Growing up in New England, The Fools were a band that you heard on Boston radio alot. At some point in time you probably saw them in concert because they played out in clubs throughout the area for years, The first song I remember hearing by them on the radio was "It's a Night For Beautiful Girls". They also became famous for the fun/silly kind of songs that you loved to hear at a dance, or a party so you could act up a little, scream out the lyrics, and have a laugh, such as "Life Sucks and Then You Die" or "She Makes Me Feel Big". They also performed covers. Their cover of "Doo Wah Diddy" got some airplay on MTV. I thought they were ready for national/worldwide big time fame when that happened, but I don't know why they did not catch on everywhere. They are one of those bands that just about anyone can find a song to love, though.
The Fools formed in Ipswich, Massachusetts (USA) in 1975 and consisted of Mike Girard (singer), Rich Bartlett (guitar), Stacey Pedrick (guitar), Doug Forman (bass) and Chris Pedrick (drums).
In 1979 The Fools recorded a song called "Psycho Chicken" which was a parody of The Talking Heads' hit song "Psycho Killer". The Fools version came complete with clucking chickens and received a lot of airplay on Boston radio stations. The original version of the song was more risque and peppered with swears, but on the radio version chicken clucks replaced the swear words. The local success of the song caught the ear of EMI Records who signed the band and released the song nationally in 1980. The Fools released their follow-up single, "It's a Night for Beautiful Girls" the same year. It charted at #67 on the Billboard charts. EMI sent The Fools out to tour as the opening band for The Knack. After the tour they recorded their debut album called Sold Out. The album did not include "Psycho Chicken" on the track list. Instead a bonus white vinyl 45 of the song was stuck into the album cover.
In 1981, the band's second album Heavy Mental spawned the hit Roy Orbison cover song "Running Scared" which charted at #50 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. Here's a clip of the band performing the song live:
The Fools landed a great gig as the opening band for Van Halen on their Fair Warning Tour. The band was dropped by EMI. Chris Pedrick left the band and was replaced by Leo Black on drums. Forman left the band next and was replaced by Joe Holaday on bass.
By 1985 the band signed to indie record label PVC. They released their third album, World Dance Party which spawned the hit cover song "Doo Wah Diddy" (originally recorded by Manfred Man). The video for the song received a lot of airplay on MTV. The title track "World Dance Party" was released as a 12" single with "Psycho Chicken" as the B-side. Other songs from the album, "Life Sucks...Then You Die" and "She Makes Me Feel Big" were big hits in New England and received lots of airplay.
The Fools continued to be a cult hit band in New England, and their live shows were known for being wild and fun. The band continues to tour today. In 2010 singer Mike Girard wrote a books containing funny stories and the history of the band called, "Psycho Chicken and Other Foolish Tales"
Lyrics:
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
It's a night, yes it is
For beautiful girls
Something's gonna happen here tonight
I can feel it
Stay with me 'til mornin'
I really need it
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
It's a night, woh woh woh
For beautiful girls
Girls girls girls girls girls everywhere,
Girls girls girls girls girls, in my hair
Goin' to a nightclub
And I peek under the table
Maybe find some legs down there
That look like Betty Grable
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls
Goin' to a nightclub
And I drink some more tequila
Maybe find some legs down there
I can give a little feel-a
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls
It's a night
It's a night
It's a night
For beautiful girls
It's a night, yes it is
For beautiful girls
Something's gonna happen here tonight
I can feel it
Stay with me 'til mornin'
I really need it
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
It's a night, woh woh woh
For beautiful girls
Girls girls girls girls girls everywhere,
Girls girls girls girls girls, in my hair
Goin' to a nightclub
And I peek under the table
Maybe find some legs down there
That look like Betty Grable
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls
Goin' to a nightclub
And I drink some more tequila
Maybe find some legs down there
I can give a little feel-a
It's a night, oh yeah
For beautiful girls
What is it
It's a night, it's a night
For beautiful girls
It's a night
It's a night
It's a night
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