If You Really Love Me

1971 single by Stevie Wonder

"If You Really Love Me"

Single by Stevie Wonder

from the album Where I'm Coming From

B-side

"Think of Me As Your Soldier"

Released

22 July 1971

Recorded

1971

Studio

Studio A, Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit

Genre

Length

3:00

Label

Tamla

Songwriter(s)

Stevie Wonder
Syreeta Wright

Producer(s)

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder singles chronology

"We Can Work It Out"
(1971)

"If You Really Love Me"
(1971)

"Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"
(1972)

"If You Really Love Me" is 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 peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (number 8), Billboard′s R&B chart (number 4),^[1] and Billboard′s Easy Listening chart (number 10).^[2]

Background

The song was one of the last to feature Motown's background band the Funk Brothers. After its release, Wonder left the Hitsville USA studios to record in New York City, playing most of the instruments himself. Wonder played Moog bass synthesizer,^{[citation needed]} drums, and piano on "If You Really Love Me", while Wright is featured in the background singing.

Cash Box said of it that "Wonder, via superb use of dynamics and fine mood changes will bring this tune to national attention."^[3]

Personnel

Stevie Wonder – lead and background vocals; arrangement, instrumentation; production
Syreeta Wright – background vocals
The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
David Van De Pitte – arrangement

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1971)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Top Singles	20
UK Singles Chart	20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[4]	8
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	10
U.S. R&B	4
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[5]	9

Year-end charts

Chart (1971)	Rank
U.S. Billboard^[6]	48
U.S. Cash Box^[7]	77
U.S. R&B/Soul (Billboard)^[8]	28

References

^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 635.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 262.
^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 7, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ "Top 100 1971-10-23". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
^ "Top Pop 100 Singles" Billboard December 25, 1971: TA-36
^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
^ Billboard. 1971-12-25. p. 15. Retrieved 2016-10-03.