Do You Love Me

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For other uses, see Do You Love Me (disambiguation).
"Do You Love Me"
Do You Love Me by The Contours US vinyl A-side.png
Single by the Contours
from the album Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)
B-side"Move, Mr. Man"
ReleasedJune 29, 1962 (June 29, 1962)
Recorded1962
StudioHitsville USA (Studio A), Detroit, Michigan
GenreRhythm and blues
Length2:54
LabelGordy
Songwriter(s)Berry Gordy Jr.
Producer(s)Berry Gordy Jr.
The Contours singles chronology
"The Stretch"
(1961) 		"Do You Love Me"
(1962) 		"Shake Sherry"
(1962)

"Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three in 1962 and eleven in 1988.

"Do You Love Me" references the 1960s dance moves the Mashed Potato and the Twist. The song includes a spoken recitation in the intro:

You broke my heart, 'cause I couldn't dance
You didn't even want me around
And now I'm back, to let you know
I can really shake 'em down

Background and recording[]

Berry Gordy wrote "Do You Love Me" with the intention that the Temptations, who had no Top 40 hits to their name yet, would record it. However, when Gordy set out 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 Huey Davis) in the hallway. Wanting to record and release "Do You Love Me" as soon as possible, Gordy decided to let them have 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. Instrumental backing was provided by the Funk Brothers: Joe Hunter on piano, James Jamerson on bass, and Benny Benjamin on drums.

Release and charts[]

"Do You Love Me" became a successful dance record, built around Gordon's screaming vocals. Selling over a million copies, "Do You Love Me" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks starting on October 20, 1962, and reached the top position on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.[1] The song is included on 1962 album Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance).

In 1987, the Contours recording was included in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. 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 in August 1988.[2] 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.

Legacy[]

According to music journalist Dave Marsh, "Do You Love Me" is representative of Gordy's talent as a musician, producer, arranger, and songwriter: "The result is not only classic rock and roll but a tribute to his stature as the greatest backstage talent in rock history."[3] Gordy viewed the song as an example of the musical overlap between rhythm and blues, pop, and rock and roll, telling Billboard in 1963, "It was recorded r. & b. but by the time it reached the half-million mark, it was considered pop. And if we hadn't recorded it with a Negro artist, it would have been considered rock and roll."[4]

As with many American R&B songs of the 1960s, "Do You Love Me?" was recorded by several British Invasion groups. A version by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.[5]

See also[]

  • List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States

References[]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 133.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 190.
  3. ^ Abbott, Kingsley (2001). Calling Out Around the World: A Motown Reader. Helter Skelter. p. 38. ISBN 1900924145.
  4. ^ Biro, Nick (January 5, 1963). "R & B Roundup". Billboard. p. 16. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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