Stephanie | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 22, 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1980–1981 | |||
Studio | Sigma Sound, New York City | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | 20th Century Fox (USA) RCA (Australia), (Germany), (Spain) [1] | |||
Producer | ||||
Stephanie Mills chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stephanie is the Grammy-nominated fifth studio album by American R&B/soul singer Stephanie Mills. It was released in 1981 and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. The album features hit song "Two Hearts" a duet with Teddy Pendergrass. By default, this fulfilled her contract with 20th Century-Fox Records, as the following year, the label was sold to PolyGram Records, which quickly folded it into Casablanca Records, to which Mills' contract was subsequently transferred. Stephanie scored Mills her second nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards in 1982.
All songs written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas except where indicated.
Chart (1981) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [3] | 30 |
US Billboard Top R&B Albums | 3 |
Year | Single | Chart positions [4] [5] | |||
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US Pop | US R&B | US Dance | UK | ||
1981 | "Two Hearts" | 40 | 3 | 82 | 49 |
"Night Games" | — | 33 | — | — |
Mtume was an American funk and soul group that rose to prominence during the early 1980s and had several R&B hits during its career. Its founder, former percussionist James Mtume, previously played and toured with Miles Davis in the early 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas, Philip Field, and vocalist Tawatha Agee. Mtume also gained recognition after having its hit single "Juicy Fruit" extensively sampled by many hip-hop artists, most notably by the Notorious B.I.G. in the 1994 hit song "Juicy".
Reginald Grant Lucas was an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is perhaps best known for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, and for playing rhythm guitar with the Miles Davis electric band during the first half of the 1970s.
James Forman, known professionally as Mtume or James Mtume, was an American jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, record producer, activist, and radio personality.
You Know How to Love Me is the fourth album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Arista Records in 1979, and produced by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas.
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a 1980 song written and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, and recorded by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills for her fourth studio album Sweet Sensation (1980). The song was inspired by the birth of Lucas' daughter Lisa.
Juicy Fruit is a 1983 album by R&B group Mtume. It contains their No. 1 R&B hit, "Juicy Fruit". It was their third album for Epic Records.
"Juicy Fruit" is a song written by James Mtume and released as the lead-off single from Mtume's third album, also titled Juicy Fruit. It features lead vocals by Tawatha Agee. The mid-tempo song is Mtume's most well-known, proving enormously successful on R&B radio stations when first released.
Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Roberta Flack. Released via Atlantic in March 1980, the album features posthumous vocals by close friend and collaborator Donny Hathaway, who had died in 1979. At the 23rd Grammy Awards in 1981, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The award, however, went to Stephanie Mills for "Never Knew Love Like This Before."
"You Know How to Love Me" is a song by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, most notably recorded by Phyllis Hyman and released on Hyman's fourth studio album of the same name, released in 1979.
Sweet Sensation is the fourth album by American R&B and soul singer Stephanie Mills. Released in 1980, produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. The album features her biggest hit, "Never Knew Love Like This Before" which peaked within the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female and Best R&B Song, the former becoming her first career Grammy win. Sweet Sensation received gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America for sells over 500,000 copies.
"Two Hearts'" is a hit duet sung by American R&B singers Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass, from Mills' fifth studio album Stephanie (1981). The song was written and produced by James Mtume, Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee. Released in January 1981, the single reached number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. On the US Billboard R&B chart, "Two Hearts" reached number three.
What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin' is the third album by Stephanie Mills. It was released in 1979 and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas.
In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers is a 1980 album by R&B group Mtume. This was their second album on the Epic Records label.
You, Me and He is a 1984 album by R&B group Mtume. This was their fourth album released on the Epic Records label. The title track was interpolated by Aaliyah for her remixes of her cover of "(At Your Best) You Are Love", originally by The Isley Brothers
Kiss This World Goodbye is a 1978 album by R&B group Mtume. This was their debut album on the Epic Records label as well as the first album featuring vocals by Tawatha Agee.
Bloodline is the second album by the R&B group LeVert, released in 1986. It was their first album for Atlantic Records.
Tantalizingly Hot is the sixth album by American recording artist Stephanie Mills, released in 1982 and was produced by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas and Ashford & Simpson. It was her first release, by default, on Casablanca Records. In 1981, oil magnate and industrialist Marvin Davis (1925–2004) and financier Marc Rich (1934–2013) bought Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, which owned her previous label, 20th Century-Fox Records, for a grand total of $703 million.
Tawatha Agee is an American vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in The New York Times as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulful lead vocals are featured on their 1983 R&B hit "Juicy Fruit".
In My Life: Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American recording R&B singer Stephanie Mills released in 1985. It is Mills first greatest hits album which features her hit charting songs, "What Cha' Gonna Do With My Lovin'", Never Knew Love Like This Before", and the top five R&B hits "Two Hearts" a duet with Teddy Pendergrass and "Sweet Sensation".
Can't Shake This Feeling is a 1981 studio album by American soul music vocal group the Spinners, released on Atlantic Records. It continued a pattern of critical and commercial decline, with the band barely cracking the Billboard 200 and receiving lukewarm reviews.