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The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

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(McColl)

 

Information:

Ewan McColl (the brother-in-law of folk singer Peter Seeger) wrote The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in 1965. The first recording of the song was by Peter, Paul and Mary on their album See What Tomorrow Brings (Warner Bros. 1615). Roberta Flack recorded The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in 1969 for her LP First Take (Atlanta 8230). When the song was played in the 1971 Clint Eastwood movie, Play Misty For Me, record dealers were overwhelmed with requests for it. Atlantic Records released a single of Flack's recording (Atlantic 2864) in March 1972. It quickly sold over a million copies and rose to number one on the Hot 100 chart. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face won two Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

 

Elvis recorded The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on March 15, 1971, at RCA's Nashville studios. His single release did not chart. The duet voice on the recording was Temple Riser's.

 

Lyrics:


The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love
To the dark and the empty skies

1. The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hands
Like a trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command

2. Hoa hoa hoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
Woh oh oh oh hoa hoa hoa
Oh hoa hoa hoa hoa hoa hoa
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command

1. 2. (repeat)


 Where it was released:

First released on single »
 
Singles:
- An American Trilogy / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (RCA 74-0672) April 1972. Standard release »
 
LPs/CDs:
- Elvis in Demand (1977) »
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1978) »
– Elvis Aron Presley (1980) »
- Elvis Aron Presley (1990) - box set
- Walk a Mile in My Shoes - The Essential 70's Masters (1995) - box set
- Elvis Aron Presley (1998) - box set
- Junichiro Koizumi Presents My Favourite Elvis Songs (2001)
- Closing Night (2004) - FTD »
- On Tour - The Rehearsals (2004) - FTD »
- I Found My Thrill (2006) - FTD »
- An American Trilogy (2007)
- Nevada Nights (2008) - FTD »
- From Sunset to Las Vegas (2009) - FTD »
- Elvis Now (2010) - FTD »
- High Sierra (2010) - FTD »
- Showtime! Birmingham/Dallas '76 (2010) - FTD »
– Stage Rehearsal (2011) - FTD »
- Hits of the 70s (2012) - FTD »
 
Bootleg Releases:
- From Las Vegas... to Niagara Falls (1974) - Live Productions
- The Hillbilly Cat "Live", 1954-1974, Volume 1 (1974) - Brookville Records
- Command Performance (1977) - ECP
- Behind Closed Doors (1979) - Audifon Records
 

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