3.29.2007

3. The Contours - Do You Love Me; 2:53


This native Detroit band, consisting of Billy Gordon, Joe Billingslea, Billy Hoggs, Sylvester Polts, and Hubert Johnson offered a new style to Motown. Unlike other Motown hits, this 1962 track is particularly rough and rowdy. It is also much more bluesy than pop. With screaming vocals and an upbeat rhythm provided by the Funk brothers, this song was an instant hit with consumers. Orginally, it was written by Gordy for the Temptations, but Motown Records was unable to get a hold of the group. The Contours were in the studio recording another song when Berry came to them with Do You Love Me, and it became their one hit wonder. It reached #3 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts. Do You Love Me benefited from a resurgence of popularity when it was featured in the 1988 film, Dirty Dancing.

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