First I Look at the Purse
Encyclopedia
"First I Look At The Purse" (G7044) 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
". This song reached #57 on the Billboard
Hot 100, and the Top 20 on Billboard's R&B chart, peaking at #12.
A comical story about a man who didn't care how ugly the girl he dated was, "as long she got some cash", this song was tailor-made for the Contours' high-energy, comedic on-stage delivery. Miracles member and co-composer Bobby Rogers did the falsetto spoken-word intro, "what does every man look at first?", and then the Contours took it from there, chanting about those virtues: "The eyes", "the nose", "the size" , "the clothes", "the hair", "the legs", "the waistline", etc. Then Contours lead singer Billy Gordon (who sang lead on the group's biggest hit "Do You Love Me
"), snaps you back to reality, yelling "I don't care" (about how beautiful a woman looks), because "first I look at the purse". It is the Contours' second-best remembered song after "Do You Love Me", mainly due to the successful cover version of the song by the J. Geils Band, taken from their self-titled debut album
in 1970. The song was also covered by David Bromberg
and Rod Stewart
.
"First I Look at the Purse" was the last Contours hit featuring original lead Billy Gordon. Shortly after its release, he departed the group, and Motown, for good, due to personal problems. His departure coincided with the return of Sylvester Potts. At this point, all of the other original Contours, except guitarist Huey Davis, had departed the group. His lead position was taken by Joseph "Joe" Stubbs, brother of the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs
, who sang lead on the group's next release, 1966's Just a Little Misunderstanding. Stubbs would later go on to become lead singer of the 70's non-Motown R&B group, 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
.
In the early 2000s, the Contours performed the song on the PBS special Motown: The Early Years. They still sing it in their live shows today. It has also appeared in several Contours' Motown "Greatest Hits" CD compilations.
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....
on Motown Records' Gordy
Gordy
Gordy is a 1995 feature film about a piglet who searches for his missing family...
label. It was 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...
, the authors of 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,...
' very first hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do
The Way You Do the Things You Do
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single...
". This song reached #57 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100, and the Top 20 on Billboard's R&B chart, peaking at #12.
A comical story about a man who didn't care how ugly the girl he dated was, "as long she got some cash", this song was tailor-made for the Contours' high-energy, comedic on-stage delivery. Miracles member and co-composer Bobby Rogers did the falsetto spoken-word intro, "what does every man look at first?", and then the Contours took it from there, chanting about those virtues: "The eyes", "the nose", "the size" , "the clothes", "the hair", "the legs", "the waistline", etc. Then Contours lead singer Billy Gordon (who sang lead on the group's biggest 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...
"), snaps you back to reality, yelling "I don't care" (about how beautiful a woman looks), because "first I look at the purse". It is the Contours' second-best remembered song after "Do You Love Me", mainly due to the successful cover version of the song by the J. Geils Band, taken from their self-titled debut album
The J. Geils Band (album)
The J. Geils Band is the self-titled debut album by American rock band The J. Geils Band, released in 1970 ."First I Look at the Purse" is one of the songs featured in Nick Hornby's book 31 Songs.-Side one:...
in 1970. The song was also covered by David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
.
"First I Look at the Purse" was the last Contours hit featuring original lead Billy Gordon. Shortly after its release, he departed the group, and Motown, for good, due to personal problems. His departure coincided with the return of Sylvester Potts. At this point, all of the other original Contours, except guitarist Huey Davis, had departed the group. His lead position was taken by Joseph "Joe" Stubbs, brother of the Four Tops' 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...
, who sang lead on the group's next release, 1966's Just a Little Misunderstanding. Stubbs would later go on to become lead singer of the 70's non-Motown R&B group, 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
100 Proof was a funk/soul group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1969. Put together by Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, they signed to Hot Wax Records and went on to release several hit singles between 1969 and 1972. The biggest of these, "Somebody's Been Sleeping", reached #8 on the...
.
In the early 2000s, the Contours performed the song on the PBS special Motown: The Early Years. They still sing it in their live shows today. It has also appeared in several Contours' Motown "Greatest Hits" CD compilations.