"Just a Little Misunderstanding" | ||||
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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 | ||||
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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]
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).
Just a Little Misunderstanding has appeared on several Contours' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations on the Motown label, [8]