Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)

"Fools Rush In" (1940) is a popular song. The lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer with music by Rube Bloom.[1]

"Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)"
Song
Written	1940
Composer(s)	Rube Bloom
Lyricist(s)	Johnny Mercer

First recordings

The major hits at the time of introduction were:

• Tony Martin
• Glenn Miller with Ray Eberle,[2]
• Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra (29 March 1940)
• Anne Shelton and Ambrose (August 1940)
• Harry James (Varsity 8264, 1940)

Rick Nelson recording

• In 1963, Rick Nelson recorded his version,[3] and was included in his Rick Nelson Sings "For You"LP and was an enormous hit, reaching #12 on the Billboard pop chart and #24 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.[4] This recording was the most famous version of this song.

Other notable recordings

The song proved popular with among others, 1960s pop and rhythm and blues artists, resulting in charted remakes in 1960 on the Mercury Records Label with strings and music arranged and conducted by Belford Hendricks and sung by (Brook Benton), 1962 (Etta James). Other recordings were:

• Billy Eckstine (1947)[5]
• Stan Getz – Complete Studio Sessions: Stan Getz & Jimmy Raney (1952)
• Jo Stafford – Starring Jo Stafford (1953)
• The Hi-Lo's – Listen!... to the Hi-Lo's (1954)
• Zoot Sims - Zoot! (1956)
• Julie London – Lonely Girl (1956), and Julie London (1964)
• Keely Smith – I Wish You Love (1957)
• The Four Freshmen – The Freshman Year (1961)
• Stan Kenton – The Romantic Approach (1961)
• Brook Benton – Songs I Love to Sing (1960)
• Shirley Bassey – Shirley Bassey (1961)
• Doris Day with André Previn – Duet (1962)
• Al Hirt – Trumpet and Strings (1962)[6]
• Etta James – Etta James Sings for Lovers (1962)
• Brenda Lee – Sincerely, Brenda Lee (1962)
• Lesley Gore – Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts (1963)
• Dean Martin – Dream with Dean (1964)
• Johnny Hartman – Unforgettable Songs by Johnny Hartman (1966)
• Elvis Presley – Elvis Now (1972) This recording followed Ricky Nelson's style.
• Susannah McCorkle – The Songs of Johnny Mercer (1977)
• Bow Wow Wow – covered the track on their 1980 MC-only debut, Your Cassette Pet
• Debbie Byrne – The Persuader (1985)
• Rosemary Clooney - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
• The Morning Benders – Bedroom Covers (2008)
• Cliff Richard – Bold as Brass (2010)
• She & Him covered Ricky Nelson's version for Levi's Pioneer Sessions in 2010.[7]
• Peggy Sue – Peggy Sue Plays the Songs of Scorpio Rising (2012)
• Norah Jones with Harold Mabern – Afro Blue (2014)
• Youn Sun Nah – She Moves On (2017)
• Disclosure – "Where Angels Fear To Tread" (2018 single)

Popular culture

• The recording by Rick Nelson was featured in Kenneth Anger's film Scorpio Rising (1963).

References

1. Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 270. ISBN 0-19-507473-4.
2. Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 2, side A.
3. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cash Box Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 426.
5. <https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Eckstine-Blue-Moon-Fools-Rush-In/release/2753195
6. Al Hirt, Trumpet and Strings Retrieved 8 April 2013.
7. "She and Him – "Fools Rush In"". Pretty Much Amazing. Retrieved 10 March 2013.