If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop(#1) & Adult Contemporary; 1989
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
1972 was a banner year for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who’s new label placed three singles in the pop Top 10, all of which hit #1 on the R&B side: Me And Mrs. Jones, Backstabbers, and If You Don’t Know Me By Now.
For the latter, Gamble and Huff drew upon their real-life marital problems to craft a stunning ballad originally slated for The Dells. When that deal fell through, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes – with drummer Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals – scored their first crossover hit with it.
Sixteen-plus years later Manchester, England’s Mick Hucknall and his band Simply Red decided to cover Teddy’s classic on their third album. Whereas Gamble and Huff framed Teddy’s voice with one of their majestic productions, Red producer Stewart Levine scaled things back so Hucknall’s vocal was very front and center.
On July 15th, Simply Red slid into the top slot, besting the Blue Notes’ #3 peak, and helping G&H grab a Grammy for Best R&B Song.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produce by:
- Stewart Levine
Lyrics Written by:
- Kenny Gamble
- Leon Huff
Award:
- Nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).