Whole Lotta' Woman
Encyclopedia
"Whole Lotta Woman" is a 1961 single
recorded by The Contours
for the Motown
Records label. Written by Smokey Robinson
(of The Miracles
), and Contours group members Billy Hoggs and Billy Gordon,(the group's lead singers), and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., it was the group's debut single for Motown.
Two versions of this song was released, with very notable changes. The first version was raw, more soulful, and had minimal orchestration. The second version was more conventional, and made for a national release. There was also a personnel change in between the two versions: The first one was the only recording of the group (other than the B-side "Come On And Be Mine") that feature the vocals of original member Leroy Fair, who was replaced by Sylvester Potts by the time they recorded the second version.
Both versions of the single received a lot of airplay on local Detroit stations, but it would never chart nationally. However, two singles later The Contours would finally score a hit with 1962's "Do You Love Me
".
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
recorded by The Contours
The Contours
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....
for the Motown
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...
Records label. Written by 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...
(of 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...
), and Contours group members Billy Hoggs and Billy Gordon,(the group's lead singers), and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., it was the group's debut single for Motown.
Two versions of this song was released, with very notable changes. The first version was raw, more soulful, and had minimal orchestration. The second version was more conventional, and made for a national release. There was also a personnel change in between the two versions: The first one was the only recording of the group (other than the B-side "Come On And Be Mine") that feature the vocals of original member Leroy Fair, who was replaced by Sylvester Potts by the time they recorded the second version.
Both versions of the single received a lot of airplay on local Detroit stations, but it would never chart nationally. However, two singles later The Contours would finally score a hit with 1962's "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...
".
Credits: The Contours
- Lead vocal by Billy Gordon and Billy Hoggs
- Background vocals by Hubert Johnson, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Leroy Fair (1st version only), and Sylvester Potts (2nd version only)
- Guitar by Huey Davis