( If Loving You is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right - wikipedia ( If Loving You is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right For the TV series, see If Loving You Is Wrong. `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' Single by Luther Ingram from the album If Loving You Is Wrong I Do n't Want to Be Right B - side `` Puttin ' Game Down '' Released April 1972 Format 7 '' Genre Soul Length 3 : 32 Label KoKo Records Songwriter ( s ) Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson Producer ( s ) John Baylor Luther Ingram singles chronology `` You Were Made For Me '' ( 1972 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1972 ) `` I 'll Be Your Shelter ( In Time of Storm ) '' ( 1972 ) `` You Were Made For Me '' ( 1972 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1972 ) `` I 'll Be Your Shelter ( In Time of Storm ) '' ( 1972 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' Song by Millie Jackson from the album Caught Up Released Genre Soul Songwriter ( s ) Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson Producer ( s ) Brad Shapiro `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' Single by Barbara Mandrell from the album Moods B - side `` I Feel the Hurt Coming On '' Released February 17, 1979 Genre Country Length 3 : 05 Label ABC Songwriter ( s ) Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson Producer ( s ) Tom Collins Barbara Mandrell singles chronology `` Sleeping Single in a Double Bed '' ( 1978 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1979 ) `` Fooled by a Feeling '' ( 1979 ) `` Sleeping Single in a Double Bed '' ( 1978 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1979 ) `` Fooled by a Feeling '' ( 1979 ) `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' is a song written by Stax Records songwriters Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson. Originally written for The Emotions, it has been performed by many singers, most notably by Luther Ingram, whose original recorded version topped the R&B chart for four weeks and rose to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972. Billboard ranked it as the No. 16 song for 1972. In 1972 / 73, The Faces recorded the song as an outtake for Ooh La La, their final studio album. In 1974, Millie Jackson released her version of the song which received two Grammy Award nominations,. In 1978, Barbara Mandrell 's version topped the U.S. country singles charts, reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 27 on Cashbox Pop Hits, and was nominated for Single of the Year at the 1979 CMA ( Country Music Association ) Awards. Rod Stewart re-recorded the song for Foot Loose & Fancy Free, his eighth album ; released as a single it peaked at # 23 in the UK singles chart in 1980. Contents 1 The song 2 Notable performers 2.1 Chart recordings 2.1. 1 Luther Ingram 2.1. 2 Jackie Burns 2.1. 3 Millie Jackson 2.1. 4 Barbara Mandrell 2.1. 5 Rhonda Clark 3 References 4 External links The song The song is about an adulterous love affair, told from the point of view of either the mistress or the cheating spouse, depending on the gender of the performer. Regardless, both parties involved express their desire to maintain the affair, while at the same time acknowledging that the relationship is wrong according to conventional moral standards. Millie Jackson, however, took a somewhat different approach. On both studio and live recordings, her version is typically divided into three parts : `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right, '' `` The Rap, '' and `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right ( Reprise ), '' which together have a running time of over 11 minutes. The first and third parts include the song more or less as originally written, while the second part was written by Jackson herself. Titled `` The Rap, '' the middle segment is a monologue in which an unrepentant Jackson discusses her status as the `` other woman '' and why she loves it. Notable performers Although it was first recorded by The Emotions and Veda Brown, those recordings were never released. Other notable singers to cover it include country singer Jackie Burns ( whose version made the Hot Country Songs chart in 1972 ), Isaac Hayes, Millie Jackson, Rod Stewart, Percy Sledge, Bobby `` Blue '' Bland, David Ruffin, LeAnn Rimes, Renée Geyer, Ramsey Lewis, reggae singer Alton Ellis, Tom Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Nathan Cavaleri, Rania Zeriri and Johanne Desforges ( French cover : Si je ne peux t'aimer a quoi bon exister ). Chart recordings Luther Ingram Chart ( 1972 ) Peak Position US Billboard Hot 100 US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) Jackie Burns Chart ( 1972 ) Peak Position US Billboard Hot Country Singles 71 Millie Jackson Chart ( 1975 ) Peak Position US Billboard Hot 100 42 US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) 42 Barbara Mandrell Chart ( 1979 ) Peak Position US Billboard Hot 100 31 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) US Billboard Adult Contemporary 6 Rhonda Clark Chart ( 1992 ) Peak Position US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) 26 References Jump up ^ `` If Loving You Is Wrong ( I Do n't Want to Be Right ) '', SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 13 March 2017 Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 274. Jump up ^ Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1972 Jump up ^ `` Millie Jackson ''. MTV Artists. Retrieved 16 April 2015. Jump up ^ Patrick Mondout. `` Super 70s.com - Grammy Awards for 1974 ''. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Amazon.com : MILLIE JACKSON : Caught Up / Still Caught Up : Music ''. Retrieved 16 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Catching Up with Soul Icon Millie Jackson ''. NPR.org. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : Joel Whitburn, Top Country Singles 1944 - 1993, p. 488 Jump up ^ `` Luther Ingram Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Luther Ingram Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Millie Jackson Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Millie Jackson Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Barbara Mandrell Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Barbara Mandrell Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 148. Jump up ^ `` Rhonda Clark Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. External links Video : Luther Ingram on YouTube Video : Millie Jackson live performance on YouTube Lyrics : Millie Jackson version from MTV.com Preceded by `` Outa - Space '' by Billy Preston Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles number - one single ( Luther Ingram version ) July 8 -- 29, 1972 Succeeded by `` Where Is the Love '' by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway Preceded by `` I Just Fall in Love Again '' by Anne Murray Billboard Hot Country Singles number - one single ( Barbara Mandrell version ) April 14, 1979 Succeeded by `` All I Ever Need Is You '' by Dottie West and Kenny Rogers Preceded by `` Sweet Memories '' by Willie Nelson RPM Country Tracks number - one single ( Barbara Mandrell version ) April 28, 1979 Succeeded by `` Where Do I Put Her Memory '' by Charley Pride Millie Jackson Albums Millie Jackson It Hurts So Good Caught Up Still Caught Up Feelin ' Bitchy Get It Out'cha System A Moment 's Pleasure Live & Uncensored E.S.P. ( Extra Sexual Persuasion ) An Imitation of Love Back to the S * * t ! Not for Church Folk ! Singles `` It Hurts So Good '' `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' `` Sweet Music Man '' `` Hot ! Wild ! Unrestricted ! Crazy Love '' Rod Stewart singles 1970s `` It 's All Over Now '' ( 1970 ) `` Reason to Believe '' / `` Maggie May '' ( 1971 ) `` Every Picture Tells a Story '' / `` Reason to Believe '' ( 1971 ) Spain only `` ( I Know ) I 'm Losing You '' / `` Mandolin Wind '' ( 1971 ) `` Handbags and Gladrags '' ( 1972 ) `` You Wear It Well '' ( 1972 ) `` Angel '' ( 1972 ) `` What 's Made Milwaukee Famous ( Has Made a Loser Out of Me ) '' ( 1972 ) `` Twistin ' the Night Away '' ( 1973, 1987 ) `` Oh ! No Not My Baby '' ( 1973 ) `` Farewell '' / `` You Send Me '' ( 1973 ) `` Mine for Me '' ( 1974 ) `` You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything '' ( 1974 ) Stewart / Faces `` Sailing '' ( 1975 ) `` This Old Heart of Mine '' ( 1975 ) `` Tonight 's the Night '' ( 1976 ) `` The Killing of Georgie '' ( 1976 ) `` Get Back '' ( 1976 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 1977 ) `` I Do n't Want to Talk About It '' ( 1977, 1990 ) `` You 're in My Heart ( The Final Acclaim ) '' ( 1978 ) `` Hot Legs '' ( 1978 ) `` I Was Only Joking '' ( 1978 ) `` Da Ya Think I 'm Sexy ? '' ( 1978, 1997 ) `` Ai n't Love a Bitch '' ( 1979 ) `` Blondes ( Have More Fun ) '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1980 ) `` Passion '' ( 1980 ) `` Tonight, I 'm Yours ( Do n't Hurt Me ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Young Turks '' ( 1982 ) `` How Long ? '' ( 1982 ) `` Baby Jane '' ( 1983 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' ( 1983 ) `` Infatuation '' ( 1984 ) `` Some Guys Have All the Luck '' ( 1984 ) `` All Right Now '' ( 1984 ) `` People Get Ready '' ( 1985, 1991, 1993 ) Stewart / Beck `` Love Touch '' ( 1986 ) `` In My Life '' ( 1987 ) `` Forever Young '' ( 1988 ) `` My Heart Ca n't Tell You No '' ( 1988 ) `` This Old Heart of Mine ( Is Weak for You ) '' ( 1989 ) Stewart / Isley `` Downtown Train '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` It Takes Two '' ( 1990 ) Stewart / Turner `` Rhythm of My Heart '' ( 1991 ) `` The Motown Song '' ( 1991 ) `` Your Song '' ( 1992 ) `` Ruby Tuesday '' ( 1993 ) `` Have I Told You Lately '' ( 1993 ) `` Reason to Believe '' ( unplugged, 1993 ) `` All for Love '' ( 1993 ) Stewart / Adams / Sting `` Leave Virginia Alone '' ( 1995 ) `` Lady Luck '' ( 1996 ) `` Ooh La La '' ( 1998 ) `` Rocks '' ( 1998 ) `` Cigarettes and Alcohol '' ( 1998 ) `` Faith of the Heart '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` These Foolish Things '' ( 2002 ) `` They Ca n't Take That Away from Me '' ( 2003 ) `` Time After Time '' ( 2003 ) `` What a Wonderful World '' ( 2004 ) `` Blue Moon '' ( 2004 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' ( 2005 ) `` I 've Got a Crush on You '' ( 2005 ) `` I 've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm '' ( 2006 ) `` Have You Ever Seen the Rain ? '' ( 2006 ) 2010s `` Let It Snow ! Let It Snow ! Let It Snow ! '' ( 2012 ) `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' ( 2012 ) `` Everyday '' ( 2015 ) Renée Geyer Discography Studio albums Renée Geyer ( 1973 ) It 's a Man 's Man 's World ( 1974 ) Ready to Deal ( 1975 ) Moving Along ( 1977 ) Winner ( 1978 ) Blues License ( 1979 ) So Lucky ( 1981 ) Sing to Me ( 1985 ) Difficult Woman ( 1994 ) Sweet Life ( 1999 ) Tenderland ( 2003 ) Tonight ( 2005 ) Dedicated ( 2007 ) Renéessance ( 2009 ) Swing ( 2013 ) Live albums Really Really Love You : Live at the Dallas Brooks Hall ( 1976 ) Renée Live ( 1983 ) Live at the Basement ( 1986 ) Live at the Athenaeum ( 2004 ) Soundtracks Seven Deadly Sins ( 1993 ) Compilation albums Renée Geyer at Her Very Best ( 1977 ) Faves ( 1983 ) The Best of Renee Geyer 1973 - 1998 ( 1998 ) The Ultimate Collection ( 2010 ) Singles `` Oh ! Boy '' `` It 's a Man 's Man 's World '' `` Heading in the Right Direction `` If Loving You is Wrong '' `` Shakey Ground '' `` Stares and Whispers '' `` Money ( That 's What I Want ) '' `` The Thrill is Gone '' `` Say I Love You '' `` Do You Know What I Mean '' `` I Can Feel the Fire '' `` Goin ' Back '' `` All My Love '' `` Crazy '' `` I 'm Gonna Make You Love Me '' `` I Wish It Would Rain '' Other songs `` Rock Around the Clock '' `` You 're Not Alone ( Australian Olympians song ) '' ( as part of Australian Olympians ) `` Yil Lull '' ( as part of Singers For The Red Black & Gold ) Related articles Sun 1972 Oz for Africa Mary and Max Barbara Mandrell Studio albums Treat Him Right The Midnight Oil This Time I Almost Made It This Is Barbara Mandrell Midnight Angel Lovers, Friends and Strangers Love 's Ups and Downs Moods Just for the Record Love Is Fair... In Black and White He Set My Life to Music Spun Gold Clean Cut Get to the Heart Moments Sure Feels Good I 'll Be Your Jukebox Tonight Morning Sun No Nonsense Key 's in the Mailbox It Works for Me Christmas albums Christmas at Our House Live albums Barbara Mandrell Live Collaboration albums A Perfect Match ( with David Houston ) Meant for Each Other ( with Lee Greenwood ) Compilation albums The Best of Barbara Mandrell Greatest Hits Notable singles `` I 've Been Loving You Too Long ( To Stop Now ) '' `` Woman to Woman '' `` Sleeping Single in a Double Bed '' `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' `` Fooled by a Feeling '' `` Years '' `` Crackers '' `` The Best of Strangers '' `` Love Is Fair '' `` I Was Country When Country Was n't Cool '' `` Wish You Were Here '' `` ' Till You 're Gone '' `` Operator, Long Distance Please '' `` In Times Like These '' `` One of a Kind Pair of Fools '' `` Happy Birthday Dear Heartache '' `` Only a Lonely Heart Knows '' `` There 's No Love in Tennessee '' `` Angel in Your Arms '' `` Fast Lanes and Country Roads '' `` When You Get to the Heart '' ( with The Oak Ridge Boys ) `` No One Mends a Broken Heart Like You '' `` Child Support '' `` I Wish That I Could Fall in Love Today '' `` My Train of Thought '' Collaboration singles `` To Me '' ( with Lee Greenwood ) `` It Should Have Been Love by Now '' ( with Lee Greenwood ) Related articles Discography Louise Mandrell Irlene Mandrell Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=(If_Loving_You_Is_Wrong)_I_Don%27t_Want_to_Be_Right&oldid=833757732 '' Categories : 1972 singles 1976 singles 1979 singles Millie Jackson songs Rod Stewart songs Renée Geyer songs Barbara Mandrell songs Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles RPM Country Tracks number - one singles Songs written by Homer Banks Songs written by Raymond Jackson ( songwriter ) Song recordings produced by Tom Collins ( record producer ) Soul ballads ABC Records singles 1972 songs Songs about infidelity Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 2 April 2018, at 08 : 25. 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Question: who sang the song if loving you is wrong i don't want to be right
Answer: Luther Ingram; The Emotions