Everybody Plays the Fool

"Everybody Plays the Fool" is the title of a popular song written by J.R. Bailey, Rudy Clark and Ken Williams. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best R&B Song at the 1973 ceremony.

The first recording of the song to reach the Top 40 in the United States was by the R&B group The Main Ingredient, a trio consisting at the time of Cuba Gooding, Sr., Tony Silvester and Luther Simmons, Jr. Their version of "Everybody Plays the Fool" rose to #3 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1972 and was certified gold by the RIAA.Whitburn, Joel (1996). "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits", 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)] This version also peaked at #2 on the "Billboard" R&B chart and at #25 on the "Billboard" adult contemporary chart.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). "The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits" (Billboard Publications)] It was the group's highest charting hit single.

Singer Aaron Neville recorded a cover version of "Everybody Plays the Fool" in 1991 which also hit the Top 10 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, reaching #8 in the fall of that year. This was Neville's third Top 10 hit on the pop chart, following "Tell It Like It Is" (1967, #2) and his duet with Linda Ronstadt, "Don't Know Much" (1989, #2). Neville's single also went to #1 on the "Billboard" adult contemporary chart. In addition, it was a #1 single in New Zealand.

The electronic dance music artist Bassix also recorded a version of "Everybody Plays the Fool" during the late 1980s.

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