Never Knew Love Like This Before

"Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Single by Stephanie Mills
from the album Sweet Sensation
B-side "Still Mine"
Released August 1980
Format Vinyl single
Recorded 1979
Genre R&B, disco
Length 3:28 (radio edit) 5:30 (album edit)
Label 20th Century-Fox Records
Writer(s) James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
Producer(s) James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
Stephanie Mills singles chronology
"Sweet Sensation"
(1980)
"Never Knew Love Like This Before"
(1980)
"Two Hearts"
(1980)

"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a song written and produced by songwriters James Mtume and Reggie Lucas for American R&B recording artist Stephanie Mills' second studio album Sweet Sensation (1980). The song became Mills' biggest hit on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 6, outperforming her previously highest charting single, "Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin'", which peaked at No. 22. The single was also successful on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, peaking at No. 12 and No. 5, respectively. It was a bigger success in the UK where it peaked in the top five (#4). The record won Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1981 Grammy Awards.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1980-81) Peak
position
Austria [1] 11
Australia 4
Belgium [1] 2
Canadian RPM [2] 32
Netherlands [1] 1
UK [1] 4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary [3] 5
U.S. Billboard R&B [3] 12
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1981) Rank
Brazil [1] 92
New Zealand [4] 41
UK [5] 87
U.S. Cash Box [6] 59

Cover versions

The late R&B singer Gwen Guthrie recorded a ballad version of the song for her 1990 album Hot Times.

In 1992, the song was covered by Sonia. In 1995, the song was covered by Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking fame) on his album Souled.

In 1999, the song was covered by the French duet Organiz' for their 2nd single.

Natalia recorded the song for her 2004 album This Time.

Filipino singer Lani Misalucha covered the song for her 2008 album Reminisce and was the featured song in an episode of ABS-CBN's Your Song. South African Idol's Season 4 winner, Jodie Williams, recorded an uptempo remake of this song for her debut album, Just Gonna Be Me.

In 2013, Jessie Ware covered the song for the soundtrack to the movie I Give It a Year.

A wonderful cover was created by Peter White on his album Groovin' (2016).

Composition

The song is in the major scale.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Songs from the Year 1980". Tsort.info. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  2. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  3. 1 2 "All Music Positions". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. "Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1981-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  5. "Top 100 1980 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  6. Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.92. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
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