You’ve Never Been This Far Before, a song written and recorded by Conway Twitty for the MCA label, was recorded on April 4, 1973, in Bradley’s Barn, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, with the production of Owen Bradley, the song was released On July 2, 1973, on September 8, 1973, it reached # 1 on the charts of US Hot Country Songs, for three consecutive weeks, the song remained a total of 16 weeks on the charts. He also reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts, for two weeks in a row. “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” was the only Twitty song on the list of countries to cross into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, where the single reached number 22. It was the tenth number one in Conway’s career.

The song was included in the twenty-sixth Conway studio album, You’ve Never Been This Far Before / Baby’s Gone (MCA 1973), on October 6, 1973, reached # 1 on the charts of US Top Country Albums, for three weeks in a row. The album was certified gold in the USA.

About the song:

For all the controversy Twitty’s lyrics caused throughout his career due to their supposedly risque subject matters, “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” might just go the furthest. Lines such as “I don’t know what I’m saying as my trembling fingers touch forbidden places” got the song banned from several radio stations, but it didn’t matter: It became his 10th No. 1 country single – perhaps in part due to its catchy “bum bum bum” refrain.

Seriously, with these racy lyrics and Twitty’s one-of-a-kind sultry voice you can’t help but think this record would’ve gotten an “explicit lyrics” sticker placed upon its record sleeve if such a thing existed when “You ‘ See Never Been This Far Before ”was released.

Some versions :

Johnny Russell 1973 ( RCA )
Cal Smith 1974 ( MCA )
Loretta Lynn 1974 ( MCA )
Col Joye 1975 ( ATA Records )
Carroll Baker 1975 ( Gaiety )
Bobby Bland 1975 ( ABC Records )
John Hughey 1977 ( Chimer Records )
Killdozer 1989 ( Touch and Go Records )
Leigh Moneghetti 2011 ( LMM )

https://countryandwestern.online/humix/video/OP2xesz5tXu

Conway Twitty – You’ve Never Been This Far Before Lyrics

I can almost hear the stillness
as it yields to the sound of your heart beating
and I can almost hear the echo
of the thoughts that I know you must be thinking
and I can feel your body tremble
as you wonder what this moment holds in store
and as I put my arms around you
I can tell you’ve never been this far before

I don’t know what I’m saying
as my trembling fingers touch forbidden places
I only know that I have waited
for so long for the chance that we are taking
I don’t know and I don’t care
what made you tell him you don’t love him anymore
and as I taste your tender kisses
I can tell you’ve never been this far before

and as I take the love you’re giving
I can feel the tension building in your mind
and you’re wondering if tomorrow
I’ll still love you like I’m loving you tonight
you have no way of knowing
but tonight will only make me love you more
and I hope that you’ll believe me
‘cause I know you’ve never been this far before