The Main Ingredient vs. Aaron Neville | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 36^th edition of Head 2 Head, The Main Ingredient and Aaron Neville contend for the best rendition of “Everybody Plays the Fool.” 

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elcome to Head 2 Head 🗣️! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  On the 36^th edition of head-to-head, iconic musicians 🎙 The Main Ingredient and 🎙 Aaron Neville contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Everybody Plays the Fool”.  So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. The Main Ingredient, “Everybody Plays the Fool”

💿 Bitter Sweet • 🏷 RCA • 📅 1972

In case you needed to know, “Everybody plays the fool, sometime / There’s no exception to the rule.” Facts, courtesy of classic soul collective, 🎙 The Main Ingredient.  Those iconic lyrics, of course, hail from the group’s biggest hit, the 🏆 Grammy-nominated gem, 🎵 “Everybody Plays the Fool.”  There’s nothing ‘foolish’ about this hit, which appears on their 1972 album, 💿 Bitter Sweet.  On the Billboard Hot 100, “Everybody Plays the Fool” was ‘pop’ hit, peaking at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

So, what makes “Everybody Plays the Fool” so epic? The production is colorful and incredibly soulful – certainly idiomatic of the smooth, sleek 70s sound (piano, robust bass, winds, strings, etc.).  The vocals are elite by the late, great 🎙 Cuba Gooding, Sr. (father of 🏆 Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr., of course).  His tenor is tailor made for this gem. The lyrics are relatable, capturing that foolishness we all experience at some time with love. “Oh, heaven on earth is all you see,” goes the second verse, continuing, “You’re out of touch with reality / And now you cry, but when you do / Next time around, someone cries for you.” Of course, the chorus nails it, continuing from earlier, “Listen baby / “It may be factual, may be cruel / I wanna tell you that / Everybody plays the fool.”  FACTS!  Could anyone dare give Cuba and company a run for their money? 

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 15 Totally & Utterly Foolish Songs
🔗 🎧 15 More Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3)

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2. Aaron Neville, “Everybody Plays the Fool”

💿 Warm Your Heart • 🏷 A&M • 📅 1991

🏆 Grammy-winning Soul icon 🎙 Aaron Neville possesses one of the most distinct voices EVER – its indisputable! He possesses a gorgeous tone with one of the most ripe, agile falsettos you’ll ever hear.  While he’s smooth most often, Neville is also able to muster up grit as well.  Worth noting, Neville’s four Grammy wins weren’t in the R&B category.  Three were awarded for pop, while his fourth win was for Country collaboration with Vocals (🎵 “I Fall to Pieces” with 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Trisha Yearwood)! Unsurprisingly, Mr. Neville is perfectly suited to cover 🎵 “Everybody Plays the Fool” by 🎙 The Main Ingredient.  The Main Ingredient front man 🎙 Cuba Gooding, Sr. possesses a sweet tenor in his own right.  I say that to say, that nearly two decades later, on his 1991 album, 💿 Warm Your Heart, Neville revives the 70s R&B smash.

In Neville’s hands, “Everybody Plays the Fool” performed successfully, peaking at no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.  That’s awesome considering the original was a top-five hit itself.  Furthermore, the success of the remake speaks to the excellence of the record and of course, Aaron Neville.  Neville doesn’t carbon copy the original either.  His reinterpretations move away from soul and embraces light, adult contemporary pop sound fused with a dash of tropical flavor.  In some regards, it’s a radical shift but it (1) suits Neville and (2) gave the song a refreshing sound for the 90s.  What remains the same is the foolish sentiment captured effortless by Cuba Gooding, Sr. and echoed by Neville.

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

The Main Ingredient or Aaron Neville?  While I’d argue that Mr. Neville has a larger legacy (🎵 “Tell It Like It Is”, HELLO!!!), and his cover is fabulous, The Main Ingredient take this one.  I prefer the soulful touches of the original.  Still, no shame in Neville’s game!

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The Main Ingredient vs. Aaron Neville: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 36 [📷: A&M, Brent Faulkner, GenderArts from Pixabay, The Musical Hype, RCA, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay]

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