Every Time Two Fools Collide (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Every Time Two Fools Collide


Artist = Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
from Album = "Every Time Two Fools Collide"
B-side = "We Love Each Other"
Released = January 1978
Format = 45 rpm
Recorded = 1977
Genre = Country-Pop
Length = 02:59
Label = United Artists Records
Writer = Jan Dyer, Jeff Tweel
Producer = Larry Butler
Last single = -
This single = "Every Time Two Fools Collide"
(1978)"'
Next single = "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight"; 1978

"Every Time Two Fools Collide" is the name of a No. 1 Classic Country duet, made famous by Country singers Kenny Rogers and Dottie West in 1978.

History of the Song

"Every Time Two Fools Collide" was meant to be recorded only by Dottie West, as a follow-up to her previous hits from 1977 under her new record company United Artists. Kenny Rogers was under the same label as West at the time, and they were both being produced under Larry Butler. According to legend, West was recording the song in the United Artists studio, when Rogers turned up early to meet West. However, this was wrong. According to Rogers, West was supposed to have finished recording material at 10:00 AM, and Rogers was to have started at the same time. Rogers ended up sitting in the studio anyway. The Country singers began talking about how each of them wanted to record a duet with each other, and West suggested "Every Time Two Fools Collide". They both agreed, and together West and Rogers made the song a duet recording.

Released in early 1978, the song hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs list that year, and became West's first No. 1 and one of Rogers' many No. 1s. The song became one of the pair's best-known songs, and also became one of Country music's classic duet recordings. That year an album of the same name was released (see "Every Time Two Fools Collide" album article) and was certified as Gold, which became Dottie West's first and only Gold-certified album. Their association would last three more years, setting the trend for a string of Country hits, including the Country-Pop hit from 1981, "What Are We Doin' In Love". Thanks in part to the success of this song, Rogers and West won the CMA Awards' coveted "Vocal Duo of the Year" award later that year.

In 2004, CMT hosted a duets special titled, "100 Greatest Duets". "Every Time Two Fools Collide" was listed among their Top 10 list, and was also performed on their special. However, Country singer, Lee Ann Womack took the place of West's part in the song, being West died in an automobile accident in September 1991.

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