The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (Johnny Mathis album)

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on May 10, 1972, by Columbia Records and continues in the tradition set by his recent studio releases of covering mostly current chart hits. It made its first appearance on Billboard magazine's Top LP's & Tapes chart in the issue dated June 10, 1972, and remained there for 15 weeks, peaking at number 71.

The album was released as a DTS Surround Sound CD on May 23, 2000. The reason for the selection of this particular album for DTS release is suggested in a message in the liner notes from the CD's producer, Patricia Miller: "I dedicate this to the memory of my loving Brad. Thank you for all the strength and passion you gave me during our time together and forever. These love songs tell a story of our everlasting love."

Track listing

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (disambiguation)

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 love song written by the British folk musician and songwriter Ewan MacColl.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face may also refer to:

See also

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (Vikki Carr album)

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) is a 1972 album by pop vocalist Vikki Carr. The album was issued in the UK as "Song Sung Blue" with the same artwork (except for the album title) and "Big Hurt" replacing "The Hands of Time".

Track listing (US)

Track listing (UK)

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who would later become his wife, to sing. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. Seeger sang the song when the duo performed in folk clubs around Britain. During the 1960s, it was recorded by various folk singers and became a major international hit for Roberta Flack in 1972, winning the Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song of the year for 1972.

History

There are two differing accounts of the origin of the song. MacColl said that he wrote the song for Seeger after she asked him to pen a song for a play she was in. He wrote the song and taught it to Seeger over the telephone. Seeger said that MacColl, with whom she had begun an affair in 1957, used to send her tapes to listen to whilst they were apart and that the song was on one of them.