First recorded by The Emotions (unreleased 1972), Vera Brown (unreleased 1972).
First released by Luther Ingram (US #3/R&B #1 1972).
Other hit versions by Jackie Burns (C&W #72 1972), Millie Jackson (US #42/R&B #42 1974), Barbara Mandrell (US #31/C&W 1 1978), Rod Stewart (UK #23 1980), Rhonda Clark (R&B #26 1992).
Also recorded by Faces (1973).
From the wiki: “‘(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right’ was composed by Stax Records songwriters Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson. Originally written for The Emotions, it was first recorded by The Emotions and also by Veda Brown, but neither of those recordings were ever released.
“The song has had a prominentchart presence, most notably by Luther Ingram whose 1972 arrangement topped the R&B chart for four weeks and rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the #16 song in popularity for the entire year.
“In 1972-73, Faces recorded the song as an outtake for Ooh La La, their final studio album. It was released in 2004 on the Five Guys Walk into a Bar… compilation album of rarities and unreleased tracks. In 1974, Millie Jackson released her cover of ‘(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right’, an 11-minute arrangement that included a monologue – ‘The Rap’ – in which an unrepentant Jackson discusses her status as the ‘other woman’ and why she loves it. Jackson’s recording received two Grammy Award nominations in 1975.
“In 1978, Barbara Mandrell’s version topped the U.S. Country singles chart, reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for Single of the Year at the 1979 Country Music Association Awards. Rod Stewart recorded the song for Foot Loose & Fancy Free, his eighth album. As a single, it peaked at #23 on the UK Singles chart in 1980. Rhonda Clark returned the song to the R&B music chart in 1992, peaking at #26.”
Jackie Burns, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1972):
Faces, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1973):
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Millie Jackson, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1974):
Barbara Mandrell, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1978):
Rod Stewart, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1980):
Rhonda Clark, “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (1992):