Why Do Fools Fall In Love is the twelfth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 14, 1981 by RCA Records. It was Ross’ first of six albums released by the label during the decade. It reached #15 in the United States (#4 R&B), #17 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
Why Do Fools Fall In Love was the first album Ross recorded after leaving the Motown label, when she signed a $20 million deal with RCA. Originally, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were slated to produce the follow-up to the platinum Diana album. However, their schedules were filled with commitments to also produce Debbie Harry’s solo debut, Johnny Mathis and another Chic album. Ross had given her word to RCA president Robert Summers to deliver an album for the 1981 holiday selling season.
The album was the first to be produced by the singer herself, and it became her second RIAA-certified platinum album. It was also certified gold in the UK and Canada.
After Diana Ross returned “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” to the Top Ten in 1981, a major controversy concerning Frankie Lymon’s estate ensued. Three women each were involved in lawsuits and counter-lawsuits over Lymon’s copyrights and royalties, claiming to be Lymon’s rightful widow. The string of court cases led to the making of the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love.
Ross embarked on a world tour in support of the album.
The album was remastered and re-released on September 2, 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, with bonus material.
Tracks
1 Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Frankie Lymon; Morris Levy) 02:55
2 Sweet Surrender (Cheryl Christensen; Lenny Stack) 04:10
3 Mirror, Mirror (Dennis Matkosky; Michael Sembello) 06:09
4 Endless Love (Lionel Richie) 04:57
5 It’s Never Too Late (Dan Hartman) 03:20
6 Think I’m In Love (Laura Taylor) 04:16
7 Sweet Nothings (Dub Allbritten; Ronnie Self) 03:01
8 Two Can Make It (Dean Pitchford; Tom Snow) 03:25
9 Work That Body (Diana Ross; Ray Chew) 04:59
Musicians
1 Why Do Fools Fall In Love
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Guitar | Bob Kulick |
| Fender Rhodes | Ray Chew |
| Sax | George Young |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
2 Sweet Surrender
| Bass | Francisco Centeno |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Harmonica | Don Brooks |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
3 Mirror, Mirror
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Bob Kulick |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
4 Endless Love
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Piano | Pat Rebillot |
| Synthesizer | Ed Walsh |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
5 It’s Never Too Late
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Fender Rhodes | Leon Pendarvis |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Background Vocals | Leata Galloway |
| Background Vocals | Margaret Dorn |
| Background Vocals | Millie Whiteside |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
6 Think I’m In Love
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Electric Piano | Ray Chew |
| Piano | Ron Frangipane |
| Synthesizer | Ron Frangipane |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
7 Sweet Nothings
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Fender Rhodes | Leon Pendarvis |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
8 Two Can Make It
| Bass | Francisco Centeno |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
9 Work That Body
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Jeff Mironov |
| Piano | Ray Chew |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
| Background Vocals | Leata Galloway |
| Background Vocals | Margaret Dorn |
| Background Vocals | Millie Whiteside |
| Vocals | Diana Ross |
Liner Notes
Producer – Diana Ross
Arranged By – Rob Mounsey (Track 1)
Arranged By – Ray Chew (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Arranged By – Ron Frangipane (Track 6)
Arranged By – Leon Pendarvis (Track 7)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings) – Bert DeCoteaux (Track 1)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings) – Paul Riser (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Arranged By (Horns) – Randy Brecker (Tracks 2, 7)
Engineer – Larry Alexander
Engineer (Assistant) – Dave Greenberg
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Photography – Douglas Kirkland, Claude Mougin
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Recorded At Power Station
Phonographic Copyright RCA Records
Why Do Fools Fall In Love is the twelfth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 14, 1981 by RCA Records. It was Ross’ first of six albums released by the label during the decade. It reached #15 in the United States (#4 R&B), #17 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.