It was initially recorded by American singer Thelma Houston in 1973, and then by Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 Motown/Paramount film Mahogany that also starred Ross.

[2] The song was released on September 24, 1975 by Motown Records as the lead single for both the film's soundtrack and Ross' seventh studio album, Diana Ross.

Masser and Goffin received a nomination for Best Original Song at the 48th Academy Awards.

Ross performed the song live at the Academy Awards ceremony via satellite from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

[citation needed] Record World said that "Diana handles [the song] with consummate ease" and that "her frail but stunningly effective voice is captured amidst a soulful tapestry of sound.