If I Were Your Woman (song)
Encyclopedia
"If I Were Your Woman" is a song recorded Gladys Knight & the Pips
. The song was written by Pam Sawyer
, Clay McMurray, and Gloria Jones
and it was produced by McMurray. Released in late 1970 from the album of the same title, it spent one week at number-one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January 1971. It was also successful on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, peaking at #9.
. Her version peaked at #19 on the Hot Black Singles
chart in 1988. This song was also covered by Shirley Brown
in 2000 on her album Holding My Own
.
Some years before, Latimore (musician)
on his homonymous album of 1973, recorded this song with the title "If You Were My Woman" (#70 R&B).
George Michael
covered the song as "If You Were My Woman" at Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
on (June 11, 1988, at Wembley Arena. The performance appears on the Praying for Time/If You Were My Woman CD single (Epic GE01 - UK - 7").
Alicia Keys
recorded a medley
of "I Were Your Woman" and "Walk On By" for her 2003 album The Diary of Alicia Keys
, entitled "If I Was Your Woman/Walk on By". Keys would later record a full version of the song in 2005 for her live album Unplugged
; it received a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
at the 2006 Grammy Awards.
Drum and bass
producers Brookes Brothers
sampled the chorus in their 2008 song, "Tear You Down".
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
. The song was written by Pam Sawyer
Pam Sawyer
Pamela Sawyer, an American-based songwriter from Romford, East London.Sawyer worked with artists at Motown Records from 1967 to 1977. Before Motown she had been involved in hit records for the Young Rascals and Lulu, and wrote with Lori Burton with whom she also recorded as the Whyte Boots.Sawyer...
, Clay McMurray, and Gloria Jones
Gloria Jones
Gloria Richetta Jones is an American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She recorded the 1964 northern soul song, "Tainted Love", later a hit for the British synth-pop duo, Soft Cell. She was the girlfriend of glam rock artist Marc Bolan of the band T...
and it was produced by McMurray. Released in late 1970 from the album of the same title, it spent one week at number-one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January 1971. It was also successful on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, peaking at #9.
Chart positions
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
9 |
| U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
Cover versions
There have been numerous cover versions, most notably by Stephanie MillsStephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
. Her version peaked at #19 on the Hot Black Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart in 1988. This song was also covered by Shirley Brown
Shirley Brown
Shirley Brown is an American soul singer, best known for her million-selling single "Woman to Woman" which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975.-Woman to Woman:...
in 2000 on her album Holding My Own
Holding My Own
Holding My Own is a 1992 album by country music singer George Strait. It was released by MCA Records and features the singles "Gone as a Girl Can Get" and "So Much Like My Dad", both of which charted in the Top 5 on the country charts...
.
Some years before, Latimore (musician)
Latimore (musician)
Benjamin "Benny" Latimore , usually known professionally simply as Latimore, is an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist....
on his homonymous album of 1973, recorded this song with the title "If You Were My Woman" (#70 R&B).
George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
covered the song as "If You Were My Woman" at Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute was a popular-music concert staged on June 11, 1988 at Wembley Stadium, London and broadcast to 67 countries and an audience of 600 million. It was also referred to as Freedomfest, Free Nelson Mandela Concert and Mandela Day...
on (June 11, 1988, at Wembley Arena. The performance appears on the Praying for Time/If You Were My Woman CD single (Epic GE01 - UK - 7").
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
recorded a medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
of "I Were Your Woman" and "Walk On By" for her 2003 album The Diary of Alicia Keys
The Diary of Alicia Keys
The Diary of Alicia Keys is the second studio album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released in the United States on December 2, 2003 by J Records...
, entitled "If I Was Your Woman/Walk on By". Keys would later record a full version of the song in 2005 for her live album Unplugged
Unplugged (Alicia Keys album)
Unplugged is the first live album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was recorded as part of the television program MTV Unplugged on July 4, 2005 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York City, and released in the United States on October 11, 2005 by J Records, including...
; it received a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance is an accolade presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally named the Gramophone Awards, to performers of quality traditional R&B vocal performances. The award was first given in 1999; until 2003, only...
at the 2006 Grammy Awards.
Drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
producers Brookes Brothers
Brookes Brothers
Phil and Dan Brookes, otherwise known as the Brookes Brothers, are drum and bass producers from London, UK. The two brothers discovered a love for the more soulful sounds of drum and bass around the turn of the millenium, but it wasn't until 2006 that they gained public notice.-History:In 2006 they...
sampled the chorus in their 2008 song, "Tear You Down".
External links
- [ Song review] on All MusicAll MusicAll Music was an Italian free-to-air television station which mainly broadcast music videos and music programs. Originally called Rete A, the name was changed to Rete A - All Music , and for a brief period was affiliated before with MTV Italy and after with VIVA.-History:In late 2004 the former...
- Song review on Songfacts