music.wikisort.org - Composition

"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" is the debut single written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and originally performed by Cherrelle in 1984. In 1986, "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" was covered by Robert Palmer. Palmer's cover fared better on the pop chart while Cherrelle's version was a hit on the R&B chart.

"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
Single by Cherrelle
from the album Fragile
B-side	"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On (Instrumental)"
Released	April 1984
Recorded	1983–84
Genre	Minneapolis sound[1][2] funk R&B
Length	7:03 (album version) 6:21 (12" version) 3:58 (single edit)
Label	Tabu
Songwriter(s)	James Harris III Terry Lewis
Producer(s)	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Original Cherrelle version

The song was released as Cherrelle's debut single and was her first hit, peaking at number 8 on the soul chart and number 79 on the Hot 100.[3] On the US dance chart, "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" went to number 6.[4] A slightly altered version of the song is featured in the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.[5]

Chart positions

Chart (1984-1985)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6]	79
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	6
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	8

Robert Palmer version

"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
UK vinyl single
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Riptide
B-side	"Get It Through Your Heart"
Released	July 14, 1986 (UK) August 11, 1986 (US)
Recorded	1985; Compass Point Studios (The Bahamas)
Genre	New wave dance-rock funk rock
Length	3:43
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	James Harris III Terry Lewis
Producer(s)	Bernard Edwards
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Hyperactive" (1986) "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" (1986) "Discipline of Love (Reissue)" (1986)

Robert Palmer recorded a cover one year later and it was released as the fifth single from his 1985 album Riptide. The single hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, behind "Amanda" by Boston. The music video, which was a take on the making of a music video, featured women like the ones featured in "Addicted to Love"; it hit No. 1 on MTV on October 17, 1986.[7]

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8]	9
US Billboard Hot 100[9]	2
US Billboard Dance Club Songs (Remix)[10]	26
US Cash Box[11]	4

Year end charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12]	46

Other cover versions

• Queen Latifah sampled Cherrelle's version on her song "Turn You On" from her 1998 album Order in the Court.[13]
• Mariah Carey covered the song in 2001 for the soundtrack to the film, Glitter. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis also produced Mariah Carey's cover and she sang over the original instrumental.[1]
• DJ Colette covered the song in 2005 for the album Hypnotized.[14]

References

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