First Take (album)
Encyclopedia
First Take is the debut album by the Jazz singer Roberta Flack
. It was released in 1969 on Atlantic Records
. After a track from this album, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
" was included by Clint Eastwood
in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me
with the song becoming a #1 hit in the United States, this album became #1 on the U.S. album chart.
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
. It was released in 1969 on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. After a track from this album, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
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 was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
" was included by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me
Play Misty for Me
Play Misty for Me is a 1971 American psychological thriller film, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, in his directorial debut. Jessica Walter and Donna Mills co-star. The original music score was composed by Dee Barton.-Plot:...
with the song becoming a #1 hit in the United States, this album became #1 on the U.S. album chart.
Track listing
- "Compared to What" (Gene McDaniels) - 5:16
- "Angelitos Negros" (Andrés Eloy BlancoAndrés Eloy BlancoAndrés Eloy Blanco Meaño was an important Venezuelan poet, politician, member of the Generación del 28, and one of the founders of Acción Democrática ....
, Manuel Alvarez Maciste) - 6:56 - "Our Ages or Our Hearts" (Robert Ayers, Donny HathawayDonny HathawayDonny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
) - 6:09 - "I Told Jesus" (Traditional) - 6:09
- "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" (Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
) - 4:08 - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceThe 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 was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
" (Ewan MacCollEwan MacCollEwan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
) - 5:22 - "Tryin' Times" (Donny Hathaway, Leroy HutsonLeroy HutsonLeroy Hutson is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and instrumentalist, best known as former lead singer of the R&B band, which came to fame vocal group, The Impressions....
) - 5:08 - "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" (Fran LandesmanFran LandesmanFran Landesman was an American lyricist and poet.-Early life:Born Frances Deitsch in New York City, her father was a dress manufacturer, her mother was a journalist...
, Tommy Wolf) - 7:00
Personnel
- Roberta Flack: Piano, Vocals
- Bucky PizzarelliBucky PizzarelliJohn Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli is an American Jazz guitarist and banjoist, and the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and upright bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli has also worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden in...
: Guitars - Ron CarterRon CarterRon Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
: Bass - Ray Lucas: Drums, Percussion
- Seldon PowellSeldon PowellSeldon Powell was an American soul jazz, swing and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia, probably best remembered for his early work with musicians like Tab Smith , Lucky Millinder 1949-51), Neal Hefti or Louis Bellson...
, Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
: Saxophone - Charles McCracken, George Ricci: Cello
- Benny PowellBenny PowellBenny Powell was an African American jazz trombonist. He played both standard trombone and bass trombone....
: Trombone - Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman: Trumpet
- Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff: Violin
- Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel: Viola
- William Fischer: Horn & String Arrangements, String Conducting
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 (5 weeks) |
| 1972 | Billboard Top Soul Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 (2 weeks) |
| 1972 | Billboard Jazz Albums | 3 |
Single
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1972 | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | Billboard Pop Singles | 1 |
| 1972 | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | Billboard Soul Singles | 4 |
See also
- List of number-one albums of 1972 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1972 (U.S.)