What makes a song a chart-topping hit? The question has puzzled musicians and music executives for years. Often, the success of a song takes even its creators by surprise.
Take the Doobie Brothers’ hit “What a Fool Believes,” which skyrocketed to the top of the charts in 1979. Singer Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins wrote the song and both recorded versions around the same time. Loggins released his version first, but it didn’t make a big impact. On the other hand, the Doobie Brothers struggled to perfect their rendition.
“The song was always a mystery,” McDonald confessed. “We tried everything in the studio, going to desperate lengths. Our producer, Ted Templeman, even played drums alongside our drummer. We had stacks of takes piled to the ceiling.”
Templeman eventually reached his breaking point, as McDonald recalled. “He stepped away from the drums, walked into the control room, and began cutting the tapes into sections right then and there. It was a risky move back then, but it’s what we needed to do to make the record.”
Templeman shared his own recollections, explaining, “We kept recording the track over and over, but it just wouldn’t click. Even after it was finished, I wasn’t convinced. I almost threw it away before playing it for Warner Bros executives, who loved it. Winning a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1980, I couldn’t believe our ‘piece of crap’ had become such a hit.”
Not only did “What a Fool Believes” become a Grammy-winning sensation, but it remains the Doobie Brothers’ biggest hit. McDonald reflects, “It instantly resonated with audiences, unlike anything we had done before or anyone else was doing at the time.”
Decades later, fans of Yacht Rock still appreciate this unexpected success story. The lesson here—sometimes the most unlikely creations become the most cherished.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.