Chances are, you know this song via Roberta Flack’s hushed, reverent “1972” version.
(Her 1969 version became a hit in 1972, thanks to Clint Eastwood)
Lovely as hers is, it inhabits an utterly different musical world to that of Ewan MacColl’s Scottish-folksong-ish 1957 original.
In 1973 Bert Jansch recorded his singular, Scottish-folkish version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
It may take some getting used to!
A good way to get Roberta’s take out of your way is to listen first, twice, to the also-marvellous instrumental version on Bert Jansch’s 1966 LP Jack Orion.
That done, otherwise-“new” ears are now likely-ready for the vocal version, from Jansch’s (excellent, now available on CD) 1973 album Moonshine.
Mary Visconti/Hopkin is the female singer, Danny Thompson the double bassist and Aly Bain the fiddler.
The song’s sometimes-amusing origins and history are detailed here.
If Bert Jansch(1943-2011) is new to you, click here.
Even if you have never heard of Jansch, you probably know the names of some of many notables upon whom he was a key influence, most especially, guitar-wise; they include Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.