"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 song names the Mashed Potato and The Twist, two fad dances of the 1960s.

Original release

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 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. 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". Johnny Thunders covered it in his live concerts. 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.

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.

Soundtrack

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

Personnel

• 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