"Don't Mess with Bill" is a million-selling Gold-certified 1966 single recorded by The Marvelettes for Motown Records' Tamla label.[1] Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, "Don't Mess with Bill" features a lead vocal by Wanda Young. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1966, and at number three on Billboard's R&B singles chart. "Don't Mess with Bill" was the Marvelettes' final Top 10 single.[2][3]

"Don't Mess with Bill"
Single by The Marvelettes
from the album The Marvelettes Greatest Hits
B-side"Anything You Wanna Do"
ReleasedNovember 26, 1965
RecordedHitsville USA; June 1965
GenreSoul, pop
Length2:51
LabelTamla
T 54126
Songwriter(s)Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)Smokey Robinson
The Marvelettes singles chronology
"Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead"
(1965)
"Don't Mess with Bill"
(1965)
"You're the One"
(1966)

Background

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The titular "Bill" referenced is not an allusion to the song's author, Bill "Smokey" Robinson.[1] Robinson reports that he chose the name because it fit the lyrics, not because it was his. [citation needed]

Cash Box described it as a "funky medium-paced pop-blues shuffler about love-struck gal who serves notice on one and all to leave her fella alone."[4]

Personnel

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Chart performance

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Chart (1965-1966) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 7
US Top Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard) 3

Other versions

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References

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  1. ^ a b The Complete Motown Singles Vol 5: 1965 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 379.
  3. ^ Don't Mess with Bill at Allmusic
  4. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 18, 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  5. ^ Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006775-02, USA, 04 Aug 2006
  6. ^ The Spinners Live! LP