Richie Stephens on top with Statue of a Fool
Singer Richie Stephens scores big with his cover of Statue of a Fool. The song takes over the #1 spot on The Foundation Radio Network (New York) Reggae chart.
But did you know that Statue of a Fool was not originally recorded by David Ruffin?
Ruffin’s version, which became popular on local FM radio stations in the 1970s, was released as the B-side of the single On and On in 1975. Both songs are featured on Ruffin’s 1975 album Who I Am? for Motown Records.
On and On peaked at #48 on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart.
Interestingly, Statue of a Fool was written by Jan Crutchfield and first recorded by country music singer Jack Greene in 1969. Greene took the song to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
There have been other country and western versions of Statue of a Fool, most notably by Brian Collins and Ricky Van Shelton.
Bill Medley, formerly of the soul group The Righteous Brothers, released a version of the song in 1979, which topped out at #91 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Still on the New York Reggae chart, Blessings by Taddy P and Red Fox enters at #28, while Fight by Jango Thriller debuts at #30.
Over on the South Florida Reggae chart, Marcia Griffiths bags another week in the #1 spot with Niceness.
Moving now to the streaming and sales-driven Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Bob Marley and the Wailers has now spent 206 non-consecutive weeks in the #1 spot with Legend.
Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy remains at #2, while Dutty Classics Collection by Sean Paul inches into the #3 spot. Sean is also at #4 with the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling Dutty Rock.
Masicka’s Generation of Kings tumbles to #5, while Stick Figure occupies positions #6 and #7 with World on Fire and Set in Stone, respectively.
Greatest Hits by UB40 dips to #8, Wisdom by Stick Figure remains at #9, and No Love by Byron Messia is steady at #10.
Talibans II by Burna Boy and Byron Messia gets a new lease on life as it climbs from #10 to #8 on Billboard’s US Afrobeats Songs chart. It peaked at #3 months ago and spends its 21st week on the tally.
Drift by Teejay dips two places on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 chart, tumbling from #32 to #34. It finds better luck on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay inching up from #30 to #29. On R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Drift is steady at #40.
The remix of Drift by Teejay featuring Davido enters the Nigerian Hot 100 chart at #46.
Over on the German R&B/Hip-Hop chart, Beama by Shenseea featuring Lola Brooke spends a third week at #38.
