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#768 WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES Doobie Brothers
Following the departure of key member Tom Johnston, The Doobie Brothers were attempting to fill the void and create new material. Michael McDonald had recently joined the group and had not  written for some time; but he was scrambling through some old ideas. Amongst them was the genesis of what would become one of the group's biggest hits: "What A Fool Believes". McDonald recounted to me in an interview: "I must have had it for a couple of years where I just couldn't seem to finish it". He played a demo of it to producer Ted Templeman who recognized its potential as a hit single. One day, when McDonald was to write songs with Kenny Loggins, the latter arrived and heard him playing the unfinished piece at the piano. Upon hearing it, Loggins declared that he wanted to help him complete the song. It was their first collaboration. 
Once it was completed, both recorded a version of the song. Loggins' recording was the first presented to the public. It appeared on his mid-1978 LP 'Nightwatch'. McDonald recorded his version with the Doobie Brothers for their 'Minute By Minute' album which followed a few months later. It's a far superior and more soulful performance, reaching #1 in America in April 1979 and winning Grammy Awards for Record & Song of the Year. 
Loggins went on to establish himself with a solo career that saw him reach #1 in his own right with "Footloose", the title song from the hit 1984 film. Other hits included: "I'm Alright", "Danger Zone" and "Nobody's Fool".


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