If You Really Love Me
Encyclopedia
"If You Really Love Me" is the title of a song written by Stevie Wonder
and Syreeta Wright
. Wonder recorded the song and released his version as a single from his 1971 album Where I'm Coming From
. The single proved very successful, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100
(#8), Billboard's R&B chart (#4), and Billboard's Easy Listening chart (#10). The song was among one of the last to feature Motown's background band The Funk Brothers
. After its release, Wonder would leave the Hitsville USA studios to record in New York
playing most of the instruments himself. Wonder played Moog bass synthesizer, drums, and piano on "If You Really Love Me" while Wright is featured in the background singing.
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
. Wonder recorded the song and released his version as a single from his 1971 album Where I'm Coming From
Where I'm Coming From
Where I'm Coming From is the thirteenth studio album released by Grammy Award-winning American singer Stevie Wonder on the Motown label on April 12, 1971....
. The single proved very successful, peaking in the top 10 of 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...
(#8), Billboard's R&B chart (#4), and Billboard's Easy Listening chart (#10). The song was among one of the last to feature Motown's background band The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
. After its release, Wonder would leave the Hitsville USA studios to record in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
playing most of the instruments himself. Wonder played Moog bass synthesizer, drums, and piano on "If You Really Love Me" while Wright is featured in the background singing.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
- Background vocals by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta WrightSyreeta WrightSyreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
and Stevie Wonder - Produced by Stevie Wonder