Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, 'Fool To Cry' is the first single from the 1976 album 'Black And Blue'. The song was recorded in December 1974, when Mick Taylor had just left the band and the rest of the Stones were left without a lead guitarist. The recording of 'Black And Blue' acted as a sort of audition for new guitarists which is why session man Wayne Perkins plays guitar on this track.

The single was released almost worldwide with 'Crazy Mama' on B-side, while the US promoted 'Hot Stuff' instead [promo 7"s were pressed - France only issued 'Hot Stuff' as an A-side single in PS], a funky number including guest guitarist Harvey Mandel [formerly of Canned Heat].

'Fool To Cry' would be the only single from 'Black And Blue' to chart highly.
Keith Richards famously fell asleep while playing this song on stage in Germany, 1976.

Picture sleeves from around the world

'Fool To Cry' was distributed in company sleeve in the UK, USA and many other countries worldwide [it however did not see the light of the day in countries like Argentina, Peru, Turkey...]. 'Hot Stuff' was released in PS in France.

55 editions worldwide include 'Fool To Cry' on the 7" format.

Crazy Mama
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Well you're crazy Mama
With your ball and chain
And your sawn off shotgun
Blown out brains, yeah

You can scandalize me
Scorn my name
You can steal my money
And that don't mean a doggone thing

Cause if you really think you can push it
I'm going to bust your knees with a bullet
Your crazy mama, ah yeah

Well your old time religion
Is just a superstition
You going to pay high prices
For your sacrificises

Well your blood and thunder
Sure can't faze me none
If your going to keep on coming
I'm gonna take it all head on

If you don't believe I'm going to do it
Just wait till you get hit by that bullet

Don't think I ain't thought about it
But it sure makes my shackles rise
And cold blood murder
Make me want to draw the line

Well your crazy mama
With your ball and chain
Plain psychotic
Plain insane

If you don't think I'm gonna do it
Just wait for the thud of the bullet

Recorded in March & April, 1975
Producer: the 'Glimmer Twins'

Mick Jagger: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Keith Richards: rhythm and bass guitars, electric piano, backing vocals
Ron Wood: backing vocals
Billy Preston: backing vocals
Charlie Watts: drums
Ollie Brown: percussion

'Fool To Cry' was covered by the following artists:

• Barton, Mike: 7": Universal international music 5090, Italy
• Dayne, Taylor: CD 'Satisfied', 200, USA

• Fantasia N°2: 7" Altophon AT 112015, French lyrics, 1977, France
• Microdaft: 1999 CD 'As Years Go by - A Tribute to the Rolling Stones', Doppelganger
• NDR Philharmonic Orchestra 1992 CD: Plays Rolling Stones Classic
• Tegan And Sara: soundtrack of 'Girls' TV show, 2013

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charts	peak	release date	7" single	B-side
	6	April 20, 1976	RS 19121	Crazy Mama [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]
	10		RS 19304	Hot Stuff [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Fool To Cry
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

When I come home, baby, and I've been working all night long
I put my daughter on my knee
And she says "Daddy, what's wrong?"
She whispers in my ear so sweet

You know what she says? She says
Ooh Daddy, you're a fool to cry
You're a fool to cry
And it makes me wonder why

You know I've got a woman and she live in a poor part of town
And I go see her sometimes and we make love so fine
I put my head on her shoulder
And she say "Tell me all your troubles"

Oh I love you so much, baby
(...) want to sigh sometimes, yeah
Yeah, she say Ooh Daddy, you're a fool to cry

Even my friends say it to me sometimes
I make out like I don't understand them
You know what they say?
They say...

I'm a fool, baby, ah yeah
I'm a certified fool now, yeah
I want to tell you (...)
I'm a fool, baby, ah yeah
Certified fool for you, mama, yeah
Come on, yeah, I'm a fool
I'm a fool, yes

Also written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, 'Hot Stuff' was recorded in March, October and December 1975 during the Black & Blue sessions, and is heavily influenced by the disco/funk sounds of the day, with Charlie Watts laying down a heavy drum pattern accompanied by Ollie E. Brown on percussion, Bill Wyman adding a funky bassline, and extensive use of the Wah-wah pedal by guest guitarist Harvey Mandel, formerly of Canned Heat. Mandel plays the lead guitar parts on the song and was one of the guitarists in consideration for replacing the departed Mick Taylor's slot as the Stones' lead guitarist, a position eventually filled by Ron Wood. Billy Preston plays piano on the recording and contributes backing vocals along with Richards and Wood. The video, however, features Wood on guitar playing Mandel's part.
Released as the second and final single from 'Black and Blue' in the US, 'Hot Stuff' only reached #49.

Hot Stuff
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Hot stuff, yeah

Hot stuff
Can't get enough
Hot stuff, hot stuff, can't get enough

The music is mighty, mighty fine
Hot stuff
Play it rough

Cause music is want I want
To keep my body always moving
Yeah, shake it up, hot stuff

Everyday I get another dose
I can't stand it when the music stops
Hot stuff

Everybody on the dance floor
You know what I'm talking about
Music make you forget all your trouble
Make you sing and make you tell the whole wide world
So what? Hot stuff

I want to tell all my friends in London
There ain't nothing wrong with you
But you'd better shape up
Shake it up, your hot stuff

All the people in New York City
I know you all going broke
But I know your tough, yeah you're hot stuff

To everybody in Jamaica
That's working in the sun
Your hot, your hot stuff
Shake it up, hot stuff

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Recorded in March & April, 1975
Producer: the 'Glimmer Twins'

Mick Jagger: vocals, percussion
Harvey Mandel: lead electric guitar
Keith Richards: guitar riffs, backing vocals
Billy Preston: piano, backing vocals
Charlie Watts: drums, percussion
Bill Wyman: bass, percussion
Ollie Brown, Ian Stewart: percussion

'Hot Stuff' was released in the US as a promo-only 7" (edited/long v.) [RS 19304], live on the 'Love You Live' promo 7" EP in 1977, but also - for the first time on this format - on 12" [DSKO 70], on black, or black & blue 'smoked' vinyl, distributed into a 'tongue' stamped die-cut sleeve. This promo 12" was also bootlegged on green, transparent, pink, or red wax, as well as a splashed black & blue.
Initially coupled with' Crazy Mama', the track was later reissued on a new 12" with the long version of 'Miss You' on B-side.

Video rehearsal of 'Hot Stuff' in Toronto, circa 2002.