"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album Minute by Minute(with McDonald singing lead vocals). The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, remaining in that position for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

"What a Fool Believes" was one of the few non-disco No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1979.

Michael Jackson claimed to have contributed at least one backing track to the original Doobie Brothers recording, but was not credited for having done so.

Loggins released a version of the song (five months prior to The Doobie Brothers) on his 1978 album Nightwatch, and a live version on his 1980 album Kenny Loggins Alive.

There is a Loggins/McDonald live duet on Loggins' 1993 album Outside: From the Redwoods.

Warner Brothers also released a 12" single disco version by The Doobie Brothers (backed with "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"). Mixed by disco producer Jim Burgess, at 5:31 the song is considerably longer than 3:41 versions on the 7" single and the Minute by MinuteLP. The 12" version also has a more pronounced bass-driven drumbeat.

Live versions of the song often feature a guitar bridge after the second verse.

What A Fool Believes is a 12" Vinyl EP by Matt Bianco, released in 1991.

Numerous cover versions of the song have been recorded, including:

While not a cover version, the 1980 hit "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree is built around a keyboard riff which is notably similar to that of the Doobie Brothers hit.

An unrelated song with the same title, written by Kavon Shah, C Ridenhour, K Bryant Jackson and Veda, appears on the 2005 Public Enemy album New Whirl Odor.

Discography

"Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)" · "Mack the Knife" · "Theme from A Summer Place" · "Moon River" · "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" · "Days of Wine and Roses" · "The Girl from Ipanema" · "A Taste of Honey" · "Strangers in the Night" · "Up, Up and Away" · "Mrs. Robinson"

"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" · "Bridge over Troubled Water" · "It's Too Late" · "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" · "Killing Me Softly with His Song" · "I Honestly Love You" · "Love Will Keep Us Together" · "This Masquerade" · "Hotel California" · "Just the Way You Are"

" What a Fool Believes " · "Sailing" · "Bette Davis Eyes" · "Rosanna" · "Beat It" · "What's Love Got to Do with It" · "We Are the World" · "Higher Love" · "Graceland" · "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

"Wind Beneath My Wings" · "Another Day in Paradise" · "Unforgettable" · "Tears in Heaven" · "I Will Always Love You" · "All I Wanna Do" · "Kiss from a Rose" · "Change the World" · "Sunny Came Home" · "My Heart Will Go On"

"Smooth" · "Beautiful Day" · "Walk On" · "Don't Know Why" · "Clocks" · "Here We Go Again" · "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" · "Not Ready to Make Nice" · "Rehab" · "Please Read the Letter"

"Use Somebody"