| Just a Little Misunderstanding | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Contours |
| B-Side: | Determination |
| Released: | April 13, 1966 |
| Recorded: | Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1966 |
| Genre: | Soul |
| Length: | 2:29 |
| Label: | Gordy G7052 |
| Producer: | Clarence Paul William "Mickey" Stevenson |
| Prev Title: | First I Look at the Purse |
| Prev Year: | 1965 |
| Next Title: | It's So Hard Being a Loser |
| Next Title2: | Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday |
| Next Year: | 1967 |
"Just a Little Misunderstanding" (G7052) is a 1966 song by Motown Records R&B group The Contours on the company's Gordy subsidiary label. It was composed by Stevie Wonder, along with Motown staff songwriters Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax.[1] The song did not appear on any original Contours studio album. Paul and Motown A&R Director William "Mickey" Stevenson were the song's producers, and Wonder plays drums on the recording.[2]
This song was not a big chart success, only reaching # 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. It did much better on the Billboard R&B chart, however, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #18. It was also a Top 40 hit in the UK in 1970, reaching # 31 on the UK Chart.[3] The first hit by the group that did not feature original lead singer Billy Gordon, "Just a Little Misunderstanding" featured lead vocals by his replacement, Joseph Stubbs, (brother of The Four Tops' lead singer, Levi Stubbs), who previously sang for the Detroit-based R&B group The Falcons.[4] [5]
In this hard-driving, uptempo song, Stubbs, as the song's narrator, portrays a man trying to apologize to his wife for his bad behavior, only to find out that she is about to leave him.[6]
This was Stubbs' only lead on a Contours single. Shortly after this song was recorded, Stubbs left the Contours and Motown.[7] Stubbs' lead spot in the Contours was taken by future Temptation Dennis Edwards on the group's next single release,"It's So Hard Being a Loser" b/w "Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday".Stubbs went on to Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax label, and became lead singer of the group 100 Proof (Aged in Soul).
Just a Little Misunderstanding has appeared on several Contours' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations on the Motown label,[8]