If You Don't Know Me by Now

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit after being released as a single in September 1972, topping the US R&B chart and peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[4]

"If You Don't Know Me by Now"
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
from the album I Miss You
B-side	"Let Me Into Your World"
Released	September 11, 1972[1]
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Philadelphia soul[2][3] R&B
Length	3:27
Label	Philadelphia International Records
Songwriter(s)	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Producer(s)	Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes singles chronology
"I Miss You" (1972) "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (1972) "Yesterday I Had the Blues" (1973)
Music video
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" on YouTube

"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.

The song "If You Don’t Know Me By Now" was chosen as one of the "Songs of the Century" by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[5]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1972–1973) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 52 Ireland (IRMA)[7] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[8] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[9] 3 US R&B (Billboard) 1 US Cash Box Top 100[10] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1973) Rank US Cash Box [11] 86

Simply Red version

"If You Don't Know Me by Now"
Single by Simply Red
from the album A New Flame
B-side	"Move On Out"
Released	March 27, 1989 (1989-03-27)
Genre	Smooth soul[12] R&B[2] soft rock[13] easy listening[14]
Length	3:24
Label	WEA Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Kenny Gamble Leon Huff
Producer(s)	Stewart Levine
Simply Red singles chronology
"It's Only Love" (1989) "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (1989) "A New Flame" (1989)
Music video
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" on YouTube

Simply Red's version of "If You Don't Know Me by Now", recorded for their third studio album A New Flame, 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.^[15] The single's music video, filmed in London, was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.^[16]

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.^[17]

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]

Track listings

• 7-inch single

1. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" – 3:23
2. "Move On Out" (recorded live Manchester on February 22, 1989) – 5:18

• 12-inch single

1. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" – 3:23
2. "Move On Out" (recorded live Manchester on February 22, 1989) – 5:18
3. "Shine" (recorded live Manchester on February 22, 1989) – 3:30

• 3-inch CD single

1. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" – 3:23
2. "Move On Out" (recorded live Manchester on February 22, 1989) – 5:18
3. "Shine" (recorded live Manchester on February 22, 1989) – 3:30
4. "Sugar Daddy" – 3:30

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[22] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 6 France (SNEP)[24] 11 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 1 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[35] 38 US Cash Box Top 100[36] 2 West Germany (GfK)[37] 19

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 13 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[39] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 28 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[41] 12 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] 43 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 48 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[46] 38 US Billboard Hot 100[47] 24 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[48] 2 West Germany (Official German Charts)[49] 88

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38]	Gold	35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50]	Gold	45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51]	Gold	5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[52]	Gold	25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[53]	Silver	200,000^
United States (RIAA)[54]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	March 27, 1989	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	WEA Elektra	[55]
	May 1, 1989	10-inch vinyl mini-CD		[56]
Japan	May 25, 1989	Mini-CD		[57]

Other versions

• In 1976, Jamaican reggae band Zap Pow released a version in the UK on Trojan Records.^[58]
• The musician Seal recorded a version for his 2008 album Soul. His version became his first top 10 on the US Adult Contemporary chart since "Love's Divine" in 2004.^[59] The version was also nominated at the 2010 Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.^[60]
• The Voice of Holland winner Ben Saunders performed the song during the show's first season. His recorded version topped the Dutch Single Top 100 in 2010.^[61]
• A comedic cover version by Ricky Gervais, in character as David Brent, appeared in the 2003 Christmas special of the British comedy series The Office.^[62]
• Martina McBride recorded it for her 2014 album Everlasting.^[63]

See also

• List of Best Selling Soul Singles number ones of 1972
• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1989

References

1. "Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes - If You Don't Know Me By Now". 45cat.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
2. Breihan, Tom (July 30, 2021). "The Number Ones: Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Stereogum. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
3. 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. ISBN 031214704X.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 393.
5. "Songs of the Century". CNN. March 7, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. December 23, 1972. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
8. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. January 13, 1973. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
9. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
10. "Cash Box Top 100 12/02/72". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
11. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1973". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
12. Smith, Jerry (April 8, 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
13. Smith, Troy L. (May 13, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
14. Gibbs, Ryan (November 15, 2022). "An introduction to Sophisti-pop". In Between Drafts. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
15. "Winners - 32nd Annual GRAMMY Awards (1989)". Recording Academy. November 28, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
16. "Video Track". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 19. May 13, 1989. p. 54.
17. Bronson, Fred (1992). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Publications. p. 736. ISBN 0-8230-8298-9.
18. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
19. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
20. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
21. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6417." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
22. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6438." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
23. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 17. April 29, 1989. p. 30. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
24. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now" (in French). Les classement single.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Irish Singles Chart.
26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
27. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
28. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Top 40 Singles.
29. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". VG-lista.
30. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Singles Top 100.
31. "Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Swiss Singles Chart.
32. "Simply Red: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
33. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. July 15, 1989. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
34. "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. June 24, 1989. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
35. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. July 29, 1989. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
36. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: July 15, 1989". Cash Box. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
37. "Offiziellecharts.de – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
38. "1989 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
39. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1989" (in German). Retrieved November 6, 2020.
40. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
41. "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
42. "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.
43. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
44. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
45. "End of Year Charts 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
46. "Year-End Charts '89 – Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 3, 1990. p. 16.
47. "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
48. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
49. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
50. "Danish single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
51. "New Zealand single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
52. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
53. "British single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
54. "American single certifications – Simply Red – If You Don't Know Me by Now". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
55. "Fat's the Way to Do It". Record Mirror. March 25, 1989. p. 4. Simply Red release their single 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' on March 27.
56. "New Singles". Music Week. April 29, 1989. p. 43.
57. "二人の絆 | シンプリー・レッド" [The Bond Between Two People | Simply Red] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
58. "Zap Pow – Wild Honey / If You Don't Know Me By Now". Discogs. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
59. Trust, Gary (April 15, 2009). "Chart Beat: Rascal Flatts, Seal, Eminem". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
60. "Grammy Awards 2010 Winners & Nominees". People. January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
61. "Uniek hitrecord voor Ben Saunders". Entertainment Business (in Dutch). December 20, 2010.
62. "Which David Brent song hits do you want to hear?". The Guardian. October 2, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
63. Dauphin, Chuck (December 13, 2013). "Martina McBride Sets 'Everlasting' Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2024.

External links

• Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes version song review on AllMusic
• "If You Don't Know Me by Now" on YouTube