Know by Now
{{Short description|1994 single by Robert Palmer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Know by Now
| cover = Robert Palmer Know By Now Single 1994 1.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Robert Palmer
| album = Honey
| B-side = In the Stars
| released = {{start date|1994|8|22|df=y}}{{cite magazine |title=Single Releases |magazine=Music Week |date=20 August 1994 |page=27}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock{{cite magazine |last=Flick |first=Larry |title=Single Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=10 September 1994 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |volume=106 |issue=37 |page=89 |issn=0006-2510 |author-link=Larry Flick}}
| length =
- 4:11 (album version)
- 4:01 (single version)
| label = EMI
| writer = Robert Palmer
| producer =
- Robert Palmer
- Stephen Hague
| prev_title = Girl U Want
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = You Blow Me Away
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|fCP82IstWhc|"Know by Now"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
"Know by Now" is a song by English singer-songwriter Robert Palmer, released in August 1994 by EMI Records as the second single from the singer's twelfth studio album, Honey (1994). The song was written by Palmer and co-produced by Palmer alongside Stephen Hague. "Know by Now" reached number 25 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for five weeks.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16930/robert-palmer/ |title=Robert Palmer; full Official Chart History |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=6 October 2023}} The accompanying music video was directed by Russell Young and shot in Barcelona, Spain.
Background
Speaking to The Canadian Press in 1994, Palmer said of the song, "I happen to think that it is probably the best song I've written for many reasons – first of all, it's three songs in one, in that each piece of it was a separate inspiration at a different time, not merely a reason to get from A to C."{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Neil |title=On his new album, Robert Palmer says exactly what he means |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/424842894/ |newspaper=The Gazette |date=27 October 1994 |page=C9 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 October 2023}}
Critical reception
Upon its release as a single, Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner named it the "single of the week" and wrote, "Every now and then Palmer releases a single of quality and distinction. This is another one."{{cite news |last=Hirst |first=Andrew |date=2 September 1994 |title=Beyond the Beat: Singles |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |page=12}} In the US, Larry Flick of Billboard magazine described the song as "a breezy pop/rocker" and added, "His distinctive delivery glides with friendly ease and warmth over an arrangement of plucky guitar lines and a steady, synth-coated beat. He brings colors and tones to this track that haven't turned up on one of his records in years – what a pleasure. A toe-tapper that sticks to the brain after one spin."
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Still sweaty from the two-minute rocker 'Girl U Want', Palmer has adapted his gentleman pose again with an elegant ballad to match his position. May radio be his servile butler."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-09-10.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=37|date=10 September 1994|page=10|access-date=17 May 2025}} In the review for the album Honey, Leslie Mathew of AllMusic commented: "Highlights include 'Know by Now', a tasty mid-paced rocker."{{cite web|last=Mathew |first=Leslie |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/honey-r204198/review |title=Honey – Robert Palmer |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=8 May 2012}} CD Review said: "In a classier vein 'Know by Now' reworks that percolating 'Every Breath You Take' groove one more time."{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0yY9AQAAIAAJ&q=robert+palmer+%22know+by+now%22 |title=CD Review – Google Books |year=1994 |access-date=10 March 2018}} In the 1997 book The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music, Colin Larkin commented: "Honey was another credible release with notable tracks such as 'Know by Now' and the title song."{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbo7AQAAIAAJ&q=robert+palmer+%22know+by+now%22 |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music – Google Books |isbn=9780753501542 |access-date=10 March 2018|last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |year=1997 }}
Music video
The music video for "Know by Now" was directed by Russell Young and filmed on location in Barcelona, Spain. Joe Dyer directed photography and Joseph Uliano produced the video.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-08-20.pdf#page=34|title=Music Video: Production Notes|magazine=Billboard|date=20 August 1994|page=36|access-date=30 May 2025}}
Track listings
- 7-inch single
- "Know by Now" (radio edit) – 4:01
- "Mercy, Mercy Me" / "I Want You" – 5:58
- CD single (UK CD1)
- "Know by Now" (radio edit) – 4:01
- "In the Stars" – 4:51
- "Simply Irresistible" – 4:14
- "Mercy, Mercy Me" / "I Want You" – 5:58
- CD single (Europe; UK CD2)
- "Know by Now" (radio edit) – 4:01
- "In the Stars" – 4:51
- "Know by Now" (Pinaxa mix) – 5:26
- "She Makes My Day" – 4:15
- CD single (Australia)
- "Know by Now" (radio edit) – 4:01
- "In the Stars" – 4:51
- "Know by Now" (Pinaxa mix) – 5:26
- "She Makes My Day" – 4:15
- "Girl U Want" – 2:24
Personnel
Production
- Robert Palmer – producer, arranger
- Stephen Hague – producer
- Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola – mixing, remixer of "Pinaxa Mix"
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Robert Palmer}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Russell Young
Category:Music videos shot in Spain
Category:Robert Palmer (singer) songs