1972 - Written by Ewan MacColl 1957
Folk singer Ewan MacColl wrote this in 1957 for his wife, Peggy Seeger**. She was in a play and phoned him for suggestions on a song for a romantic scene. MacColl wrote this on the spot, in less than an hour, and taught it to her over the phone - Source Songfacts
Roberta's version first appears on her 1969 album "First Take", it was then popularized by Clint Eastwood in his 1971 directorial debut "Play Misty for Me", resulting in it being shortened to a four minute single and released by Atlantic Records in 1972
It reached number fourteen in the UK and stayed at number one in the United States for six weeks, which led to Roberta winning the Record of the Year Award, and Ewan the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Roberta Flack Home Page
http://www.robertaflack.com/
** There's a discrepancy in web accounts as to whether Peggy Seeger was his wife, lover and/or mother of his child when he wrote this song. Also Kirsty was born two years later but I believe her mother was his 2nd and earlier wife.
Formerly on thingsihaveseen
Tags: Roberta Flack The First Time Ever Saw Your Face