"Love Takes Time" is a song and the second single by Mariah Carey from her debut album, Mariah Carey. The song was written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, and produced by Walter Afanasieff. The song was recorded in May of 1990 and was officially released as the second single on September 11, 1990 in the third quarter of 1990. It was the first of several adult comtemporary-influenced Mariah Carey ballads to be released as a single and her second number one song of her career.