Today’s classic song of the day is a Motown classic from the Marvelettes. “Don’t Mess with Bill” was released in November of 1965 and went all the way to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It got even higher on Billboard’s R&B chart, peaking at #3.
“Don’t Mess with Bill” was written by a gent named Bill Robinson, who you probably know better by his nickname of Smokey. Despite the first name similarities, Smokey Robinson says he didn’t write the song about himself; the word “Bill” just happened to best fit the lyrics.
Lead singer Wanda Young was the only Marvelette to appear on the record. Background vocals were provided by Motown regulars the Andantes, with instrumental backing by members of the Funk Brothers: Earl Van Dyke on organ, Robert White on guitar, James Jamerson on bass, Jack Ashford on vibes, Eddie “Bongo” Brown on congas, and Benny Benjamin on drums. Mike Terry played the bari sax..
“Don’t Mess with Bill” was the Marvelettes’ final top ten single. Their previous top ten hits included “Please Mr. Postman” (#1 in 1961) and “Playboy (#7 in 1962). They also had top twenty hits with “Beachwood 4-5789” (#17 in 1962), “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” (#13 in 1967), and “My Baby Must Be a Magician” (#17 in 1968). They broke up, more or less, in 1970.
For your viewing pleasure, here’s a colorized version of “Don’t Mess with Bill” from when the Marvelettes appeared on the February 14, 1966, episode of Hullabaloo.
