Friday, April 16, 2010

American Top 40 Flashback - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"



"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," Roberta Flack.

As I've written before, I really had no use at all for this song when it was first released in 1972. It probably had something to do with my being an ornery 6th grader, and it probably had something to do with the fact that it was my mom's favorite song. I mean, come on - what self respecting 6th grade boy would like his mom's favorite song?

With time, I came around, and now I'd call this a pop masterpiece.

And while Flack's performance is wonderful, it's just a great song, period. I also love Johnny Cash's cover version, which appears on "American IV: The Man Came Around." It doesn't sound much like this at all, but it's just as good.

1 comment:

le0pard13 said...

Fine selection. I was graduating high school in 1972 and this song definitely made an impression with those in my grade. It was also wonderfully used by Clint Eastwood in his directorial debut movie, PLAY MISTY FOR ME. Thanks for this.