The Contours
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Biography
[Edit]The Contours are widely remembered for their 1962 smash "Do You Love Me?," one of the early hits that helped put Motown on the map. Yet they aren't always associated with their contribution to the label; they were one of the roughest, hardest R&B groups Berry Gordy ever signed, and their sound simply didn't resemble the smooth, sophisticated blueprint that later became Motown's trademark. Nor did their stage presence; in contrast to the slick choreography and wardrobe of Motown's signature artists, the Contours were all wild, irrepressible energy, leaping and sliding all over the stage and even doing the splits. As a result, they fell out of favor once Motown got its crossover-friendly hit factory up and running, and never duplicated the success of their first hit.
Formed in Detroit in 1958, the Contours originally began life as a quartet called the Blenders. Lead singer Billy Gordon, Billy Hogg, Sylvester Potts, and Joe Billingslea were soon joined by Hubert Johnson, a cousin of the legendary Jackie Wilson, as well as guitarist Huey Davis. Changing their name to the Contours, the group landed an audition with Berry Gordy's fledgling Motown label. Gordy was not impressed and told them to try again in a year, and they enlisted Jackie Wilson's aid in honing their act. Wilson personally recommended the group to Gordy, who finally relented and signed them up in 1961. The Contours' first single "Whole Lotta Woman" sank without a trace, and Gordy nearly dropped them until Wilson once again interceded on their behalf. The move paid off handsomely when Gordy offered them a chance to cut "Do You Love Me?," a song originally intended for the Temptations, who couldn't quite nail down the rough and rowdy feel Gordy wanted. Released in 1962, "Do You Love Me?" zoomed straight to the top of the R&B charts in just a few short weeks, peaking at number three on the pop side.
Although the Contours were riding high thanks to their hit and their exciting live act, they found the momentum difficult to maintain. They were able to score a follow-up hit, "Shake Sherrie," in 1963, and ran off a string of R&B Top 40 singles over 1965-1966: "Can You Jerk Like Me?," the Top Ten "The Day When She Needed Me," the Smokey Robinson-penned "First I Look at the Purse," and "Just a Little Misunderstanding." Despite the often high quality of those singles, the Contours simply weren't getting the attention — either from the label or the public — that Motown's top stars were, and their sound was more of an anomaly at Hitsville than ever. By this time, the original quintet was no longer intact; new members included Joe Stubbs, brother of the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs, and Dennis Edwards, who went on to replace David Ruffin in the Temptations.
The Contours had their last charting single in 1967 with "It's So Hard Being a Loser"; Billingslea and Potts subsequently led versions of the group on the oldies circuit during the '70s and '80s. Sadly, Johnson committed suicide in 1981, and wasn't around to witness the 1988 revival of "Do You Love Me?" thanks to the wildly popular film Dirty Dancing. Billingslea, Potts, and their new cohorts hit the oldies circuit with renewed vigor, and also cut the album Running in Circles for U.K. Motown revivalist Ian Levine's Motorcity label in 1990. Stubbs passed away in 1998, and guitarist Davis did likewise in 2002.
Title: Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) (Expanded Edition)
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock & Roll
Title: Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) [Bonus Track Version]
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop, Alternative
Title: The Contours - In Concert At Little Darlin's Rock 'n' Roll Palace (Live)
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Funk
Title: Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) (Remastered) - Single
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop, Alternative
Title: Just A Little Misunderstanding: Rare And Unissued Motown 1965-68
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Very Best of the Contours
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, Alternative
Title: Fabulous Songs Of '62, Vol. 2 - 50 Original Recordings
Artist: Shirley Bassey, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Etta James, James Brown, Paul Anka, Dean Martin, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Mary Wells, Ben E. King, Del Shannon, Bruce Channel, Carole King, Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, Joey Dee, Ketty Lester, Solomon Burke, Arthur Alexander, Jimmy McGriff, King Curtis, Chuck Jackson, Esther Phillips, Gary U. S. Bonds, The Falcons, The Starlighters, The Mar - Keys, The Contours, Claudine Clark, Bent Fabric, The Drifters, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Bland, Charlie Gracie, Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Ford, The Noble Knights, Barbara George, Larry Finnegan, The Sensations, Frank Sinatra, The John Barry Orchestra, Jerry Wallace, Dennis Turner, The Miracles, The Cookies, The Marvelettes, The Crystals, Stan Getz, Don Gardner, The A. F. O. Studio Combo, Vocal Accompaniment The Love-Tones, Band Ohio Untouchables
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop
Title: The Sounds of the Contours
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, Alternative
Title: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of the Contours
Artist: The Contours
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, Alternative
Title: Detroit Harmonisers: Early 60s Vocal Groups In The Motor City
Artist: The Contours, Valadiers, The, The Satinones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Collections
Title: Soul Out
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Detroit Soul, the Motown Years Volume 7
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: The Detroit Legacy Volume 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Romantic Songs Forever
Genre: Pop
Title: Detroit Soul Back By Demand
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Motortown Revue 40th Anniversary Collection (Live)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Northern Soul Selection Volume 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Ultimate Soul Classics: Volume Two
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Northern Soul Brothers
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Detroit Chartbusters
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Detroit Dance Masters
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: A Tribute to Holland Dozier Holland: Shake Me, Wake Me
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Fab Hits, Vol. 11
Genre: Pop
Title: Soul Providers 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Soul Providers 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Essential Doo-Wop
Genre: Pop
Title: Classic Essential Hits, Vol. 8
Genre: Pop
Title: Greatest Big Hits of 1962, Vol. 19
Genre: Pop
Title: A Collection of 16 Big Hits, Vol. 5
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, Pop
Title: A Collection of 16 Big Hits, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Songs of Smokey Robinson
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Soul Anthems 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: A Big Mix of Hits, Vol. 5
Genre: Pop
Title: Motown Soul, Vol. 1 (Re-Recorded Versions)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Ultimate Soul Classics, Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Soul Reunion
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Detroit Soul, the Motown Years, Vol. 10
Genre: Blues
Title: 80 R&B Hits
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Motorcity Chartbusters Part 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Legends of Motorcity
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Ultimate Northern Soul
Genre: Blues
Title: Soul Sensations, Vol. 1 (Re-recorded Version)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Treasures of Detroit
Genre: Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Valentine's Day Love Songs From The 1960's
Genre: Pop
Title: 80'S Movie Hits CD 1
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Rhythm & Soul CD 1
Genre: Soul
Title: 100 Party Hits Collection CD 4
Genre: Pop
Title: Compact Disc Club - The Motown Soul History CD 1
Genre: Pop Rock
Title: Hot Stuff CD3
Title: 101 Floorfillers CD3
Genre: Pop
Title: Motown 50 (Disc 1)
Title: Supernatural: Season 5
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Glam Rock, Disco
Title: Ultimate Dirty Dancing
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Motown Anthems (Disc - 1)
Title: Foute Cd Van Q - Music Vol. 7 CD1
Genre: Electronica, Pop
Title: 100 Hits - Movies (CD1)
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Icon: Motown Classics
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Happy Days Are Back Again Volume 5 (CD1)
Genre: Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop, Retro
Title: Het Beste Uit De Top 500 Van Het Foute Uur (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: R & B: 101 All Time Greats (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk
Title: Het Beste Uit De Top 500 Van Het Foute Uur Van (CD3)
Genre: Pop
Title: R & B - 101 All Time Greats (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 2: 1962 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 2: 1962 (CD4)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Arte Summer Of Soul (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz
Title: The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 3: 1963 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 3: 1963 (CD3)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 5: 1965 (CD3)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Featuring albums
Title: The Wanderers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Artist: The Wanderers
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Hitsville USA - The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Motown: The Musical - The Classic Songs That Inspired The Broadway Show!
Artist: Various Artists
Genre:
Title: Sleepwalkers
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Drum & Bass, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Recorded Live At the Apollo: The Motortown Revue, Vol. 1
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Saw You For The First Time
Artist: Laurence Guy
Genre: Ambient, House, Deep House, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: The Ultimate Collection (CD01)
Artist: Girls Night Out
Genre: Hard NRG, Post Disco, Electropop, Soul, Gospel, Dancefloor, Disco, Dance Pop, Funk
Title: Ultimate Collection 5CD (CD1)
Artist: Northern Soul
Title: Ultimate Collection 5CD (CD3)
Artist: Northern Soul
Title: American Heartbeat - The '60s (CD2)
Artist: American Heartbeat
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock & Roll, Country, Rockabilly, Pop
Title: Motown The Musical – 100 Originals / Motown The Musical - 100 Originals
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Northern Soul (CD2)
Artist: Essential Motown
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Rock & Roll, Country, Disco
Title: Shall Not Fade - Celebrating 3 Years of Dancing
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Don't Quit Music: Motown Workout (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul