Just a Little Misunderstanding
"Just a Little Misunderstanding" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Contours | ||||
B-side | "Determination" | |||
Released |
1966 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1966 | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 2:29 | |||
Label |
Gordy G7052 | |||
Writer(s) |
Stevie Wonder Clarence Paul Morris Broadnax | |||
Producer(s) |
Clarence Paul William "Mickey" Stevenson | |||
The Contours singles chronology | ||||
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"Just a Little Misunderstanding" (G7052) is a 1966 song by Motown Records R&B group The Contours on the company's Gordy subsidiary label. It was composed by Stevie Wonder, along with Motown staff songwriters Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax.[1] The song did not appear on any original Contours studio album. Paul and Motown A&R Director William "Mickey" Stevenson were the song's producers, and Wonder plays drums on the recording.[2]
Description
This song was not a big chart success, only reaching # 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. It did much better on the Billboard R&B chart,however, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #18. It was also a Top 40 hit in England in 1970, reaching # 31 on the British UK Chart. The first hit by the group that did not feature original lead singer Billy Gordon, "Just a Little Misunderstanding" featured lead vocals by his replacement, Joseph Stubbs, who previously sang for the Detroit-based R&B group The Falcons.[3][4]
In this hard-driving, uptempo song, Stubbs, as the song's narrator, portrays a man trying to apologize to his wife for his bad behavior, only to find out that she is about to leave him.[5]
This was Stubbs' only lead on a Contours single. Shortly after this song was recorded, Stubbs left the Contours and Motown.[6] Stubbs' lead spot in the Contours was taken by future Temptation Dennis Edwards on the group's next single release,"It's So Hard Being a Loser" b/w "Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday".Stubbs went on to Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax label, and became lead singer of the group 100 Proof (Aged in Soul).
Albums and covers
Just a Little Misunderstanding has appeared on several Contours' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations on the Motown label,[7] including the 1999 CD release, "The Very Best of The Contours",[8] along with the 2003 CD release "The Best of The Contours-The Millennium Collection",[9] and has inspired cover versions and samples by The Supremes, and Hip-Hop artist Cam'ron, as part of his song "My Job".[10] It was recorded by The Jackson Five during the sessions for their LP Third Album, but was unreleased.[11]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Joseph Stubbs
- Backing vocals by Sylvester Potts, Council Gay, Jerry Green, and The Andantes (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps)
- Guitar by Huey Davis
- Drums by Stevie Wonder
- Other instruments by The Funk Brothers[2]
External links
References
- ↑ "Morris Broadnax Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- 1 2 "Contours". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks: The Falcons". Uncamarvy.com. 1959-03-16. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "The Falcons Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "The Contours: Just A Little Misunderstanding Lyrics". Justsomelyrics.com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "The Contours Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "Just a Little Misunderstanding - The Contours". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "The Very Best of The Contours: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "Diana Ross and The Supremes's Just a Little Misunderstanding cover of The Contours's Just a Little Misunderstanding". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ↑ "jackson 5 - just a little misunderstanding". YouTube. 1971-04-29. Retrieved 2013-12-04.