Released 40 years ago
No More the Fool
Elkie Brooks · 1986
45 min · 10 tracks · pop music
A blend of heartfelt ballads and powerful anthems, showcasing Elkie Brooks' emotive vocals and rich instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
No More the Fool — The title track encapsulates the album’s themes of self-discovery and resilience, delivered with Brooks’ signature emotional depth and vocal power.
-
→
Only Women Bleed — Brooks’ rendition adds a unique sensitivity to this classic song about women's struggles, showcasing her ability to convey complex emotions through her voice.
-
→
Break the Chain — This track stands out for its empowering message and strong melodic hooks, exemplifying Brooks’ transition into a more mainstream pop sound while retaining her emotional authenticity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong vocal performances and varied arrangements but lacks standout compositions throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a gradual build-up, leading into a powerful chorus that showcases Brooks' vocal range.
- The cover of 'Only Women Bleed' is arranged with a slower tempo and more orchestration than the original, emphasizing emotional delivery.
- Several tracks incorporate layered harmonies and rich instrumentation, creating a lush soundscape that supports the vocal performances.
- The last two tracks slow down the tempo significantly, providing a reflective conclusion to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo emotional exploration
- cathartic release through powerful vocals
- intimate moments of personal reflection
- sing-along ballads with friends
- for evening wind-down
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1986, No More the Fool was Elkie Brooks' seventh studio album, following her commercially successful record, Pearls. By this time, she had firmly established herself in the pop music scene of the UK, transitioning from her previous blues influences to a more mainstream sound that appealed to a broader audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dusty Springfield· Kiki Dee· Carly Simon
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 No More the Fool 4:59
- 2 Only Women Bleed 4:34
- 3 No Secrets (Call of the Wild) 4:34
- 4 Blue Jay 4:21
- 5 Break the Chain 4:45
- 6 We’ve Got Tonight 4:19
- 7 All or Nothing 4:36
- 8 Don’t Want to Cry No More 5:09
- 9 Hiding Inside Yourself 4:03
- 10 Hold the Dream 3:48
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.