"Do You Love Me" by The Contours

Song#:  3537

Date:  06/04/1988

Debut:  91

Peak:  11

Weeks:  16

Genre:  R&B, Soundtrack

Pop Bits:  The '87 film Dirty Dancing was an unexpected hit that generated a massively successful soundtrack album. It would spend eighteen non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart thanks to three Top 5 singles. After a fourth single failed to crack the Pop Top 40, it seemed like the soundtrack and film were all set to happily ride into the sunset. However, it seems fans and those behind the movie and soundtrack were not ready to let go. While the soundtrack only contained twelve tracks, the movie featured many other songs. With interest still high, it was decided that a sequel album with more songs from the film would be culled. Titled More Dirty Dancing, it would be released in March of '88. One track on the LP, the classic "Do You Love Me" by The Contours, seemed to be a fan favorite so it got issued out as a single. The oldie began to climb the Pop chart and it eventually wound up peaking just outside the Top 10 at the dreaded #11 spot. The revived hit helped the album reach #3 and eventually it would sell over four million copies.

ReduxReview:  I have to admit that this song drove me crazy back in the day. I was working as a DJ at a skating rink at the time and it was a highly requested song by younger kids and older adults, so I was constantly playing it at every session for a long while. I just got so tired of the song. Now that a lot of time has gone by, I can easily hear it again and enjoy it. The song is a Motown classic along with being a darn good party song thanks to the song's driving groove and Billy Gordon's boisterous lead vocal. They never got another song as good from Berry Gordy, but at least they got this one that made them stars not once, but twice.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) The Contours were a Detroit vocal group that got signed to Motown in 1961. Their first two singles didn't chart, but then Berry Gordy wrote "Do You Love Me" and had the group record it. It would become a major hit for them reaching #1 R&B and #3 Pop. Unfortunately, the group was unable to score another major hit. They were able to get four songs into the R&B Top 20, but nothing that truly pushed their career forward. By '67, the group's contract with Motown expired and they split. They would reform several times over the years with original member Joe Billingslea heading up various lineups. Of course when "Do You Love Me" hit again, there was interest in the group and they would reform to participate in a Dirty Dancing tour. In 1990, they would record a new album, Flashback, but it failed to chart.  2) For anyone who still hadn't had enough of Dirty Dancing, in the summer of '88 a live concert show was assembled that toured the US. Dirty Dancing: The Concert Tour featured acts that appeared on the soundtrack albums including Bill Medley, Eric Carmen, Merry Clayton, and The Contours. There were also, of course, dancers...well...dirty dancers I guess. Although critics did not like the show, fans showed up in droves and the tour was highly successful.

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