Fool Around

Fool Around is the debut album by American singer Rachel Sweet. It was first released in the United Kingdom on October 13, 1978 by Stiff Records.[4] The album was released in the United States in July 1979 by Stiff and Columbia Records,[5] with a revised track listing.

Fool Around
Studio album by Rachel Sweet
Released	October 13, 1978
Genre	New wave[1] country[1] pop[1] R&B[1]
Length	34:59
Label	Stiff
Producer	Liam Sternberg
Rachel Sweet chronology
Fool Around (1978) Protect the Innocent (1980)
Alternative cover
US issue

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Liam Sternberg, except where noted.

UK edition

1. "Just My Style" – 3:13
2. "B-A-B-Y" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) – 3:07
3. "Who Does Lisa Like?" – 2:58
4. "Wildwood Saloon" – 3:55
5. "Stay Awhile" (Mike Hawker, Ivor Raymonde) – 3:05
6. "Suspended Animation" – 3:15
7. "It's So Different Here" – 2:49
8. "Cuckoo Clock" – 2:45
9. "Pin a Medal on Mary" (Will Birch, John Wicks) – 3:10
10. "Girl with a Synthesizer" – 2:33
11. "Stranger in the House" (Elvis Costello) – 4:09

US edition

1. "B-A-B-Y" (Hayes, Porter) – 3:08
2. "I Go to Pieces" (Del Shannon) – 2:42
3. "Who Does Lisa Like?" – 2:54
4. "Wildwood Saloon" – 4:00
5. "Stay Awhile" (Hawker, Raymonde) – 3:04
6. "Suspended Animation" – 3:09
7. "Sad Song" (Mark Middler, Peter Mason) – 2:52
8. "It's So Different Here" – 2:45
9. "Cuckoo Clock" – 2:45
10. "Pin a Medal on Mary" (Birch, Wicks) – 3:05
11. "Stranger in the House" (Costello) – 4:05

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[6][7]

Musicians

• Rachel Sweet – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Ray Beavis – tenor saxophone
• Charley Charles – drums on "B-A-B-Y", "Stay Awhile", "Pin a Medal on Mary" and "Stranger in the House"
• Simon Climie – finger snapping, hand clapping, percussion
• John "Irish" Earle – baritone saxophone
• Mickey Gallagher – piano on "B-A-B-Y", "Stay Awhile", "Pin a Medal on Mary" and "Stranger in the House"
• Paul Gillieron – soprano saxophone, penny whistle
• Chris Gower – trombone
• Dick Hanson – trumpet
• Lene Lovich – backing vocals on "Just My Style" and "Cuckoo Clock"
• Brinsley Schwarz – rhythm guitar on "B-A-B-Y" and "Stranger in the House"
• Liam Sternberg (credited as "Pietro Nardini")[8] – bass guitar, guitar, keyboards
• Stiff Chorus – vocals on "Girl with a Synthesizer"
• Mark Sugden – drums, percussion
• Leah Sweet – finger snapping, hand clapping, percussion
• Norman Watt-Roy – bass guitar on "B-A-B-Y", "Stay Awhile", "Pin a Medal on Mary" and "Stranger in the House"

Production

• Roger Béchirian – mixing, recording
• Guy Bidmead – mixing, recording
• Barrie Guard – mixing and production on "I Go to Pieces" and "Sad Song"
• David Mackay – production on "I Go to Pieces" and "Sad Song"
• Bob Painter – recording
• Peter Solley – remixing on US edition
• Liam Sternberg – production

Charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9]	86
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10]	77
US Billboard 200[11]	97

References

1. Mills, Fred (January 23, 2007). "Stiff Records Relaunches In April". Harp. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
2. Hamlin, Andrew. "Fool Around – Rachel Sweet". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor and Fields. ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
4. "Feedback". Record Mirror. November 4, 1978. p. 25.
5. "Rachel Sweet: Fool Around". Billboard. Vol. 91 no. 26. July 7, 1979. p. 60. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
6. Fool Around (liner notes). Rachel Sweet. Stiff Records. 1978. SEEZ 12.CS1 maint: others (link)
7. Fool Around (liner notes). Rachel Sweet. Stiff Records/Columbia Records. 1979. JC 36101.CS1 maint: others (link)
8. Cizmar, Martin (January 17, 2018). "'It Still Smells Like Burnt Rubber'". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 302. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
10. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4411b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
11. "Billboard 200". Billboard. August 31, 1979. Retrieved November 4, 2020.

External links

• Fool Around at Discogs (list of releases)
• Fool Around at MusicBrainz (list of releases)