I Want a Guy

Infobox Single
Name = I Want a Guy
Artist = The Supremes
from Album = Meet the Supremes
B-side ="Never Again"
Released = March 9, 1961
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Hitsville USA; December, 1960
Genre = Soul
Length = 3:03
Label = Tamla
T 54038
Writer = Berry Gordy, Jr.
Brian Holland
Freddie Gorman
Producer = Berry Gordy, Jr.
Chart position =
*#
Last single = "Tears of Sorrow"/"Pretty Baby"
(Primettes single) (1960)
This single = "I Want a Guy"
(1961)
Next single = "Buttered Popcorn"
(1961)

"I Want a Guy" is a song written by Berry Gordy and was the debuting single for Motown girl group The Supremes in 1961. It was also recorded by The Marvelettes. Featuring Diana Ross, going by her given name, Diane Ross, in lead, the song was a doo-wopish type of song similar to what the Supremes had been recording since forming as "The Primettes" two years earlier.

The songs lyrics tell about a lonely woman who wants a new lover who won't mistreat her and always be loyal to her.:"I want a guy to love me":"One who will love me completely":"Not like the last":"Who's in the past":"Who broke my heart and made me cry"

When issued, the song failed to chart forcing Berry Gordy to find other options for the teenage quartet - its full lineup included Barbara Martin alongside Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. Three member's of the group (Ross, Wilson and Ballard), in fact, had already recorded a single, "Tears of Sorrow"/"Pretty Baby", in their previous quartet, "The Primettes". In between the two singles the teenaged girls would replace Betty McGlown with Martin, and the new quartet would be recording under a new name (and under a new record deal). This song would be issued as a b-side of a Marvelettes hit later that year and would be led by Wanda Rogers, one of her first with the group. Their version, more up-tempo then the original, also would not chart nationally, but became a regional hit.

Credits

The Supremes version

*Lead vocals by Diane Ross
*Background vocals by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Barbara Martin
*Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

The Marvelettes version

*Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers
*Background vocals by Gladys Horton, Georgeanna Tillman, Wyanetta ("Juanita") Cowart, and Katherine Anderson
*Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers