Do You Love Me by the Contours

Berry Gordy actually wrote “Do you Love Me” for the Temptations. However, he was in such a rush to get the record out that he gave it to the Contours instead and it became a number 4 hit in the US in June of 1962. It topped the R&B charts and turned the Group into stars overnight. This did not dampen their reputation for wild antics when not on stage however!

Joe Billingsea, Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Leroy Fair and Hubert Johnson were the original members of the Contours formed in 1960. After two auditions for Berry Gordy’s Motown, they were signed up. Leroy Fair was replaced ultimately with Sylvester Potts and this was the lineup that recorded “Do You Love Me”. By 1964, all but Billy Gordon had left and Motown reformed the group with the addition of Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English. In a game of musical chairs, Billy subsequently left and Sylvester Potts returned. More changes occurred and the group ultimately disbanded.

However, following a number of different lineups and the odd lawsuit, Joe Billingsea remains as the only truly original member and still tours as does Sylvester Potts – both with their own lineups and billed independently as “… and the Contours”.

Sample “Do You Love Me” on Motown 50 here:

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You Are Everything featuring Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross

Only released in the UK, “You are Everything” was a one-time collaboration between Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. Although it had originally been recorded by the Stylistics, the duo’s version reached number 5 in 1974. It was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed for Motown.

Sample “You Are Everything” on Motown 50 here:

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Nightshift by the Commodores

Released in 1985, “Nightshift” was the first hit from the Commodores following the departure of Lionel Richie in 1982. It reached number 3 in the US charts. It was a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, both of whom had died in their forties. However, the band never again matched the success of this particular hit.

Subsequently, most of the original members began to leave the group: Thomas McClary also left in 1982; Ronald LaPlead then left in 1986 and the group parted company with Motown too. In 1987 Sheldon Reynolds (who had replaced McClary) left. Finally, Milan Williams left in 1989. This left only two of the original members: William King and Walter Orange. Nevertheless, the group were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

Sample “Nightshift” on Motown 50 here:

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Let’s Get it On sung by Marvin Gaye

This was Marvin Gaye’s second number one single. “Let’s Get it On” was at the top of the US charts for 2 weeks in September 1973. It was the title track from an equally successful LP of the same name. Decidedly raunchy, it marked a new direction for Gaye who had previously written about war, the ghetto and the environment.

Marvin Gaye had 34 solo hits whilst at Motown and 15 more whilst part of various duo’s.

Sample “Let’s Get It On” on Motown 50 here:

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What’s Goin’ On sung by Marvin Gaye

Rolling Stone magazine ranked “What’s Goin’ On” as the fourth greatest song of all time in 2004. It was co-written by Marvin Gaye and was also the title track of his 1971 album. As a single, it reached number 1 in the US R&B charts. Curiously enough, Motown boss Berry Gordy tried to prevent the release of the single originally (deeming it uncommercial) but when Gaye threatened to stop recording altogether for Motown, he relented.

The single eventually sold some 2.5 million records for Motown, making it Marvin Gaye’s biggest popular hit since “I heard it through the Grapevine” in 1968.

Sample “What’s Goin On” on Motown 50 here:

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Nowhere To Run To by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

“Nowhere to run” made number 5 in the US in 1965 for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. During their nine year run in the charts from 1963 to 1972, the group charted over twenty-six hits for Motown. Originally known simply as “The Vandellas”, their name was changed to feature Martha Reeves as lead vocalist as part of a marketing change at Motown which included other groups such as Diana Ross (and the Supremes). An early change also occurred when Annette Sterling left and was replaced by Betty Kelly from the Velvelettes.

Martha Reeves was actually very ill on the day that “Nowhere To Run” was cut – but it did not impact upon her rendition.

Sample “Nowhere To Run To” on Motown 50 here:

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I Can’t Help Myself performed by the Four Tops

Full title of the record is “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”! Levi Stubbs’ distinctive voice again dominates this Four Tops number one single from 1965. Apparently, Levi was unhappy with the first couple of takes and was promised that it could be re-recorded the following day. However, Motown producer Brian Holland was so pleased with the second take that he released it just as it was.

The top 5 of June 19, 1965:

1. I Can’t Help Myself (Four Tops)
2. Mr Tambourine Man (Byrds)
3. Woolly Bully (Sam the Sham and the Pharaos)
4. Crying in the Chapel (Elvis Presley)
5. Back in My Arms Again (Supremes)

Sample “I Can’t help myself” on Motown 50 here:

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My Guy and Mary Wells

Mary Wells was one of Motown’s early successes. Her string of hit singles were largely composed by Smokey Robinson, including the 1964 number one hit “My Guy”. However, although known as the “First Lady of Motown”, she parted company with the label shortly afterwards when reaching the tender age of 21. However, she never reached the level of success she had previously enjoyed with Motown.

Born in Detroit in 1943, she happened upon Berry Gordy in the 20 Grand club. She convinced him to let her record the following day. The split from Motown eventually proved to have been the apex of her success and despite signing for other labels, she largely faded from all but the Oldies circuit. Sadly, she was stricken with throat cancer in 1990 and died two years later.

Sample “My Guy” on Motown 50 here:

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What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted by Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy (brother of David) Ruffin recorded “What becomes of the broken hearted” in 1966 and it peaked at number 6 in the US. It had taken Jimmy the best part of 5 years after signing with Motown to have his first hit. However, he followed “What becomes” with a further two hits in 1967: “I’ve passed this way before” and “Gonna give her all the love I got”. Undoubtedly, his lack of success sprang from poor promotion on the part of Motown, he has since suggested that this was partly due to being so outspoken – ‘I wasn’t part of the clique’.

Jimmy was better received in the UK however, with hits including “I’ll Say Forever My Love” and “It’ Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)” and eventually split with Motown to reside permanently in England where he continued to have greater success.

Sample “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” on Motown 50 here:

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Reflections with Diana Ross and the Supremes

“Reflections” was the first record released under the new title of the group. Berry Gordy had decided that for marketing purposes, Diana Ross should be ‘elevated’ and the group renamed “Diana Ross and the Supremes”. It made number two in the US in 1967. It was also one of the last recordings made whilst Florence Ballard was a member of the group. She had been on e of the founding members of the Supremes and it is said that part of the reason that she descended into depression and alcoholism is the decision by Gordy to lift Diana Ross.

Sadly, Florence Ballard died less than 10 years later at the tender age of 32.

Sample “Reflections” on Motown 50 here:

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