<P> "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" is a Motown song written by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol and Sylvia Moy, and recorded, most notably, by The Velvelettes and Diana Ross . </P> <P> The Velvelettes, a minor act signed to Motown's V.I.P. subsidiary, recorded the first version of the song in May 1966 . The group had found some success with their first two (official) Motown singles, "Needle In A Haystack" and "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin"', but their last two releases had failed to chart . Although "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" was scheduled for release on V.I.P. (V.I.P. 25034), the song was instead released on Motown's Soul imprint (as S 35025), in August 1966 . It became a minor R&B hit in America, peaking at #43 on the US R&B Charts in late 1966 . It nearly made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 as well, bubbling under at #102 . A Velvelettes album project was also started, The Velvelettes, and scheduled for release as V.I.P. 401 . The LP was scrapped and the group disbanded shortly after . "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" proved to be their last Motown single . In 1971, however, a British (Tamla Motown) reissue of the song became a hit, making #34 on the UK Singles Charts in August of that year . Despite the newfound success, The Velvelettes did not reunite until the 1980s; they would go on to record (with all four original members) for Ian Levine's Motorcity Records as well . Their next single was a rerecorded version of their hit "Needle In A Haystack", released on Levine's Nightmare label some 21 years after this song . </P> <P> Diana Ross, who had been the lead singer of The Supremes, left the group for a solo career in early 1970 . She recorded "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" in January that year for her self - titled debut solo album, Diana Ross . The LP was a huge success and is widely regarded as some of Ross' finest solo work . Motown singer - songwriters Ashford & Simpson produced all of its tracks, except "These Things", which was produced by Johnny Bristol . </P> <P> Motown musician Junior Walker and his All - Stars also recorded the song in early 1971 . That version was included on their Rainbow Funk album, released in July of the same year . </P>

Junior walker these things will keep me loving you