Stubborn Kind Of Fellow

Album: That Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (1963)
Charted: 46
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Producers at Motown were having a hard time getting Marvin to sing an upbeat song and put a little scream to it. So, according to a pioneering Motowner named Geno Parks, the label sort of tricked Marvin by telling him that he was singing this song as a demo for Parks. To Marvin's surprise, the company released the demo as an official song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Hal - Atlanta, GA
  • "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" was Marvin Gaye's first major hit. It peaked at #46 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #8 on the Billboard Black Singles chart. It also marked the debut of the Vandellas (previously known as the Vels, later as Martha and the Vandellas), who continued to accompany Gaye on "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby," "Hitch Hike" and "Pride & Joy."
  • Record producer Phil Spector was so taken with "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," he said that he veered off the road when the song first came on his car radio.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 22nd 1962, Marvin Gaye performed his debut charted record*, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Eight days earlier on October 14th, 1962 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #98; and on November 25th, 1962 it peaked at #46 {for 1 week} and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1962 and 1983 he had thirty-seven Top 100 records; thirteen made the Top 10 with three reaching #1; "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for 7 weeks in 1968, "Let's Get It On" for 2 weeks in 1973, and "Got to Give It Up - Part One" for 1 week in 1977...
    He just missed having a fourth #1 record when "What's Going On" peaked at #2 {for 3 weeks} in 1971...
    Plus he made the Top 100 eighteen more times in duets; eleven times with Tammi Terrell, three times with Diana Ross, and two times each with Mary Wells and Kim Weston...
    R.I.P. Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. {1939 - 1984}...
    * His first three records did not make the Top 100 chart; "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide", "Sandman", and "Soldier's Plea".
  • John from New York, NyMartha & The Vandellas are singing backup on this song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.