Throwback: Stephanie Mills: (You’re Puttin’) A Rush On Me

Stephanie Mills’s “(You’re Puttin’) A Rush On Me” is on her 11th studio album, If I Were Your Woman. Paul Laurence added Mills to his list of singers he wrote hits for in the ’80s when he co-wrote it with Timmy Allen. Melba Moore, Lillo Thomas, Freddie Jackson, and Meli’sa Morgan had some of the biggest songs thanks to Laurence’s pen. He also produced the single about a too-fast romance, which became Mills’ third number-one hit on the Hot Black Singles Chart. The album was her second with MCA Records and was a bit of a comeback. Her eponymous 10th album was not as successful, despite her cover of Angela Winbush’s “I’ve Learned To Respect The Power Of Love” hitting number one on the R&B charts. The beat and Laurence’s synthesizer work were trademarks of ’80s R&B and gave “(You’re Puttin’) A Rush On Me” a serious vibe to match Mills’ lyrics about waiting for intimacy.

If I Were Your Woman went platinum, making 1987 a really good year for her career, and that included an appearance on the TV special Motown: Merry Christmas. Stephanie Mills released her most recent studio album, Born for This!, in 2004. In 2024, she returned to Broadway as the character Missus Hermes in the musical Hadestown. Mills will join Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Gladys Knight for the Queens tour scheduled to begin in May 2025. 

 



Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills Going On Tour Together

Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills are going on The Queens Tour together. The singing legends will kick off their history-making songfest in May. They will wrap up the first string of dates in June and the second half of the tour will start in September. The four legends are excited to bring their songfest to fans who have loved them and followed their careers for decades. They had a resurgence in popularity during their appearances in the Verzuz online showcase during the pandemic. All of them shared their excitement in statements from a press release:

“Sharing the stage with my amazing sisters is an absolute honor,” says Chaka Khan. “Music is about connection, and this will be a celebration of the joy, power, and love that it brings to us all.”

“I am so excited to join these icons, who I call sisters, on this tour! It’s going to be something special. And I can’t wait to see everyone there,” states Patti Labelle.

“I’m excited to tour with my beautiful sisters! Our different styles unite in love, compassion, and understanding, and it’s important to come together now. Performing with Chaka, Patti, and Gladys for you will be electrifying. We can’t wait to see you,” says Stephanie Mills

Tickets for The Queens Tour are on sale now via BlackPromotersCollective.com. 

        The Queens Tour Dates

  • Friday, May 9 – Las Vegas
  • Saturday, May 10 – Oakland
  • Sunday, May 11 – Los Angeles
  • Friday, May 16 – Columbia, SC
  • Saturday, May 17 – Birmingham
  • Sunday, May 18 – Nashville
  • Friday, May 23 – Baltimore
  • Saturday, May 24 – Brooklyn
  • Friday, May 30 – Chicago
  • Saturday, May 31 – Cincinnati
  • Sunday, June 1 – Indianapolis

 



Chaka Khan & Stephanie Mills Set For Verzuz

Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills are scheduled to be the next artists to do a Verzuz battle. The face off between the two esteemed songtresses will happen November 18th at The Theatre At Ace Hotel in Los Angeles at 8PM ET. Tickets to be there in person can be purchased on the Verzuztv.com site. Fans can always stream the event via Instagram and the Triller websites.There were rumors about the two of them doing a Verzuz but it is now confirmed. 

 



Media Questions Of The Week

 

Was Chloe Bailey’s performance of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good?”  for ABC’s Juneteenth program too sexy? 

 

 

https://youtu.be/prSmIsof6fU

Did Verzuz really turn down a match between Stephanie Mills and Chaka Khan?Â