I Don't Want to Take a Chance

"I Don't Want to Take a Chance" is a single released by Mary Wells in 1961 on the Motown label. It was the second single release from Wells, who hit the charts with her Jackie Wilson-esque "Bye Bye Baby".

"I Don't Want to Take a Chance"
Single by Mary Wells
from the album Bye Bye Baby/I Don't Want to Take a Chance
B-side	"I'm So Sorry"
Released	1961
Recorded	1961, Hitsville USA
Genre	Soul
Length	2:49
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Berry Gordy William "Mickey" Stevenson
Producer(s)	Berry Gordy
Mary Wells singles chronology
"Bye Bye Baby" (1960) "I Don't Want to Take a Chance" (1961) "Strange Love" (1961)

While that song was able to reach the top fifty of the pop singles chart, the string-laden follow-up performed better reaching number thirty-three on the US pop chart and peaking at number-nine on the R&B singles chart.^[1]

The song became one of the first nationally released Motown singles to reach the top forty on the pop chart after Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" and The Miracles' "Shop Around".

Personnel

• Vocal by Mary Wells
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
• Strings played by assorted musicians
• Written by Berry Gordy and William "Mickey" Stevenson
• Produced by Berry Gordy