trying to make it because he was on his last leg'." The song included Martha Reeves on background vocals with several of her friends from a former group, the Del-Phis, including Rosalind Ashford, Gloria Williams and Annette Beard. Reeves, Ashford and Beard later formed Martha and the Vandellas at the end of the year. Personnel Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye Drums and piano by Marvin Gaye Background vocals by The Del-Phis: Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Gloria Williams and Annette Beard Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers Release and live performances Released as a single on July 23, 1962. Though Gaye was initially disappointed the song didn't become a bigger pop hit, he was satisfied that he finally had a hit record. The song and follow-up hit, "Hitch Hike", eventually gave Gaye top billing over other acts during the Motortown Revue performances of 1963. Gaye performed the song constantly during his early years, most notably on the recorded performance of the Motortown Revue at the Apollo Theater in June 1963. Gaye performed it less frequently during the latter half of his career, often singing parts of the song as part of a "sixties medley" during his 1970s concert shows. Chart history "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" was Gaye's first song to crack the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number 46. On the Hot R&B Sides chart, the song peaked at number eight Mentions Gaye hinted at the title of the song on at least two recordings: on his 1973 duet album with Diana Ross, Diana & Marvin, he mentions "I'm just a stubborn kind of fella", at the end of their recording of the ballad, "Include Me In Your Life". On his 1978 album, Here, My Dear, he sings one of ex-wife Anna's quotes to him, "what's it husband, makes you so stubborn?" When Phil Spector first heard "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" he was so excited he lost control of his car while driving down Sunset Boulevard with Jack Nitzsche. Cover versions The McCoys released a version of the song on their 1965 debut album, Hang on Sloopy. Notes Sources 1962 songs 1962 singles Songs written by Marvin Gaye Songs written by William "Mickey" Stevenson Marvin Gaye songs The McCoys songs Tamla Records singles Song recordings produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson Songs written by George Gordy