I Didn't Mean to Turn You On


"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" is a song 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 charts while Cherrelle's version was a hit on the R&B charts.

Original Cherrelle version

The single was Cherrelle's first hit, peaking at number eight on the soul chart and number seventy-nine on the Hot 100. On the US dance chart, "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" went to number six. A slightly altered version of the song is featured in the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

Chart positions

Robert Palmer version

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, only behind "Amanda" by Boston, and the music video, which featured women much like those featured in "Addicted to Love", which hit No. 1 on MTV on October 17, 1986.

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year end charts

Other cover versions