"Running Scared" by The Fools

Song#:  0522
Date:  03/07/1981
Debut:  81
Peak:  50
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This Boston band found themselves on the chart briefly in 1980 with "It's a Night for Beautiful Girls" (#67) from their debut album "Sold Out." It was enough to get their label EMI to front another album and they issued "Heavy Mental." This first single performed a bit better, but it wasn't good enough for EMI and the label dropped the band. They remained popular in New England and songs from their self-released third album "World Dance Party" were radio hits including a remake of Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy."

ReduxReview:  The Fools just basically put out a faithful rock band rendition of the song. It is a good reminder to listen to the original (see below), but other than that, they didn't really add anything to the song. I admit that with a song so specific in rhythm it may be a hard tune to mess with, but there has to be something to make it fresh and that is kind of missing here. Still, an awesome song.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This song was originally a #1 song in 1961 by Roy Orbison. Co-written by Orbison, it was his first #1 pop song. It is also notable for its flip side "Love Hurts." Although it didn't hit the charts in the US, the flip side was a hit in Australia and marks the first chart appearance anywhere for the song. In the US, the song's first chart appearance was by former Traffic member Jim Capaldi who barely got it on the chart in 1975 (#97). Of course, the most famous version would be Nazareth's #8 hit the following year.

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