Here’s today’s classic song of the day, a forgotten soul track from singer Dee Dee Warwick, “Foolish Fool.” The tune was released in 1969 and it really didn’t go anywhere, which is a shame, because Dee Dee sings her heart out on this one. It only hit #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it did rise to #14 on the R&B charts.
“Foolish Fool” is a funky little number, written and produced by Ed Townsend. Mr. Townsend was known for his own recording of “For Your Love” in 1958 and for co-writing Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” in 1973.
Dee Dee Warwick was Dionne Warwick’s little sister, as well as Cissy Houston’s niece and Whitney Houston’s cousin. (What a family!). Big sister Dionne had more of a cool, calculated delivery, while Dee Dee turned up the temperature with a more intense, deeply soulful approach, as is well evident on this track.
Dee Dee had a good career as a backup singer for Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, her sister Dionne, and others, but never really had any big solo hits; her biggest was probably “I Want to Be With You,” released in 1966, which hit #41 on the Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B charts. Dee Dee Warwick passed away in 2008, too young at age 66.
For your viewing pleasure, today’s daily bonus video of the day features Dee Dee Warwick singing “Foolish Fool” on the Hy Lit Show in 1969. The Hy Lit Show was a nationally syndicated program, produced by WKBS-TV in Philadelphia, with Philly disc jockey Hyman “Hy” Lit as host. It aired in more than thirty markets nationwide.
