All the things that we’ve been through

Teddy Pendergrass was the drummer. Sit with that for a second: the voice on “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” — that pleading, gravel-and-velvet baritone that made Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes famous — belonged to the guy behind the kit, promoted to the microphone when the lead singer left. Some bands find their voice; this one had it hiding in the rhythm section.

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff originally wrote the song for Labelle, who never recorded it. Their loss became the defining record of Philadelphia soul: released in 1972, it went to number one on the R&B chart and number three on the Hot 100, all swirling strings and long-suffering patience, a lovers’ quarrel elevated to church.

Simply Red took it back to number one in 1989, and their version is fine. But it’s Pendergrass you want — the way he holds back for two verses and then simply stops holding back. If you don’t know him by now, this is where you start.