The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Original artist: Peggy Seeger
Artist: Roberta Flack
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was originally recorded way back in 1957. It was
written by Ewan MacCall (Kirsty’s dad) for Peggy Seeger who would later become his
third wife. Peggy is the half-sister of Pete Seeger. Her version below was recorded just
a couple of years ago.
During the 1960s several folk/pop acts did cover versions of the song. Among them was
Gordon Lightfoot (of ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ fame) and Peter, Paul and Mary
(‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’) but the song really found popularity in 1971 when the version
by Roberta Flack was featured in Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut film, Play Misty For
Me.
Flack had recorded the song a few years earlier, but it didn’t go anywhere until the
‘Misty’ inclusion. It is said that Eastwood heard Flack’s version on his car radio and
phoned her to ask permission to use the song in his film. They agreed on a fee of
$2,000 which seems small beer with the benefit of hindsight (though, that said, it would
be worth about $16,000 today). Flack indicated that she would prefer to re-record the
song as it was too slow. Eastwood told her she should do nothing of the sort.
Flack’s label Atlantic Records reissued the song as a single in early 1972 having taken
a minute out of the album track. It reached No 1 and stayed there for six weeks on the
US Billboard Hot 10 and would reach No 14 in the UK.
https://youtu.be/RUf3fIEc7M4?si=dRbuy6u4lMHsrnBX
The song also had the distinction of being played as wake-up music to the astronauts
on Apollo 17 on the last day of their lunar orbit. The reference to ‘face’ was thought to
tie in with the face of the Moon.
The song is now a staple at wedding celebrations.
