Released November 26, 1965 Genre Soul/pop | Format 7" single Length 2:51 | |
B-side "Anything You Wanna Do" Recorded Hitsville USA; June 1965 | ||
"Don't Mess with Bill" is a million-selling Gold-certified 1966 single recorded by The Marvelettes for Motown Records' Tamla label. 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.
The titular "Bill" referenced in the song is not an allusion to the song's author, Bill "Smokey" Robinson. Robinson reports that he chose the name because it fit the lyrics, not because it was his. "Don't Mess With Bill" has also been recorded and released by Monalisa Young. It was also included as part of The Spinners "Superstar Medley" and released on the 1975 "Spinners Live!" album.