Released May 10, 1972 Length 35:35 Release date 10 May 1972 Label Columbia Records | Recorded 1972 Artist Johnny Mathis Producer Jerry Fuller Genre Soft rock | |
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The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)
(1972) Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits
(1972) Similar In the Still of the Night, The Heart of a Woman, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on, Up - Up and Away, The Hits of Johnny Mathis | ||
The first time ever i saw your face johnny mathis
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. A trio of selections on side one ("Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (Speak Softly Love)", "Theme from 'Summer of 42' (The Summer Knows)", and "Brian's Song (The Hands of Time)") originated as film scores and had lyrics added later.
Contents
- The first time ever i saw your face johnny mathis
- Reception
- Side one
- Side two
- Song information
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
The album 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.
This LP 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."
Reception
Billboard was complimentary. "Mathis is one of the best contemporary balladeers around, and here he wisely sticks to his forte."
Side one
- "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" (Ewan MacColl) – 3:36
- "Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (Speak Softly Love)" (Larry Kusik, Nino Rota) – 3:08
- "Theme from 'Summer of 42' (The Summer Knows)" (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand) – 2:39
- "Brian's Song (The Hands of Time)" (A. Bergman, M. Bergman, Legrand) – 3:24
- "Since I Fell for You" (Buddy Johnson) – 3:17
Side two
- "Without You" (Tom Evans, Peter Ham) – 2:58
- "Betcha by Golly, Wow" (Thom Bell, Linda Creed) – 2:49
- "Life and Breath" (George S. Clinton) – 3:27
- "I Need You" (Gerry Beckley) – 2:36
- "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" (Tony Macaulay) – 3:33
- "Life Is What You Make It" from Kotch (Marvin Hamlisch, Johnny Mercer) – 2:50
Song information
Roberta Flack made the most popular recording of "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)", which spent six weeks at number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts, reached number four R&B and number 14 UK, received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, earned Grammy Awards for Record of the Year for Flack and Song of the Year for songwriter Ewan MacColl. Andy Williams was the first to reach the charts with "Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (Speak Softly Love)", which he took to number 34 pop, number seven Easy Listening, and number 42 in the UK.
Barbra Streisand recorded one of the earliest vocal versions of the "Theme from 'Summer of 42'", which was subtitled "The Summer Knows", on April 21, 1971, less than two weeks after the film's April 9 release date. "Brian's Song (The Hands of Time)" comes from the 1971 television movie Brian's Song. Lenny Welch had the highest-charting rendition of "Since I Fell for You" in 1963 when he reached number four on the Hot 100 and number three Easy Listening.
"Without You" by Nilsson enjoyed four weeks at number one pop and five weeks in the top spot on the Easy Listening chart. The Stylistics took "Betcha by Golly, Wow" to number three on Billboard's Hot 100, number two on its R&B chart, and number 13 in the UK in addition to receiving Gold certification from the RIAA. "Life and Breath" by Climax reached number 52 pop and number 15 Easy Listening.
America's "I Need You" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the magazine's Easy Listening chart. "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" by The 5th Dimension went to number eight pop, number two Easy Listening, and number 28 R&B, and earned Platinum certification from the RIAA. And Mathis performed "Life Is What You Make It" at the 44th Academy Awards on April 10, 1972, as one of the five nominees for Best Original Song because of its inclusion in the film Kotch.
Personnel
Songs
1The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)3:36
2Speak Softly Love3:10
3The Summer Knows (Theme From "Summer of '42")2:39