The Contours
Encyclopedia
The Contours were one of the early African-American soul
singing groups signed to Motown Records
.
The group is best known for its Billboard
Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me
," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20.
in 1959. They completed the group with Billy Hoggs and Billy Rollins, who had responded to an ad placed in the local newspaper by Billingslea. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins) and bass singer Hubert Johnson and changed the name to The Contours. In the fall of 1960, the group auditioned for Berry Gordy
's Motown Records
. Gordy turned the act down, prompting the group to pay a visit to the home of Johnson's cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson
. Wilson in turn got the Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to a seven-year contract.
The group's first single, "Whole Lotta' Woman
," was released in January 1961 and failed to chart. Within months of its release, Leroy Fair was replaced by Benny Reeves, brother of Martha Reeves
. Shortly thereafter, Benny Reeves left to serve in the United States Navy and he was replaced by Sylvester Potts. In 1961 the group's second single, "The Stretch", was released and it also failed to chart. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record "Do You Love Me
," a composition originally meant for The Temptations
. The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, became a number-two hit in 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
," they returned to the charts three times during 1963 and 1964 with "Shake Sherry
," "Can You Do It" and "Can You Jerk Like Me
." In 1964, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all left Motown. Berry Gordy hired Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English to back Billy Gordon, making the Contours a quartet. Within a year, Sylvester Potts returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), and Billy Gordon departed shortly thereafter. Gordon was replaced by Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops
lead singer Levi Stubbs
. Stubbs soon quit the act and was replaced by Dennis Edwards
.
During the mid 1960s the Contours recorded several records which received R&B radio play, notably "First I Look at the Purse
" (written by Miracles
members Smokey Robinson
and Bobby Rogers
) ,"Can You Jerk Like Me
" and its charting flip side, the Smokey Robinson
written-and- produced "That Day When She Needed Me
", and "Just a Little Misunderstanding", but were considered secondary to Motown's major male vocal groups: The Temptations
, The Four Tops, and The Miracles
. The group's seven-year contract with Motown expired in 1967 and when lead singer Dennis Edwards
was recruited to replace the departed David Ruffin
as lead singer of The Temptations in early 1968, the Contours disbanded. Edwards later became a solo hits maker as well.
Although they charted
up a hit
in the UK Singles Chart
in 1970 with a re-release of "Just A Little Misunderstanding," The Contours' real claim to fame lies with "Do You Love Me
." Both these tracks and others Contours work can be found on various Motown compilation albums.
" was prominently featured in the film Dirty Dancing
. In 1988, a reissue of "Do You Love Me" sent the song back to the Billboard pop charts for eight weeks, peaking at number eleven. The movie and the record spawned a 1988 "Dirty Dancing Concert Tour" followed by a new recording contract for Ian Levine
's Motorcity Records
where the group recorded two albums Flashback and Revenge although the latter was not released although the songs came out on a later compilation.
In 1992, Hinson left the group, and it continued as a quartet until 1993 when Nunlee left. Al Chisholm (formerly with The Falcons) and Gary Grier were recruited in 1993. This configuration - Joe Billingslea, Chisholm, Davis, Grier and Potts - continued from 1993 until 2004.
In 2004, Sylvester Potts left to form his own group with the four members (Leroy Seabrooks, Kim Green, Tony Womack and Darell Nunlee) of a local Detroit group named Upscale, which immediately began performing as 'The Contours'. Billingslea sued and Potts countersued, each claiming the rights to the name. These suits were resolved in an out-of-court settlement which provided for the existence of both groups to be identified as "The Contours with Joe Billingslea" and "The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts," respectively. Seabrooks has since left the Potts group making it a quartet. In 2006, the Contours with Joe Billingslea filled the vacant bass singing spot created by Potts' departure with Odell Jones. Both groups are currently performing.
in Detroit on July 11, 1981. Gordon died in 1999, and Fair followed in December 2004. Mid 1960s member, Joe Stubbs - brother of Levi Stubbs
- died on February 5, 1998. Huey Davis (pictured on the Do You Love Me album cover, but never officially a member of the Contours) died on February 23, 2000, at his home in Detroit. Potts continues to perform with his version of the Contours. They can be seen in the 'Ultimate Doo Wop' series of concerts that travel around the United States each year.
In 1964, The Contours recorded a second album for Motown entitled The Contours: Can You Dance (Gordy 910). It featured the chart hits, "Can You Do It, Can You Jerk Like Me, That Day When She Needed Me", and nine other tracks, including The Marvelettes' hit, "Danger: Heartbreak Dead Ahead". For unknown reasons, this album was unreleased by Motown, but in April, 2011, the album's original tracks, along with fourteen unreleased original Contours 1960s Motown recordings, and new 2011 interviews with original Contours members Joe Billingslea and Sylvester Potts, was released as part of the CD compilation collection, Dance With The Contours on the import label, Kent Records, under legal license from, and with the full approval of, the owners of the Motown catalogue.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singing groups signed to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
.
The group is best known for its Billboard
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me
Do You Love Me
"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...
," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20.
Establishment and "Do You Love Me"
Joe Billingslea and Billy Gordon founded a singing group called The Blenders in their native Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1959. They completed the group with Billy Hoggs and Billy Rollins, who had responded to an ad placed in the local newspaper by Billingslea. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins) and bass singer Hubert Johnson and changed the name to The Contours. In the fall of 1960, the group auditioned for Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
's Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. Gordy turned the act down, prompting the group to pay a visit to the home of Johnson's cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
. Wilson in turn got the Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to a seven-year contract.
The group's first single, "Whole Lotta' Woman
Whole Lotta' Woman
"Whole Lotta Woman" is a 1961 single recorded by The Contours for the Motown Records label. Written by Smokey Robinson , and Contours group members Billy Hoggs and Billy Gordon,, and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., it was the group's debut single for Motown.Two versions of this song was...
," was released in January 1961 and failed to chart. Within months of its release, Leroy Fair was replaced by Benny Reeves, brother of Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
. Shortly thereafter, Benny Reeves left to serve in the United States Navy and he was replaced by Sylvester Potts. In 1961 the group's second single, "The Stretch", was released and it also failed to chart. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record "Do You Love Me
Do You Love Me
"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...
," a composition originally meant for The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, became a number-two hit in 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
Mid-1960s career
Although the Contours never quite repeated the extraordinary success of "Do You Love MeDo You Love Me
"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...
," they returned to the charts three times during 1963 and 1964 with "Shake Sherry
Shake Sherry
Shake Sherry was a 1962 R&B song by Motown Records group The Contours , issued on its Gordy subsidiary label..it was the follow-up to the group's million-selling Top 5 hit single "Do You Love Me", and was taken from their album of the same name.Not as successful as its predecessor, Shake Sherry...
," "Can You Do It" and "Can You Jerk Like Me
Can You Jerk Like Me
Can You Jerk Like Me is a 1964 song by Motown Records R&B group The Contours, issued on its Gordy Records subsidiary. It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #57, and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, reaching # 16...
." In 1964, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all left Motown. Berry Gordy hired Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English to back Billy Gordon, making the Contours a quartet. Within a year, Sylvester Potts returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), and Billy Gordon departed shortly thereafter. Gordon was replaced by Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
lead singer Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...
. Stubbs soon quit the act and was replaced by Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
.
During the mid 1960s the Contours recorded several records which received R&B radio play, notably "First I Look at the Purse
First I Look at the Purse
"First I Look At The Purse" was a 1965 song recorded by R&B group The Contours on Motown Records' Gordy label. It was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the authors of the Temptations' very first hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do"...
" (written by Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
members Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
and Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
) ,"Can You Jerk Like Me
Can You Jerk Like Me
Can You Jerk Like Me is a 1964 song by Motown Records R&B group The Contours, issued on its Gordy Records subsidiary. It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #57, and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, reaching # 16...
" and its charting flip side, the Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
written-and- produced "That Day When She Needed Me
That Day When She Needed Me
"That Day When She Needed Me" is a 1964 R&B song by the Motown Records group The Contours. Issued as the "B" side of their hit "Can You Jerk Like Me", this song broke out as a hit on its own, reaching #37 on the Cash Box R&B listings that year....
", and "Just a Little Misunderstanding", but were considered secondary to Motown's major male vocal groups: The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, The Four Tops, and The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
. The group's seven-year contract with Motown expired in 1967 and when lead singer Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
was recruited to replace the departed David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
as lead singer of The Temptations in early 1968, the Contours disbanded. Edwards later became a solo hits maker as well.
Although they charted
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
up a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1970 with a re-release of "Just A Little Misunderstanding," The Contours' real claim to fame lies with "Do You Love Me
Do You Love Me
"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...
." Both these tracks and others Contours work can be found on various Motown compilation albums.
After Motown
In the early 1970s, Joe Billingslea resurrected the group with himself, Council Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C. Autry Hatcher as its members, and began performing at local clubs around Detroit. During the seventies and early eighties, the group's popularity increased and they began playing dates throughout the US and even some international dates. In 1984, Charles Davis replaced Hinson and a week later Potts rejoined the group replacing Gay. In 1987, Hatcher left the group and Arthur Hinson returned. In 1988, Darell Nunlee was added when Martin Upshire left. The same year, "Do You Love MeDo You Love Me
"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...
" was prominently featured in the film Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
. In 1988, a reissue of "Do You Love Me" sent the song back to the Billboard pop charts for eight weeks, peaking at number eleven. The movie and the record spawned a 1988 "Dirty Dancing Concert Tour" followed by a new recording contract for Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
's Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
where the group recorded two albums Flashback and Revenge although the latter was not released although the songs came out on a later compilation.
In 1992, Hinson left the group, and it continued as a quartet until 1993 when Nunlee left. Al Chisholm (formerly with The Falcons) and Gary Grier were recruited in 1993. This configuration - Joe Billingslea, Chisholm, Davis, Grier and Potts - continued from 1993 until 2004.
In 2004, Sylvester Potts left to form his own group with the four members (Leroy Seabrooks, Kim Green, Tony Womack and Darell Nunlee) of a local Detroit group named Upscale, which immediately began performing as 'The Contours'. Billingslea sued and Potts countersued, each claiming the rights to the name. These suits were resolved in an out-of-court settlement which provided for the existence of both groups to be identified as "The Contours with Joe Billingslea" and "The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts," respectively. Seabrooks has since left the Potts group making it a quartet. In 2006, the Contours with Joe Billingslea filled the vacant bass singing spot created by Potts' departure with Odell Jones. Both groups are currently performing.
Present times
Founding member Billingslea continues to perform with his group, 'The Contours with Joe Billingslea', which is among the acts featured in a DVD released by Motown in January 2007 called Motown: The Early Years, featuring its appearances on the Public Broadcasting System specials. In March 2010, the Contours were inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame. The induction show featured a performance by the Contours with Joe Billingslea. Original member Hoggs left the Contours in 1964 to become a minister. Today he is retired and lives in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. In 2005, Hoggs made his first and only appearance since 1964, singing with Billingslea and the Contours for the taping of Motown: The Early Years. Johnson committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in Detroit on July 11, 1981. Gordon died in 1999, and Fair followed in December 2004. Mid 1960s member, Joe Stubbs - brother of Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...
- died on February 5, 1998. Huey Davis (pictured on the Do You Love Me album cover, but never officially a member of the Contours) died on February 23, 2000, at his home in Detroit. Potts continues to perform with his version of the Contours. They can be seen in the 'Ultimate Doo Wop' series of concerts that travel around the United States each year.
In 1964, The Contours recorded a second album for Motown entitled The Contours: Can You Dance (Gordy 910). It featured the chart hits, "Can You Do It, Can You Jerk Like Me, That Day When She Needed Me", and nine other tracks, including The Marvelettes' hit, "Danger: Heartbreak Dead Ahead". For unknown reasons, this album was unreleased by Motown, but in April, 2011, the album's original tracks, along with fourteen unreleased original Contours 1960s Motown recordings, and new 2011 interviews with original Contours members Joe Billingslea and Sylvester Potts, was released as part of the CD compilation collection, Dance With The Contours on the import label, Kent Records, under legal license from, and with the full approval of, the owners of the Motown catalogue.
Singles
All singles were issued on Gordy Records unless otherwise noted- 1961: "Whole Lotta' WomanWhole Lotta' Woman"Whole Lotta Woman" is a 1961 single recorded by The Contours for the Motown Records label. Written by Smokey Robinson , and Contours group members Billy Hoggs and Billy Gordon,, and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., it was the group's debut single for Motown.Two versions of this song was...
" (issued on Motown) - 1961: "The Stretch" (issued on Motown)
- 1962: "Do You Love MeDo You Love Me"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...
" (#3 US, #1 R&B) - 1963: "Shake SherryShake SherryShake Sherry was a 1962 R&B song by Motown Records group The Contours , issued on its Gordy subsidiary label..it was the follow-up to the group's million-selling Top 5 hit single "Do You Love Me", and was taken from their album of the same name.Not as successful as its predecessor, Shake Sherry...
" (#43 US, #21 R&B) - 1963: "Don't Let Her Be Your Baby" (#64 Pop)
- 1963: Pa I Need A Car / You Get Ugly (did not chart)
- 1964: "Can You Do It" (#41 US, #16 R&B)
- 1964: "Can You Jerk Like MeCan You Jerk Like MeCan You Jerk Like Me is a 1964 song by Motown Records R&B group The Contours, issued on its Gordy Records subsidiary. It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #57, and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, reaching # 16...
" (#47 US, #15 R&B) - 1964: "That Day When She Needed MeThat Day When She Needed Me"That Day When She Needed Me" is a 1964 R&B song by the Motown Records group The Contours. Issued as the "B" side of their hit "Can You Jerk Like Me", this song broke out as a hit on its own, reaching #37 on the Cash Box R&B listings that year....
" (b-side of "Can You Jerk Like Me," #37 R&B) - 1965: "First I Look at the PurseFirst I Look at the Purse"First I Look At The Purse" was a 1965 song recorded by R&B group The Contours on Motown Records' Gordy label. It was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the authors of the Temptations' very first hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do"...
" (#57 US, #12 R&B) - 1966: "Just a Little Misunderstanding" (#85 US, #18 R&B)
- 1967: "It's So Hard Being a Loser" (#79 US, #35 R&B)
- 1988: "Do You Love Me" (#11 US, issued on Motown, re-released after the success of the 1987 movie Dirty DancingDirty DancingDirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
) - 1989: "Face Up to the Fact" (issued on Motorcity RecordsMotorcity RecordsMotorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
) - 1992: "Running in Circles" (issued on Motorcity Records)
Albums
- Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)Do You Love Me was the only LP issued by The Contours during their career at Motown Records. Issued on Motown's Gordy subsidiary in October 1962 , the album includes the hit title track and the number 21 R&B single "Shake Sherrie"...
(Gordy 901, 1962) - The Contours: Can You Dance Gordy 910 (1964- unreleased)
- Flashback (Motorcity Records, 1990)
- The Very Best (Hot Productions, 1995)
- The Very Best of the Contours [Original Recording Remastered] (Motown, 1999)
- Essential Collection (Spectrum, 2000)
- A New Direction (Orchard, 2000)
- 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Universal, 2003)
- Live II (Middle Earth, 2003)
- Dance with The Contours (Kent/Universal/Motown, 2011)
External links
- "Do You Love Them: The Contours Lost Classics Arrive on CD
- "The Contours". History-of-rock.com
- "MySpace Page" MySpace.com
- "Motown Legends Entertainment Agency". motownlegends.net
- "The Contours with Joe Billingslea, Richard De La Font" Delafont.com
- The Contours- A Musical Timeline
- Motown Legends: The Contours' Biography
- The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts Facebook page
- The Contours