Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

"Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For"
Image:FoolsGoldWhatTheWorldIsWaitingFor.jpg
Single by The Stone Roses
from the album The Stone Roses (US version) & Turns Into Stone (compilation)
Released November, 1989
Format CD, cassette, vinyl record 7" and 12"
Recorded  ?
Genre Madchester
Length 4 min 15 s (edit)
9 min 53 s (compilation)
Label Silvertone
Producer John Leckie
The Stone Roses singles chronology
"She Bangs The Drums"
(1989) 		"Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For"
(1989) 		"One Love"
(1990)

"Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For" is a non-album double A-side by The Stone Roses. It was released in the UK, U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan, and Spain. "Fools Gold" and "What the World Is Waiting For" are also available on the compilation Turns Into Stone. "Fools Gold" is also available as the final track on the US release of The Stone Roses self-titled LP, as well as the Very Best of The Stone Roses compilation.

"Fools Gold" became the band's biggest commercial hit at the time. It was their first single to reach the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the Top 75 for 14 weeks.

The dance-oriented song showcased the rhythm section of Mani on bass and Reni on percussion. John Squire also shone on guitar with its various wah-wah pedal effects. Finally, Ian Brown sang the vocals in a unique whispered delivery. He would also perform with this technique for the track "Something's Burning". The bassline was "inspired" by "Know How" by Young MC, which is a sample from the Shaft theme song, performed by Isaac Hayes. The lyrics reference Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and the Marquis de Sade.

The drum track, though played by Reni, was recorded as he played in time to an unknown 70s funk loop at the insistence of John, angering the drummer at the apparent lack of belief in his talent. This was later said to have contributed to Reni leaving the band.

Despite its overwhelming success, the band did not intend to release "Fools Gold" as an A-side. Promo kits originally contained "What the World Is Waiting For" as the A-side, with "Fools Gold" on the B-side. When the press began raving about the song's funky bassline, the band was confused since "What the World Is Waiting For" was a simple guitar based track. The Roses realized the press was referring to "Fools Gold" and they promptly released the songs as a double A-side.

The band's manager of the time, Gareth Evans, was also adamant upon first hearing the song that it was far superior to the intended A-side and should be released as a double A-side.

After Reni left the band in 1995, "Fools Gold" was essentially retired from the live set, since replacement Robbie Maddix could not emulate Reni's complex drumming loops.

Contents

[edit] Track Listing

[edit] 1989 Release

7": [Silvertone ORE 13]

  1. "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
  2. "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)

12": [Silvertone ORE T 13]

  1. "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
  2. "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD 13]

  1. "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
  2. "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)
  3. "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD Z 13]

  1. "Fools Gold" (The Top Won Mix!) (10:03)
  2. "Fools Gold" (The Bottom Won Mix!) (7:00)

[edit] 1990 re-release

12" (gold vinyl): [Silvertone 1315-1-JD]

  1. "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
  2. "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)
  3. "Fools Gold" (4:15)

[edit] 1995 re-release

12": [Silvertone ORE T 71]

  1. "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
  2. "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)
  3. "Fools Gold (Cricklewood Ballroom Mix)" (4:16)

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD 71]

  1. "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
  2. "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
  3. "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)
  4. "Fools Gold (Cricklewood Ballroom Mix)" (4:16)

CS: [Silverton ORE C 71]

  1. "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
  2. "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)

[edit] 1999 re-release

12": [Jive Electro 0523092]

  1. "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix)" (6:36)
  2. "She Bangs the Drums (Kiss My Arse Mix)" (4:02)
  3. "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To The Majors)" (8:24)

CD: [Jive Electro 0523092]

  1. "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix - Edit)" (4:30)
  2. "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To the Majors)" (8:24)
  3. "She Bangs the Drums (Kiss My Arse Mix)" (4:02)

[edit] Reissues

"Fool's Gold" was reissued in 1995 with new remixes.

In 1999, a new imprint - Jive Electro - from Silvertone's parent label, Jive, re-issued a remix package, featuring remixes of "Fool's Gold" by Grooverider and Rabbit in the Moon as the lead tracks.

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Fool's Gold" at number 32 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.
  • Run DMC sampled the bassline and drum beat of Fool's Gold for their hit What's It All About? in 1990. Ian Brown would eventually meet Reverend Run in 1999 and in an interview with Q magazine Ian recalled their meeting: "I met Reverend Run and said to him 'You may not know me but you sampled us years ago' and then he did the riff from Fool's Gold! Surreal!"
  • Fool's Gold was "mashed-up" with If Your Girl Only Knew by Aaliyah for the bootleg "If Only Your Girlfriend Was Stoned"
  • Fool's Gold was used in the computer games FIFA 2004 and NBA 2k8 as well as the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on Alternative station Radio X.
  • A remix of the song appeared on the soundtrack for the BMX oriented video game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX
  • The song appears in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when Big Chris (Vinnie Jones) says "it's been emotional"

[edit] Cover Artwork

As usual, the cover was designed by John Squire and it was called "'Double Dorsal Dopplegänger".[1] It consisted of a painting of dolphins on a splattered background, photographed through a pane of frosted glass. The piece was exhibited at Squire's 2004 art exhibitions and can be viewed here.

[edit] Music Video

The "Fools Gold" music video was filmed at Lanzarote, Canary Islands, one of Squire's favorite vacation spots. It featured The Stone Roses performing outdoors and walking across the volcanic landscape.

[edit] Dance or rock?

Despite being marketed as an 'Indie' or 'Rock' single, Fool's Gold is viewed by many to be, at heart, a dance record. This notion has been cemented by the song appearing on several dance compilations, usually with other Indie/Dance crossover records such as "Step On" by The Happy Mondays and Primal Scream's "Loaded". The video also frequently appears on MTV Dance, usually as part of a 1990 dance retrospective. The song is frequently played in clubs, usually in remixed form and has been re-released as such. The members of the band have never attempted to categorize the tune.

[edit] Quotes

Melody Maker magazine interview (December 9 1989): "The song 'Fool's Gold' is about greed. Have you seen 'Treasure Of The Sierra Madre' with Humphrey Bogart ? Three geezers who are skint and they put their money together to get equipment to go looking for gold. Then they all betray each other. They all end up dead, don't they ? That's what the song is about. It's dead right man. But that song is history for us now."

[edit] External links

fi:Fools Gold

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Fools_Gold/What_the_World_Is_Waiting_For"
Views
Personal tools

Toolbox