is this?
An empty shell-
A lonely cell in which
An empty heart must dwell

What kind of lips are these
That lied with every kiss
That whispered empty words of love
That left me alone like this

Why can't I fall in love
Like any other man
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.

What kind of clown am I?
What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away the mask of play
And live my life?

Why can't I fall in love
Till I don't give a damn
And maybe then
I'll know what kind of fool I am

Special Thanks to Pieter, Astrid and others from the Shirley Bassey blog, and all those who have contributed wonderful pictures of Shirley!