Monday, March 29, 2021

Song of the Day: 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' by Roberta Flack

 

Among the many great moments of "Play Misty for Me" was the love scene between Clint Eastwood and Donna Mills, getting it on outdoors to this classic hit, one of Roberta Flack's five No. 1 singles. ("Killing Me Softly With His Song," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You" being the others.) 


"The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" was written by Scottish political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl -- father of the great Kirsty MacColl -- for Peggy Seeger, with whom he was having an affair and later married. (Folk legend Pete Seeger is her half-brother.) During the 1960s, the was recorded by various folk singers and became a major international hit for Roberta Flack in 1972, winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year. at the Grammy Awards. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 Hot 100 single of the year for 1972.


Roberta's definitive version


The original


And a rather sublime cover by Yazoo singer Alison Moyet

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