| "Never Knew Love Like This Before" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Stephanie Mills | ||||
| from the album Sweet Sensation | ||||
| B-side | "Still Mine" | |||
| Released | August 31, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Disco, R&B | |||
| Length | 5:30 (album version) 3:28 (single version) | |||
| Label | 20th Century Fox | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Stephanie Mills singles chronology | ||||
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| 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]
- ^ Breen, Kerry (22 June 2020). "Lisa Lucas discovered that her dad's famous song was about her". Today. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Stephanie Mills". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Never Knew Love Like This Before". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "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)
- ^ Wilson, Kimberley (4 November 2020). "Here's the hidden history behind this famous Stephanie Mills song". Essence. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ 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.