Nobody’s Fool – Cinderella | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#13) & Mainstream Rock (#25); 1987

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Cinderella was formed in Philadelphia in 1983 by bar-band veterans Tom Kiefer (guitar/ keyboards/ vocals) and Eric “B.” Brittingham (bass) who took the group’s name from a soft porn film the two had seen on TV.

With guitarist Jeff LeBar and drummer Tony Destra on board, Cinderella hit the club circuit. In 1985 Jon Bon Jovi caught their act at the Empire Rock Room and brought them to his parent label.

After another change behind the drum kit (Jody Cortez replaced Destra), the foursome set about recording its debut album with Andy Johns – who’d worked with Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, and The Rolling Stones – in the producer’s chair.

During the sessions, Fred Coury took over for Cortez, and Bon Jovi helped out on backing vocals. Night Songs hit the stores in mid-1986, and picked up steam off rock airplay of Shake Me.

Cinderella’s leather-and-lace look also caught on with the MTV crowd, a development that helped boost the second single, Nobody’s Fool, to #13 and Night Song to triple platinum sales.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Andy Johns

Lyrics Written by:

• Tom Keifer

Awards:

• The music video for “Nobody’s Fool” won the award for Best Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards