Never Knew Love Like This Explained

Never Knew Love Like This
Cover:	Neverknewlovelikethis.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Alexander O'Neal featuring Cherrelle
Album:	Hearsay
B-Side:	What's Missing
Released:	1988
Recorded:	1986
Genre:	R&B soul dance
Label:	Tabu
Producer:	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Prev Title:	Criticize
Prev Year:	1987
Next Title:	The Lovers
Next Year:	1988

"Never Knew Love Like This" is a top ten US R&B hit song duetted by American R&B singers Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal; released in 1988. The song peaked at #2 in the US R&B chart, #26 in the UK and #28 in the Billboard Hot 100.^[1]

It was the second time Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle sang together. They sang "Saturday Love" together in 1985 on Cherrelle's gold album High Priority. "Never Knew Love Like This" is featured on Alexander O'Neal's 3× platinum album Hearsay which was released in 1987. The music video was filmed in London.

Track listing

• 12" Maxi (Tabu TBU 651369 6)

1. "Never Knew Love Like This (Extended Version)" - 5:40
2. "Never Knew Love Like This (A Cappella)" - 3:30
3. "Never Knew Love Like This (Instrumental)" - 5:25
4. "Never Knew Love Like This (Reprise)" - 3:30

• 12" Maxi Promo (Tabu ZAS 1049)

1. "Never Knew Love Like This (Saturday Mix)" - 6:53
2. "Never Knew Love Like This (Saturday Instrumental)" - 6:53
3. "Never Knew Love Like This (Street Mix)" - 4:57
4. "Never Knew Love Like This (Dubstrumental)" - 8:09

• 7" Single (Tabu ZS4 07646)

1. "Never Knew Love Like This" - 3:22
2. "What's Missing" - 4:02

• CD Single (Tabu 651382 2)

1. "Never Knew Love Like This (Extended Version)" - 5:40
2. "Never Knew Love Like This (Instrumental)" - 5:25
3. "Never Knew Love Like This (Reprise)" - 3:30

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[2]

• Alexander O'Neal - lead vocals
• Jimmy Jam - drum and keyboard programming, keyboards, percussion
• Terry Lewis - percussion, backing vocals
• Cherrelle - lead and backing vocals
• Randy Ran - backing vocals
• David Eiland - saxophone solo

Sales chart performance

Peak positions

Chart (1988)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	28
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	2
Belgium VRT Top 30^[4]	24
UK Singles Chart^[5]	26
German Media Control Charts^[6]	49
Dutch MegaCharts^[7]	24

Covers

The song was covered by Pauline Henry featuring Wayne Marshall in 1996. It managed to enter the UK Singles Chart top 40, peaking at No. 40.

Notes and References

1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 440.
2. Book: Hearsay liner notes. 1987. Tabu Records.
3. [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5056|pure_url=yes}} US Singles Charts > Alexander O'Neal]. Billboard. 2012-05-26.
4. Web site: BEL Charts > Alexander O'Neal. VRT Top 30. 2012-05-26. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/artist-info/90. 2012-04-09.
5. Web site: UK Charts > Alexander O'Neal. Official Charts Company. 2012-05-26.
6. Web site: GER Charts > Alexander O'Neal. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113921/http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=alexander+o%27neal&x=5&y=6&country=de&kategorie=alles. dead. August 26, 2014. Media Control Charts. 2012-05-26.
7. Web site: NL Charts > Alexander O'Neal. MegaCharts. 2012-05-26.