Do You Love Me

For other uses, see Do You Love Me (disambiguation).

"Do You Love Me?"
Single by The Contours
from the album Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)
Released	June 29, 1962
Format	7" single
Recorded	Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1962
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:54
Label	Gordy G 7005
Writer(s)	Berry Gordy, Jr.
Producer	Berry Gordy, Jr.
The Contours singles chronology
"The Stretch" (1961) "Do You Love Me" (1962) "Shake Sherry" (1962)

"Do You Love Me" is a 1962 hit single recorded by The Contours for Motown's Gordy Records label. Written and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., "Do You Love Me?" was the Contours' only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Notably, the record achieved this feat twice, once in 1962 and again in 1988. The main point of the song is to name the Mashed Potato, The Twist, and many other fad dances of the 1960s.

Original release

Berry Gordy wrote "Do You Love Me" with the intent that The Temptations, who had no Top 40 hits to their name yet, would record it. However, when Gordy wanted to locate the group and record the song, they were nowhere to be found (the Temptations had not been made aware of Gordy's intentions, and had departed Motown's Hitsville USA recording studio for a local Detroit gospel music showcase).

After spending some time looking for the Temptations, Gordy ran into the Contours (Billy Gordon, Hubert Johnson, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Sylvester Potts, and guitarist Hugh Davis) in the hallway. Wanting to record and release "Do You Love Me" as soon as possible, Gordy decided to let them record his "sure-fire hit" instead of the Temptations. The Contours, who were in danger of being dropped from the label after their first two singles ("Whole Lotta' Woman" and "The Stretch") failed to chart, were so elated at Gordy's offer that they immediately began hugging and thanking him.^{[citation needed]}

"Do You Love Me," the fifth release on Gordy Records, became a notably successful dance record, built around lead singer Billy Gordon's screaming vocals. Selling over a million copies, "Do You Love Me" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. An album featuring the single, Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance), was also released. None of the Contours' future singles lived up to the success of "Do You Love Me", although its success won the group a headlining position on Motown's very first Motor Town Revue tour.

Covers

Like many American R&B songs of the 1960s, "Do You Love Me?" was covered by a number of British Invasion groups. Three British groups who recorded their own versions of the song were Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (who hit number one with it in the UK Singles Chart),^[1] the Dave Clark Five and The Hollies on their 1964 album Stay With The Hollies. The song has also been covered by The Sonics, Paul Revere & The Raiders and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers. In 1965, Bob Marley And The Wailers recorded the song "Playboy" which incorporates "Do You Love Me"'s chorus. The song was one of the highlights of The Blues Brothers live set. Bruce Springsteen frequently ended his shows in the mid 1980s with the song, as part of a medley with "Twist and Shout". Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 1988 album The Chipmunks and The Chipettes: Born to Rock. Indie band Steadman has a well known cover the song, playing it in the style of Dave Clark Five. Westlife have their live version for their The Greatest Hits Tour in 2003. German girlgroup Preluders covered the song for their cover album Prelude to History in 2004. In 1992 David Hasselhoff famously sang the song in an episode of Baywatch.

Revival

"Do You Love Me" is featured prominently in the 1987 film, Dirty Dancing, reviving the record's popularity. Re-issued as a single from the More Dirty Dancing soundtrack album, "Do You Love Me" became a hit for the second time, peaking at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. The Contours, by then composed of Joe Billingslea and three new members, joined Ronnie Spector and Bill Medley, among others, on a 'Dirty Dancing Tour' resulting from the success of the film. The song also appeared in the episode "The End" in season 5 of TV series Supernatural.

Remixed CD Version

The late 1988 Motown CD reissue of the album "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)" on Motown 37463-5415-2 contains a very strange 6:37 minute extended remix version of the 1962 hit single. This only appears on the CD and Cassette tape issues - as the Vinyl LP of the same release has the original 2:54 minute hit version.

Soundtrack

This song was in the soundtrack for Dirty Dancing (1987) and Getting Even with Dad (1994).

Personnel: The Contours

• Lead vocal by Billy Gordon and Billy Hoggs
• Background vocals by Hubert Johnson, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, and Sylvester Potts
• Guitar by Huey Davis
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

References

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

Preceded by "Sherry" by The Four Seasons	Billboard Hot R&B Sides number-one single October 20, 1962 November 3, 1962 – November 10, 1962	Succeeded by "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons
Preceded by "She Loves You" by The Beatles	UK number one single by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes October 10, 1963 (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry & The Pacemakers