Stubborn Kind of Fellow

Infobox Single
Name = Stubborn Kind of Fellow
Background = khaki


Artist = Marvin Gaye
from Album = That Stubborn Kinda Fellow
B-side =
Released = September 1962
Format = 7" single
Recorded = July 1962; Hitsville USA, Detroit, Michigan
Genre = R&B/soul
Length = 2:44
Label = Tamla
Writer = Marvin Gaye
William "Mickey" Stevenson
George Gordy
Producer = William "Mickey" Stevenson
Certification =
Chart position = * #46 US Pop Singles Chart
* #8 Hot R&B Singles Chart
Last single = "Soldier's Plea"
(1962)
This single = "Stubborn Kind of Fellow"
(1962)
Next single = "Hitch Hike
(1962)

"Stubborn Kind of Fellow" is a 1962 single by Marvin Gaye, released on the Motown subsidiary Tamla. The single was historic in many ways for the Washington, D.C.-bred singer and former Moonglows member, for it was the first major hit record for the singer on Motown after three failed singles and an album that had Gaye performing jazz standards.

The song was conceived after Gaye reluctantly agreed to perform in the same R&B-rooted productions of his fellow Motown label mates rather than try to be "the Black Frank Sinatra". Based on an autobiographical account of Gaye's moody behavior, it was also penned (alongside William "Mickey" Stevenson) during the time Gaye was dating Motown founder Berry Gordy's sister Anna.

Released in September of that year, the song gave Gaye his first taste of fame that would make him Motown's leading hit maker peaking at number eight on the Billboard Black Singles chart and number forty-six on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and was the leading single off Gaye's second album, the aptly-titled "That Stubborn Kinda Fellow". This was also the first single to include recently signed girl group Martha and the Vandellas, who would accompany Gaye on his first three hit singles before finding fame on their own.

Credits

*Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye
*Background vocals by Martha and the Vandellas: Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard
*Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers