First comes “The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face).” Most music buffs associate this one with the soulful voice of Roberta Flack, but it was first recorded by a folk act known as Joe and Eddie, and was composed by Ewan McColl, a British folk singer. Flack states that the tune was brought to her attention by Donal Leace (another “folkie”), and it made such an impression on her that she simply had to include it in her first album on Atlantic in 1969. In 1971 it garnered further attention when it was made part of the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood’s “Play Misty for Me.” When asked what she was thinking about when she recorded the song, Flack says that her thoughts were focused on a little black cat she had recently been given, who unfortunately was killed while she was on tour. When she went into the studio two days later, he was still on her mind. The silky smooth sound of this recording won Roberta Flack a Grammy in 1972 for Record of the Year.
While still the lead singer for The Commodores, Lionel Richie was approached by filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli to compose an instrumental theme song for a movie entitled “Endless Love.” Richie played for him some music he had recently composed, but had not yet recorded. Zeffirelli liked it so much that he asked Richie to add lyrics. Afterwards, Zeffirelli suggested using a female voice—someone like Diana Ross, let’s say. Richie agreed, but unfortunately, the hectic schedules of both performers made the proposed musical meeting a logistical improbability. However, when Diana was booked for a Lake Tahoe date, the two arranged to meet in Reno, NV at 3am. Lionel took a break from his recording sessions with The Commodores to fly in, and Diana was able to get there in an hour by auto. At 3:30am this dynamic duo was singing,and by 5am “Endless Love” was on tape.
The song climbed to the number one position in August 1981, where it remained for nine weeks. Earning the distinction of being the most successful soundtrack single of all time, it was also noted for being the most successful duet single of all time. Even though the Richie/Ross version was recorded first, a spectacular version by songsters Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey was subsequently offered to the public. The song receiving the most votes was (ta-DAA!) “When A Man Loves A Woman,” written by organist Andrew Wright and bassist, Calvin Lewis, who backed Jimmy Hughes (”Steal Away”) and Arthur Alexander (”Anna [Go to Him]”) in a road band. In 1965 they backed Percy Sledge (Hughes’ cousin) on weekends, performing in and around Shefield, AL. The story goes that one night on a club gig, Wright started playing some chord changes that Lewis liked. The following night, when Wright began playing the changes again at rehearsal, he and Lewis combined their creative talents and an embryo of the song was formed. Although the song was not yet a finished product, the two added it to their repertoire.
At this same time Quin Ivy, a WLAY radio disc jockey, owned a record shop, and was about to open a recording studio. Ivy, who was acquainted with producer Rick Hall of Fame Records in Muscle Shoals, AL, was a fledgling record producer. Having heard the song by Wright and Lewis, he asked Sledge to audition for him. Although he liked what he heard, he asked the composers for a rewrite. The music remained unchanged, but the pair did manage to rework the title and the story into the soul music classic we know today. “When A Man Loves A Woman” was recorded at Ivy’s studio in late 1965, and was taken to Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records by Rick Hall. In the spring of 1966 it sold over a million records and busted the Billboard R&B and Pop charts wide open! The song, after being featured in a Levi Jeans ad in 1987, was reissued in the U.K. and reached the number two spot there. Although older music aficionados are undoubtedly more familiar with the original version done by Percy Sledge, it should be noted that the song has been covered by the likes of Bette Midler, Jody Watley, Barbara Mandrell, and even Wolfman Jack! In the fall of 1991, it climbed to the number one slot once again by way of a heart-wrenching rendition by Michael Bolton in 1991.
Well, that just about wraps it up for this time, music fans. And speaking of wrapping…fellas, don’t make the fatal mistake of forgetting that wonderful woman in your life this Valentine’s Day! To quote another love song, “…find one hundred ways…” to make her happy. And believe me, you’ll be rewarded a thousand times over. Trust me. I know these things. Class dismissed.
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