The song “Do You Love Me” by The Contours isn’t just a song; it’s an experience. Bursting onto the scene in June 1962 (Gordy G 7005 (A)), this track became an instant sensation, rocketing up the charts and securing its place as Motown’s third R&B Number One hit. Its infectious energy transcended generations, finding renewed fame decades later thanks to its unforgettable inclusion in the iconic film Dirty Dancing. Even if you weren’t around in the ’60s, the raw, vibrant sound of “Do You Love Me” by The Contours is likely etched in your cultural memory.
For many, “Do You Love Me” might be their first or only encounter with The Contours. While the band may not boast an extensive catalog of chart-topping hits, this single stands as a testament to their unique place in music history and the magic of Motown. It’s a song that defied expectations, becoming a massive hit seemingly against the odds, and its story is as captivating as the music itself. In a landscape often dominated by meticulously crafted sounds, “Do You Love Me” by The Contours arrived as a raw, untamed force, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected creations become the most enduring.
This track is something of an anomaly within the Motown story. It was a breakout success for a group not particularly known for their vocal harmonies but celebrated for their electrifying dance moves. It’s a classic that seemingly materialized quickly, contrasting with the often painstaking production process behind many Motown tracks, even those that didn’t achieve the same level of fame. And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s a screaming, almost raucous rocker emerging from a label that would soon become synonymous with sophisticated soul and polished pop. The contours of this song’s success are as intriguing as the song itself.
Scan of the original Gordy Records label for "Do You Love Me"
The story behind “Do You Love Me” adds another layer to its mystique. Legend has it that Berry Gordy, the mastermind behind Motown, initially conceived the song with the Temptations in mind. He laid down a demo, envisioning it as a vehicle for their rising star power. However, fate intervened one night at Hitsville U.S.A. As Gordy worked on the track, his enthusiasm grew, and he felt the urgency to record it immediately. Unable to locate the Temptations, he encountered The Contours, newly signed to his Gordy Records subsidiary, simply “passing through.” Seizing the moment, he ushered them into the studio, and as the story goes, the released version of “Do You Love Me” by The Contours was captured in that very spontaneous session.
Scan of the UK Oriole Records label for "Do You Love Me"
It’s a compelling narrative that sparks the imagination: what if the Temptations had been available that night? Would “Do You Love Me” have taken a different trajectory? While we can only speculate, it’s undeniable that the song became inextricably linked with The Contours. They were, as the blog post cleverly puts it, the “amiable chancers” of the Motown family, renowned for their dynamic stage presence and less so for their vocal finesse. “Do You Love Me” became their anthem, a raucous, dance-oriented hit that perfectly suited their strengths.
It’s debatable whether the early Temptations, still finding their footing, would have delivered the same raw energy. The Contours embraced the song’s unpolished edges, delivering a performance brimming with enthusiasm. Interestingly, the unforeseen triumph of “Do You Love Me” inadvertently shaped The Contours’ career, perhaps confining them to replicating its formula for subsequent releases. Meanwhile, the Temptations, with their superior vocal capabilities, went on to forge a path of classic singles under the guidance of Smokey Robinson. A twist of fate in a Motown studio might have dramatically altered the course of both groups, potentially robbing us of iconic Temptations tracks like “The Way You Do The Things You Do” if “Do You Love Me” had become their song. The Contours had previously attempted a ballad, “Funny,” which is considered by some to be among Motown’s weakest recordings, highlighting their strength was clearly in energetic, dance-focused material like “Do You Love Me”.
But let’s be clear: “Do You Love Me” by The Contours is genuinely splendid. Billy Gordon, whose distinctive, raspy vocals had already powered their debut single “Whole Lotta Woman,” returns to the lead, his voice perfectly matched to the song’s demanding energy. The spoken-word intro, with its slightly quirky phrasing (“You broke my heart / ‘Cos 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”), delivered over a unique blend of plucked guitar reminiscent of a mandolin and a musical saw, is strangely endearing. Then, the song explodes into life, driven by Gordon’s passionate screams and the soaring, “Twist And Shout”-esque harmonies of the chorus. While vocal perfection might not be their forte, on “Do You Love Me”, their raw energy is more than enough.
The track is further enhanced by infectious handclaps, a playful false ending around 2:27 that teases before the music surges back, and a quirky bridge featuring “Brrmm bom bom bom” vocalizations. It all adds up to a package of pure “throwaway fun,” a concoction tailor-made for dance floors across America. “Do You Love Me” by The Contours is an invitation to let loose and move.
The Contours performing Do You Love Me
Yet, in its simplicity, “Do You Love Me” reveals itself as surprisingly dated, even when viewed against the backdrop of Motown’s output in the summer of 1962. It’s a blend of raw R&B aggression with a distinctly Fifties rock and roll vibe, leaning towards a musical style that was already beginning to fade. In retrospect, it represents a direction Motown largely moved away from, focusing on innovation rather than revisiting older styles. At the time, however, its appeal was undeniable.
Despite the lyrical references to various dance crazes of the era (“I can mashed potato, I can do the Twist”), “Do You Love Me” at its core is deeply rooted in the Twist phenomenon. This connection becomes clearer when considering that Motown had invested significantly in chasing the Twist craze in the months preceding its release, even putting out several Twist-themed singles. The Contours themselves had previously released “The Stretch,” another attempt by Berry Gordy to ignite a national dance craze. There’s a certain irony that Gordy struck gold in this market with “Do You Love Me”, a seemingly lighthearted, almost accidental hit.
The song’s reach extended beyond the Contours’ version. A cover by the British band Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, with a slightly modified tempo and a rockier arrangement, topped the charts in the UK. Interestingly, the Contours’ original version barely made a ripple in the UK upon its initial release. It wasn’t until the massive success of Dirty Dancing in the late 1980s and its multi-platinum soundtracks that The Contours’ “Do You Love Me” truly eclipsed the Tremeloes’ cover in popularity, even in the UK. So, in a way, Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing played a significant role in cementing the Contours’ version as the definitive one for a global audience.
While the Temptations never officially recorded “Do You Love Me” (excluding a later tribute album rendition), both the Miracles and the Supremes attempted their own versions. However, like the Tremeloes’ cover, these versions often feel somewhat forced and lack the unbridled joy and wild energy of the original.
Ultimately, “Do You Love Me” by The Contours stands as the definitive rendition. It’s a perfect storm of performer and material, where the Contours’ spirited performance elevates a relatively simple song into a supercharged hit. Berry Gordy’s composition, in turn, transformed a group of talented dancers into a recording act that captured a moment in time. While it might represent a musical cul-de-sac in Motown’s evolution, “Do You Love Me” remains an exhilarating and endlessly fun classic.
MOTOWN JUNKIES VERDICT: 8/10
