Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For

"'Single infobox
Name = Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For


Artist = The Stone Roses
from Album = Turns Into Stone
Released = November 13 1989
Format = CD, cassette, vinyl record 7" and 12"
Recorded = 1989
Genre = Madchester
Length = 4 min 15 s (edit)
9 min 53 s (compilation)
Label = Silvertone
Producer = John Leckie
Chart position =

• #8 (UK)

Reviews = | Last single = "She Bangs the Drums"
(1989)
This single = "Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For"
(1989)
Next single = "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, peaking at #8.

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 a sample of Bobby Byrd's rendition of "Hot Pants" 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.Fact|date=September 2008

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.

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Fool's Gold" at number 32 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.

Track listing

1989 Release

7": [Silvertone ORE 13]
# "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
# "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)

12": [Silvertone ORE T 13]
# "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
# "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD 13]
# "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
# "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)
# "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)

1990 re-release

12" ("gold" vinyl): [Silvertone 1315-1-JD] (USA release)
# "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
# "What the World Is Waiting For" (3:55)
# "Fools Gold" (4:15)

1992 re-release

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD Z 13]
# "Fools Gold" (The Top Won Mix!) (10:03)
# "Fools Gold" (The Bottom Won Mix!) (7:00)

1995 re-release

12": [Silvertone ORE T 71]
# "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
# "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)
# "Fools Gold (Cricklewood Ballroom Mix)" (4:16)

CD: [Silvertone ORE CD 71]
# "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
# "Fools Gold 9.53" (9:53)
# "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)
# "Fools Gold (Cricklewood Ballroom Mix)" (4:16)

CS: [Silverton ORE C 71]
# "Fools Gold 4.15" (4:15)
# "Fools Gold (The Tall Paul Remix)" (7:21)

1999 re-release

12": [Jive Electro 01241-42579-1] (USA release)
# "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix)" (6:37)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Straight Beat Pyrite Dub)" (7:35)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To The Majors - Extended)" (9:42)

12": [Jive Electro 0523092] (UK release)
# "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix)" (6:36)
# "She Bangs the Drums (Kiss My Arse Mix)" (4:02)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To The Majors)" (8:24)

CD: [Jive Electro 0523092] (UK release)
# "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix - Edit)" (4:30)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To the Majors)" (8:24)
# "She Bangs the Drums (Kiss My Arse Mix)" (4:02)

CD: [Jive Electro 0523362] (European release)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To the Majors - Edit)" (4:43)
# "Fools Gold (Grooverider's Mix - Edit)" (4:30)
# "Fools Gold (Rabbit In the Moon's Message To the Majors)" (8:24)
# "She Bangs the Drums (Kiss My Arse Mix)" (4:02)

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.

Use of Fool's Gold as a sample

*Run DMC sampled the bassline and drum beat of Fool's Gold for their hit What's It All About? in 1990. Ian Brown eventually met 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"
* A Fool's Gold sample is used in the 1990 Bananarama song "Only Your Love".

Use of Fool's Gold in film and computer games

* Fool's Gold is used in the computer games FIFA 2004 and NBA 2k8 as well as the , 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"
* A sample of the song appears in the loading screens of the tennis game Top Spin 3

Cover Artwork

As usual, the cover was designed by John Squire and it was called "'Double Dorsal Dopplegänger". [ [http://www.pdmcauley.co.uk/FG.htm P.D.M site] Retrieved 6th September 2008] 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.

Music Video

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

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.

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."

ee also

* The Stone Roses discography

References