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"Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Single by Stephanie Mills
from the album Sweet Sensation
B-side"Still Mine"
ReleasedAugust 31, 1980
Recorded1979
Length5:30 (Album Edit)
3:28 (Radio Edit)
Label 20th Century Fox
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Stephanie Mills singles chronology
"Sweet Sensation"
(1980) 		"Never Knew Love Like This Before"
(1980) 		" Two Hearts"
(1980)
Audio
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" on YouTube

"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a 1980 song written and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, and recorded by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills for her fourth studio album Sweet Sensation (1980). The song was inspired by the birth of Lucas' daughter Lisa. [1]

The song became Mills' most successful song in the United States, peaking at number six on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, outperforming " What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin'", which peaked at 22 in 1979. "Never Knew Love Like This Before" also charted on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, peaking at number 12 and five, respectively. [2] The song was a bigger commercial success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four. [3]

"Never Knew Love Like This Before" won Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1981, [4] beating fellow nominees including Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, and Minnie Riperton. [5]

The song title was used for the fourth episode of the second season of the American drama series Pose, which aired on 9 July 2019. The episode concludes with the character of Candy, portrayed by Angelica Ross, lip-synching to the song; the scene received critical acclaim. [6]

Personnel

  • Howard King – drums
  • Basil Fearington – bass
  • James Mtume – keyboards
  • Hubert Eaves III – keyboards
  • Reggie Lucas – guitar
  • Ed Moore – guitar
  • James Mtume – percussion
  • Ed Walsh – synthesizer programming
  • Tawatha Agee, Gwen Guthrie, Brenda White King, James Mtume & Reggie Lucas  – background vocals
  • Gene Blanco – String and horn arrangements

Charts

Cover versions

Composition

The Intro and Verse chords are [B E F#/A# D#m7 G#m7 C#m9 E/F#], cycling through the diatonic Circle of fifths in the key of B major. The Chorus section chords are [Emaj7 D#m7 C#m7 Emaj7 D#m7 C#m7 Emaj7 D#m7 C#sus4 C#7 E].[ citation needed]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom ( BPI) [32] Silver 250,000^
United States ( RIAA) [33] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Breen, Kerry (22 June 2020). "Lisa Lucas discovered that her dad's famous song was about her". Today. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Stephanie Mills". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Never Knew Love Like This Before". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. ^ "23rd Annual Grammy Awards". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 2023-11-24. R&B Vocal Performance, Female - winner - "Never Knew Love Like This Before" - Stephanie Mills - Best Rhythm & Blues Song - winner - "Never Knew Love Like This Before" - Reggie Lucas & James Mtume, songwriters (Stephanie Mills)
  5. ^ Wilson, Kimberley (4 November 2020). "Here's the hidden history behind this famous Stephanie Mills song". Essence. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  6. ^ Cobb, Kayla (10 July 2019). "'Pose' turned the murder of one of its trans characters into a reflection on beauty". Decider. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 202. ISBN  0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ " Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ^ " Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ " Top RPM Singles: Issue 0288." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. ^ " The Irish Charts – Search Results – Never Knew Love Like This Before". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  12. ^ " Nederlandse Top 40 – Stephanie Mills" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  13. ^ " Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. ^ " Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Stephanie Mills: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  17. ^ "Stephanie Mills Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Stephanie Mills Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Stephanie Mills Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending November 8, 1980". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Songs from the Year 1980". Tsort.info. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  23. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". www.top40.nl. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1980". www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Chart File". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 21 March 1981. p. 37.
  26. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. 4 January 1982. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Imgur.
  27. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1981-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1980". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  29. ^ Steffen Hung. "Organiz' - I Never Knew Love Like This Before". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  30. ^ Never Knew Love Like This Before - Thomas Anders. Universal Music Group. 1995.
  31. ^ Never Knew Love Like This Before, 2013-01-01, retrieved 2022-10-06
  32. ^ "British single certifications – Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "American album certifications – Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before". Recording Industry Association of America.
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