"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a 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 single was released in August 1980 by 20th Century Fox Records and is inspired by the birth of Lucas' daughter Lisa.
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. The song was a bigger commercial success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four.
"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, beating fellow nominees including Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, and Minnie Riperton.
The track received a renewed interest after 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.
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].
Legacy In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Never Knew Love Like This Before" number 19 in their list of "The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time". In 2025, Billboard magazine ranked it number 32 in their "The 100 Greatest LGBTQ+ Anthems of All Time"-list.
Track listing and formats US 7" Vinyl single A. "Never Knew Love Like This Before" – 3:29 B. "Still Mine" – 5:33
UK 7" Vinyl single A. "Never Knew Love Like This Before" – 5:28 B. "Still Mine" – 5:34
Netherlands 12" Vinyl single A. "Never Knew Love Like This Before" (Disco Mix) – 5:27 B. "Still Mine" – 5:33
Mexico 12" Vinyl single A. "Never Knew Love Like This Before" – 5:27 B. "D-A-N-C-I-N'" – 5:41
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
Weekly charts Chart (1980–81)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 14South Africa (Springbok) 4US Cash Box Top 100 8
Year-end charts Chart (1980)RankBelgium (Ultratop Flanders) 32Brazil (ABPD) 92Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 31Netherlands (Single Top 100) 28UK 46 Chart (1981)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report) 60New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 41US Cash Box Top 100 59
Certifications
Cover versions In 1999, French band Organiz' covered the song. The track reached on number five on French Singles Chart, and number 6 on Belgian Singles Chart. Thomas Anders covered the song for his 1995 album Souled. In 2013, Jessie Ware covered the song for the soundtrack to the film I Give It a Year.
References