Poor Little Fool

"Poor Little Fool" is a pop/rock song written by Sharon Sheeley. It was based on her disappointment following a short-lived relationship with a member of a popular singing duo. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Ricky Nelson on April 17, 1958, and released on Imperial 5528. It holds the distinction of being the first song to hit number one on "Billboard magazine's" then newly-created Hot 100 chart, replacing the magazine's Top 100 and Best Sellers chart. The record also reached the Billboard top ten in Country and Rhythm and Blues.

"Poor Little Fool" became a radio hit when it was released as part of a four-song Extended Play 45 rpm disc, which was excerpted from the artist's second LP, "Ricky Nelson." Responding to the buzz, Lew Chudd of Imperial Records rushed out a single version (on both 45 and 78 rpm). Nelson objected, however, believing that the move would hurt sales of the EP. Under his contract with Imperial, the singer had approval rights for all picture-sleeve art, and, to express his displeasure with Chudd's decision, he chose not to select a photograph for the "Poor Little Fool" single. As a result, "Poor Little Fool" was the only Imperial Ricky Nelson single to be issued in the United States without a photo in a plain label-cut-out sleeve. (See Philip Bashe, "Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man: The Complete Biography of Rick Nelson".)