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

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.