"If You Don't Know Me by Now" was originally written for Labelle (a trio led by Patti LaBelle) but they never recorded it. The song's composers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff gave it to Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which featured Teddy Pendergrass as lead vocalist,
and the actual background vocals done by producers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Carl Helm, and Bunny Sigler. In addition to the single release, the track was included on their debut album, I Miss You.
Patti LaBelle later made the song part of her concert repertoire in 1982; a live version appears on her 1985 album, Patti.
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" has since been recorded by a number of other artists, most notably the English pop and soul band Simply Red, who took their version to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.
Simply Red's version of "If You Don't Know Me by Now" was a commercial success in 1989, giving the band their second US number one and also topping the charts of Australia and New Zealand; in the latter country, it was the best-selling single of 1989. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number two, becoming the band's second top-10 hit in their home country. This version won the Grammy Award for the Best R&B Song of 1989.[14] The single's music video, filmed in London, was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.[15]
According to the producer, Stewart Levine, he did not want too much orchestration on the record, and went with a two-part harmony instead of a three-part harmony. Mick Hucknall admitted he loved Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' version, and stated he danced to their music when he was 13.[16]
Critical reception
Jerry Smith from Music Week wrote, "Top-notch purveyors of smooth soul, Simply Red deliver this excellent version of the old Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes classic, lifted from their already platinum-selling A New Flame LP. As a follow-up to their 'It's Only Love' hit, it's a sure fire winner. Expect mass exposure."[12]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^"Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes - If You Don't Know Me By Now". 45cat.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
^ a bBreihan, Tom (July 30, 2021). "The Number Ones: Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Stereogum. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
^Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "The Sound of Philadelphia: Philly Soul". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 52. ISBN031214704X.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 393.
^"Songs of the Century". CNN. March 7, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. December 23, 1972. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^"Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. January 13, 1973. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^"Eurochart Hot 100 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. 6. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.
^"Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
^"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
^"End of Year Charts 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
^"Year-End Charts '89 – Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 3, 1990. p. 16.
^"Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
^"Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
^"Danish single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
^"New Zealand single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
^"Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
^"British single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2020.