When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes

Album

Where Did Our Love Go

Label

Motown

Genre

Girl Group

Media Type

45s

Duration

2:37

Composer(s)

Brian Holland;Lamont Dozier,Eddie Holland Jr.

Entered Chart

Nov 30, 1963

Peak Date

Jan 11, 1964

Released

October 31, 1963

Recorded

October 1, 1963

Catalog #

Motown 1051

B-Side

Standing At The Crossroads Of Love

This song is notable for being The Supremes first Top 40 hit and their first to be written by the team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland. The Supremes had been recording for Motown since 1961, and despite a promotion push from the label, couldn't break through. Teaming them with Holland-Dozier-Holland was the game changer - the trio had written hits for Martha & the Vandellas ("(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave) and Mary Wells ("You Lost the Sweetest Boy") and were well suited for The Supremes, who could deliver their songs about young love and heartbreak. The next single the trio wrote for the group - "Run, Run, Run" - took them in the wrong direction, peaking at #93. When H-D-H peddled another song to the group, "Where Did Our Love Go," they wanted nothing to do with it. But because they were lowest on the Motown food chain, The Supremes had to record it. That song went to #1, as did their next four singles, all written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. The song is about a girl who gives a guy the cold shoulder, but gives in when she sees that lovelight shining through his eyes. Diana Ross, 19 at the time, got very good at selling these kind of songs with a coy vocal delivery. At the end of the second verse, a group of male vocalists growls, "AhhHH!" That was done by The Four Tops (who were new to Motown) along with the song's writers, Holland-Dozier-Holland. Motown head Berry Gordy wasn't keen on the title, as he thought it was too long. The previous Supremes single was released as "A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heartbreaking Guy," which didn't go well: the title was later shortened to "A Breathtaking Guy." But Holland-Dozier-Holland had some clout at this point, and were able to push through the title they wanted. The stalwart rhythm section of drummer Benny Benjamin and bass player James Jamerson played on this track, along with saxophone player Mike Terry. The Holland-Dozier-Holland team was in the process of winning these guys over, as they had a lot more experience. "When they saw the way I was playing and creating these songs, they eventually gave me the respect of another musician, and I felt good about that," Dozier said in a Songfacts interview. The song was released on Halloween 1963. At the time, The Supremes were touring on one of Motown's revues with other acts on the label. They were third on the bill behind Martha & the Vandellas and The Contours.

He gave me the eye
But I just passed him by
I treated him unkind
But he didn't seem to mind

I told him be on his way
But not a word did he say
He just stood there kind of bold
While I acted cold

But when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes
Made me realize I should apologize
And when he placed a kiss upon my face
Then I knew, Oh then I knew
That he won my heart

So I quickly apologized
Hoping he hadn't changed his mind
But not a word did he say
So I turned to walk away

But when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes
Made me realize how he felt inside
And when he placed a kiss upon my face
Then I knew, Oh then I knew
That he won my heart

When he asked could he walk my way
I hoped sweet things he'd say
Instead he smiled kind of nice
As he held my hand kind of tight

But when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes
Made me realize how he felt inside
And when he placed a kiss upon my face
Then I knew, Oh then I knew
That he won my heart

But when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes
Made me realize how he felt inside
And when he placed a kiss upon my face