You Were Only Fooling Explained

You Were Only Fooling
Type:studio
Artist:Vic Damone
Cover:You Were Only Fooling.JPG
Released:June 1965
Genre:Traditional pop, vocal pop
Length:30:43
Label:Warner
Producer:Jimmy Bowen
Prev Title:On the Street Where You Live
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:Country Love Songs
Next Year:1965

You Were Only Fooling is a studio album by American singer Vic Damone, released in June 1965, by Warner Records. This was his first project after leaving Capitol Records. It was produced by Jimmy Bowen.[1]

The album was released on compact disc by Collectables Records on August 12, 2003, as a double album pairing it with Damone's album, Country Love Songs.[2]

Reception

The album was well received by critics at the time of its release. Billboard Magazine stated that Damone "is in fine voice" and called the album "the most commercial LP of his career".[3]

Cash Box called it "List of Veteran favorites" stating "When it comes to smooth, easy vocalizing and a warm, honest handling of a tender balled"[4]

The Honolulu Advertiser stated that The rest of the kit such clicks as "It's Not Unusual," "I'll Never Find Another You," "For Mama" is superb!"[5]

Variety said it "showcases Damone in a neat songalog, consisting mostly of recent ballads".[6]

The San Francisco Examiner stated that "He shows his versatility here by restyling the old timer, "Careless Hands." One of the best arrangements is "And Roses and Roses," on which "Da Moan" does extra well."[7]

Record Mirror called the album "Pleasant enough set from the strangely-underrated talent, and stated that Damone has a highly professional gloss to his work, and Erine Freeman's backing aggrehations help greatly."[8]

Chart performance

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated July 10, 1965, and remained on the chart for ten weeks, eventually reaching number 86[9] it also debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated July 17, 1965, and remained on the chart for a total of 5 weeks, peaking at number 91[10] and was not considered a success, either aesthectically or at the cashbox.[11]

The single, "Why Don't You Believe Me?", "bubbled under" Billboards Hot 100 chart, reaching number 127,[12] and peaked at number 25 on the magazine's Easy Listening chart.

"You Were Only Fooling" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated April 17, 1965, eventually reaching number 30 during a ten-week stay on the chart.[13] The song reached number eight on the magazine's Easy Listening chart.[14], and number 28 on the Cashbox singles chart.[15] The song marked his last of 40 hits on the Hot 100.[16]

Track listing

Side two

Charts

Singles
YearSingleChartPeak position
1965"You Were Only Fooling"US Billboard Hot 10030
US Easy Listening8
US Cashbox28
"Why Don't You Believe Me?"US Billboard Hot 100127
US Easy Listening25
US Cashbox90

Notes and References

  1. Book: Friedwald, Will . A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers . 2010 . Pantheon Books . 9780375421495 . 133 . en.
  2. Web site: Vic Damone - You Were Only Fooling/Country Love Songs Album Reviews, Songs & More . AllMusic . 2024-01-02 . en.
  3. Album Reviews – Pop Spotlight . June 19, 1965 . Billboard . 68 . en.
  4. June 19, 1965 . Album Reviews . . 39 . 26 . 26.
  5. News: June 24, 1965 . On The Record . January 20, 2024 . . 38 . en.
  6. June 30, 1965 . Record Reviews: Al Hirt at Carnegie, Vic Damone, Harlow Soundtrack, The Yardbirds, Cole's Cat Ballou, Nelson Top LPs . . 50 . 239 . 6.
  7. News: July 11, 1965 . Pop Albums . January 20, 2024 . . 188 . en.
  8. August 21, 1965 . Here's the first batch of Warner LP's issued by Pye . . 10 . en.
  9. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's top pop albums : 1955-1996 . 1996 . Record Research . 978-0-8982-0117-8 . Menomonee Falls, Wis. . 196.
  10. Book: Hoffmann, Frank W . The Cash box album charts, 1955-1974 . 1988 . Scarecrow Press . 0-8108-2005-6 . Metuchen, N.J. . 88.
  11. Book: Friedwald, Will . A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers . 2010 . Pantheon Books . 9780375421495 . 133 . en.
  12. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's Bubbling under the hot 100, 1959-1981 . Record Research . 1982 . 978-0-8982-0047-8 . Menomonee Falls, Wis . 44.
  13. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's top pop singles 1955-2002 . 2002 . Record Research . 0898201551 . Menomonee Falls, Wisc. . 172.
  14. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn presents Billboard top adult songs, 1961-2006 . 2007 . Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research Inc. . 978-0-89820-169-7 . 68.
  15. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 12, 1965 .
  16. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn's Top pop singles, 1940-1955 . 1973 . Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research . The Archive of Contemporary Music . 18.