Don't Mess with Bill
"Don't Mess with Bill" is a million-selling Gold-certified 1966 single recorded by The Marvelettes for Motown Records' Tamla label.[1] Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, "Don't Mess with Bill" features a lead vocal by Wanda Young. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1966, and at number three on Billboard's R&B singles chart. "Don't Mess with Bill" was the Marvelettes' final Top 10 single.[2][3]
| "Don't Mess with Bill" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Marvelettes | ||||
| from the album The Marvelettes Greatest Hits | ||||
| B-side | "Anything You Wanna Do" | |||
| Released | November 26, 1965 | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville USA; June 1965 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Length | 2:51 | |||
| Label | Tamla T 54126 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Smokey Robinson | |||
| Producer(s) | Smokey Robinson | |||
| The Marvelettes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
The titular "Bill" referenced is not an allusion to the song's author, Bill "Smokey" Robinson.[1] Robinson reports that he chose the name because it fit the lyrics, not because it was his.
Cash Box described it as a "funky medium-paced pop-blues shuffler about love-struck gal who serves notice on one and all to leave her fella alone."[4]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers
- Background vocals by the Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers[5]
- Bass – James Jamerson
- Congas – Eddie "Bongo" Brown
- Drums – Benny Benjamin
- Guitar – Robert White
- Organ – Earl Van Dyke
- Baritone saxophone – Andrew "Mike" Terry
- Tenor saxophone solo – Norris Patterson
- Trombone – Don White, Paul Riser
- Trumpet – Floyd Jones, John Trudell
- Vibraphone – Jack Ashford
Chart performance
| Chart (1965-1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| US Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard) | 3 |
Other versions
- It was included as part of The Spinners "Superstar Medley" and released on the 1975 "Spinners Live!" album.[6]
- "Don't Mess with Bill" has also been recorded and released by Mona Lisa Young.Mona Lisa Young
Born Los Angelos, CAKnown for "Lovers" by World Class Wreckin Crew(1988), Saint Tropez(1982-1983) Notable work Knife(1983), Partners in Pleasure(1992) Website http://www.monalisayoung.com, https://www.discogs.com/sell/item/2398930244
References
- The Complete Motown Singles Vol 5: 1965 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 379.
- Don't Mess with Bill at Allmusic
- "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 18, 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006775-02, USA, 04 Aug 2006
- The Spinners Live! LP