On Bruce Springsteen’s LP of soul and Motown songs, “Only the Strong Survive,” the Boss covers a few hits, like the title track and “Someday We’ll Be Together.” But he also features a few songs that flew under the radar when they were released, none more so than Frank Wilson’s “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do),” because it almost never got released at all.
Berry Gordy hired Wilson as a producer in 1965, but when he cut a single as a singer for Motown’s Soul label, Gordy supposedly scotched its release. All 250 demo 45s were supposed to be destroyed, but at least two copies survived, and the song became one of the most popular in the Northern Soul canon in the ’70s, leading to its release on Motown compilation collections.
The original is among the most valuable 45s in existence. One copy of the original 45 sold in 2009 for more than £25,000. The other is reputedly owned by Berry Gordy.
Here’s Springsteen’s take on the tune.
