Classic Pop Icons

Roberta Flack’s breakthrough hit “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was first released on Roberta Flack’s 1969 album “First Take” but became a worldwide hit on single in 1972 following its appearance on the soundtrack of Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut “Play Misty For Me.”

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was already 12 years old when Roberta Flack recorded it. It began life as a love song, penned by British singer Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger. MacColl reportedly first played the song to Seeger during a long-distance phone call between the two while Seeger was performing in America. MacColl had been unable to join her on the trip because of his radical political views. The pair would later marry.

The lyric is like a love letter, with the singer expressing devotion by reflecting on the relationship’s “firsts”, beginning with the “the first time ever I saw your face,” before progressing to “the first time ever I kissed your mouth” and “the first time ever I lay with you.” The opening verse highlights that this was love at first sight, with some of the most flowery lyrics you are likely to encounter – “I thought the sun rose in your eyes/And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave/To the dark and the endless skies, my love.”

There had been several covers of the song before Roberta Flack recorded it in 1969, but it was Roberta who breathed new life into the song with her impeccable vocal and the decision to record it at such a slow tempo. The tempo change was wise, as it allowed the song to breathe and for the lyrics to really resonate with the listener.

Flack had been discovered the year before by jazz vocalist Les McCann, who arranged what would be a successful audition for her with Atlantic Records. When you listen to the quality of Flack’s voice on “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” you can understand why McCann said the following in the liner notes for her “First Take” album:

It’s that clear, pitch perfect, sensual voice that makes “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” recording such a great success. Rolling Stone’s Julius Lester ably summed up Flack’s strengths in his review of the “First Take” album (Rolling Stone, October 29, 1970):

To put it simply, Roberta Flack has the kind of voice that makes people stop to listen.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” won the 1973 Grammy Record of the Year. Flack would repeat this feat in 1974 with the song “Killing Me Softly”.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack

Recording date/location

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was recorded on February 25, 1969 at Record Plant Studios, New York City.

Musicians

The following musicians played on “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”:

• Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
• John “Bucky” Pizzarelli – guitar
• Ron Carter – bass
• Ray Lucas – drums
• Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff – violin
• Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke or Theodore Israel – viola
• Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello.

The strings were conducted by William Fischer.

Chart performance

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 9, 1972 and remained on top for six weeks. Flack also had US number ones with “Killing Me Softly with His Song” in 1973 and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974.

The song peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart.

Other notable versions

Songwriter Ewan MacColl famously disliked most covers of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and would file them under “The Chamber of Horrors” section of his record collection. Nevertheless, there have been some very fine recordings of the song.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Peggy Seeger

Peggy Seeger’s original is an uncluttered folk song, with Seeger backed by a lone fingerstyle acoustic guitar. This is radically different from Flack’s more famous cover.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Peter, Paul and Mary

Peter, Paul and Mary recorded “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for their fifth studio album “See What Tomorrow Brings” in 1965. The trio’s recording is exceptional, with strong harmonies and an appealing arrangement, but the personal nature of the lyric is lost a little with contributions from three voices.

Here’s a live performance of the song from the BBC’s “Tonight in Person” in 1965.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – George Michael”

George Michael delivered one of his finest ever vocals when he covered “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for his 1999 album “Songs from the Last Century“. Michael’s cover is a direct homage to the Flack recording and creates a very similar mood. The only criticism is that the voice is a little too bathed in echo.

There will be a new Song of the Week on February 27.

Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is available on the album “First Take” and on a number of compilations, including “The Very Best Of Roberta Flack” (2006).

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