"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]
| "Just a Little Misunderstanding" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Contours | ||||
| B-side | "Determination" | |||
| Released | April 13, 1966 | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1966 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 2:29 | |||
| Label | Gordy G7052 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder Clarence Paul Morris Broadnax | |||
| Producer(s) | Clarence Paul William "Mickey" Stevenson | |||
| The Contours singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Description edit
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 the UK in 1970, reaching # 31 on the UK Chart.[3] 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, (brother of The Four Tops' lead singer, Levi Stubbs), who previously sang for the Detroit-based R&B group The Falcons.[4][5]
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.[6]
This was Stubbs' only lead on a Contours single. Shortly after this song was recorded, Stubbs left the Contours and Motown.[7] 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 edit
Just a Little Misunderstanding has appeared on several Contours' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations on the Motown label,[8]
Personnel edit
- 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 edit
References edit
- ^ "Morris Broadnax Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ^ a b "Contours". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
- ^ "CONTOURS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ^ "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.