Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Elvin Bishop | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#3); 1976
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
After two years of studying physics at the University of Chicago, Elvin Bishop left the classroom for the streets and his beloved Blues. His musical journey took him through several successful years with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, followed by a move to the Bay area and its thriving music scene.
In 1974, Let It Flow became his debut album charter, and Travelin’ Shoes launched him onto the Hot 100. Juke Joint Jump followed Flow in 1995 along with the #83 single, Sure Feels Good.
Struttin’ My Stuff streeted in 1976: the third album to feature backing by future New Age pianist Philip Aaberg, bassist Michael Brooks, and Starship drummer-to-be Donny Baldwin.
Also present again was vocalist Mickey Thomas, who took the lead on a song Bishop had written years earlier: Fooled Around And Fell In Love. Mickey later joined Donny in Starship and helped bring the veteran band its first #1, as lead singer on 1985’s We Built This City.
This content and the Song Meaning article was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2025 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bill Szymczyk
Lyrics Written by:
- Elvin Bishop
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).