Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me by Now
A soul classic reimagined with heart
Originally written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” was first recorded in 1972 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, with Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals. It became a defining track of the Philadelphia soul era, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the U.S. R&B chart. Seventeen years later, Simply Red gave the song a second life — and a new audience.
A New Flame, A New Voice
Released on 27 March 1989 as the second single from A New Flame, Simply Red’s version stripped away the lush orchestration of the original and leaned into Mick Hucknall’s raw, soulful delivery. The arrangement is simple and intimate — just enough instrumentation to let the emotion breathe. Hucknall’s voice does the heavy lifting, turning the song into a quiet storm of longing and frustration.
Chart Performance and Grammy Gold
Simply Red’s take on the song was a massive international hit. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1989, becoming the band’s second U.S. chart-topper after “Holding Back the Years.” It also hit No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand, and peaked at No. 2 in the UK, where it became their second Top 10 hit at home.
The track earned the band a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, further cementing their global success.
A Timeless Cover
Simply Red didn’t just cover a soul classic — they reinterpreted it. Their version became a signature song, helping A New Flame go multi-platinum and expanding the band’s reach across Europe and North America. It’s widely considered one of the most successful and respectful covers of a soul standard — a rare case where the remake stands shoulder to shoulder with the original.