HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES - IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY NOW

IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY NOW

HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES

SONGWRITERS: KENNY GAMBLE & LEON HUFF

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: I MISS YOU

LABEL: PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS

GENRE: SOUL

YEAR: 1972

 

       Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s, the group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes, the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976, although they performed and recorded until Melvin's death in 1997. Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing, the Blue Notes' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International. The remaining members of the Blue Notes have reunited for Soul Train Cruises in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

          "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.

       "If You Don't Know Me by Now" was originally written for Labelle(a trio led by Patti LaBelle) but they never recorded it. Much like the issue with "I Miss You" and The Dells passing on 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. In addition to the single release, the track was included on their debut álbum 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 was chosen as one of the "Songs of the Century" by the RIAA

Sing the song, everybody

C'mon

 

If you don't know me by now (wunderbar)

You will never, never, never know me

Oooh

 

Now all the things

That we've been through

You should understand me

Like I understand you

 

Now girl I know the difference

Between right and wrong

I ain't gonna do nothing

To upset our happy home

 

Don't get so excited

When I come home

A little late at night

You know we only act like children

When we argue fuss and fight

 

If you don't know me, baby

(You will never never never know me)

No, you won't (oooh)

Oooh, yeah, c'mon

 

Oh, if you don't know me, girl

(You will never never never know me)

You... (Uuuh)

 

We've all got

Our own funny moods

I've got mine

I bet you woman you've got yours too

 

You better trust in me like I trust in you

As long as we've been together

It should be so easy to do

 

Just get yourself together

Or we might as well say goodbye

What good is a love affair

When you can't see eye to eye

 

If you don't know me, baby

(You will never never never know me)

No, you won't (Oooh)

No, you won't, no, you won't, no, you won't

 

Twenty long years we've been together

(You will never never never know me)

(Ooohh) ooh ooh-ooh oh

 

Well...

Oooh (You will never never never know me)

No, you won't (oooh).