The First Cut Is the Deepest

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For other uses, see The First Cut Is the Deepest (disambiguation).
"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
Song by Cat Stevens
from the album New Masters
Released December 1967
Recorded October 1967
Length 3:03
Label Deram, Decca
Songwriter(s) Cat Stevens
Producer(s) Mike Hurst

"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in May 1967. Stevens' own version originally appeared on his album New Masters in December 1967.

The song has been widely recorded and has become a hit single for six different artists: P. P. Arnold (1967), Keith Hampshire (1973), Rod Stewart (1977), Dawn Penn (1994), Papa Dee (1995) and Sheryl Crow (2003).

Background

The lyrics describe a person wondering if and how it is possible to love again after their first love was lost. "The first cut" of the title refers to one's first love disappointment.[1]

Cat Stevens version

Stevens made a demo recording of "The First Cut Is the Deepest" in 1965, while hoping to become a songwriter.[2] He wrote the song earlier to promote his songs to other artists, but did not record it as his own performance until early October 1967 with guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, and it did not appear until his second album, New Masters, was released in December 1967. He sold the song for £30 to P. P. Arnold, and it became a huge hit for her.[3] Over decades, it also became an international hit for Keith Hampshire, Rod Stewart, and Sheryl Crow. The song has won Stevens songwriting awards, including two consecutive ASCAP songwriting awards for "Songwriter of the Year" in 2005 and 2006.[4]

Personnel

P. P. Arnold version

American expatriate singer P. P. Arnold had the first hit with the song, reaching No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart[5] with her version in May 1967, well ahead of the song appearing on Stevens' album. The Arnold hit featured an up-tempo, soulful vocal set against harpsichord, horns, and strings. It also appeared in the 2012 feature film Seven Psychopaths.

Norma Fraser version

Jamaican singer Norma Fraser covered the song in 1967 on a Studio One recording released as the A side of the Coxsone label 45 rpm disc CS 7017. Fraser's version was subsequently released on various Studio One compilation LPs and CDs.

Keith Hampshire version

Keith Hampshire had the first chart-topping hit of the song when his recording of it became a number-one hit in Canada in 1973, reaching the top of the RPM 100 national singles chart on 12 May of that year.[6] It also topped the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart and charted in the United States, albeit outside the top 40.[7][8]

Charts

Rod Stewart version

"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
File:The First Cut Is the Deepest Rod Stewart cover.jpg
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album A Night on the Town
A-side "I Don't Want to Talk About It"
Released February 1977
Recorded 1976
Genre Rock
Length 3:21
Label Riva
Songwriter(s) Cat Stevens
Producer(s) Tom Dowd
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"I Don't Want to Talk About It"
(1976)		 "The First Cut Is the Deepest"
(1977)		 "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"
(1977)
Music video
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" on YouTube

Stewart recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, United States, and it appeared on his 1976 album A Night on the Town. It was released as a double A-side single with "I Don't Want to Talk About It". It was a huge success, and spent four weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1977,[10] No. 11 in April in Canada, and also reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. In a departure from the original, Stewart excludes the concluding "But when it comes to being loved, she's first" from the refrain. In 1993, he recorded a live version during a session of MTV Unplugged. This was included on the album Unplugged...and Seated.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australia KMR[11] 19
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 21
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 21
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[16] 43
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[17] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (1977) Rank
Australia[11] 70
Canada[18] 110
UK[19] 4
U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[20] 136

Papa Dee version

"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
File:Papa Dee-The First Cut Is the Deepest.jpg
Single by Papa Dee
from the album The Journey
Released 1995
Recorded 1995
Genre Reggae
Length 3:48
Label Warner
Songwriter(s) Cat Stevens
Producer(s)
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Jungle Sound Clash"
(1994)		 "The First Cut Is the Deepest"
(1995)		 "The Journey"
(1996)
Music video
"The First Cut Is the Deepest on YouTube

Swedish rap, ragga and dancehall musician Papa Dee recorded a reggae cover of "The First Cut Is the Deepest" in 1995. It remains his most commercially successful track and was a big hit in Europe. The single peaked at No. 5 in Sweden, No. 9 in Denmark and Norway, No. 20 in Austria, and No. 38 in Iceland.

Critical reception

Music & Media wrote about the song: "Dee-lightfully our Swedish Papa tackles the old Cat Stevens hit in a pop dance-infused reggae style with a snappy ragga interlude. Radio, club and dub edits are available too."[21]

Track listings

12-inch single, Europe (1995)
No. Title Length
1. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (club remix) 6:08
2. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (single edit) 3:48
3. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (12-inch dub cut) 5:46
4. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (dub version) 5:36
CD single, Australia (1995)
No. Title Length
1. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (single edit) 3:48
2. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (club edit) 6:08
3. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (dub version) 5:36
4. "Papa Do It Sweet"   4:12
CD maxi, Sweden (1995)
No. Title Length
1. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (single edit) 3:48
2. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (club edit) 6:08
3. "The First Cut Is The Deepest" (dub version) 5:36
4. "Papa Do It Sweet"   4:12

Charts

Sheryl Crow version

"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
File:Sheryl Crow - The First Cut Is the Deepest.jpg
Single by Sheryl Crow
from the album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow
Released 22 September 2003 (2003-09-22)
Recorded 2003
Genre Rock
Length 3:44
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Cat Stevens
Producer(s) John Shanks
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"It's So Easy"
(2002)		 "The First Cut Is the Deepest"
(2003)		 "Light in Your Eyes"
(2004)
Music video
"The First Cut Is the Deepest on YouTube

Sheryl Crow's version of "The First Cut Is The Deepest" is the first single released from her 2003 compilation album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow. It became one of Crow's biggest radio hits, peaking at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming her first top 40 solo country hit following the success of her duet with Kid Rock, "Picture".[citation needed] The song stayed on the Hot 100 for 36 weeks and became a gold seller, also reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts. Internationally, the song was a top-twenty success in Hungary, Ireland and New Zealand.

Music video

The Sheryl Crow music video for "The First Cut Is the Deepest" was directed by Wayne Isham with art direction by Andrew Elias.[29] Filmed in southern Utah, the video features Sheryl in a rocky desert singing with her guitar, riding horses and interacting in a cowboy environment.[30] Sheryl's single was nominated for a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards,[31] losing to "Sunrise" by Norah Jones.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003–2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 50
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 31
Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 61
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[35] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 79
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 19
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[39] 22
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 45
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 37
US Billboard Hot 100[42] 14
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[43] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[44] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[46] 35
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[48] 92
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 28
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[50] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 10

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[52] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 22 September 2003 (2003-09-22)
A&M [53]
United Kingdom 20 October 2003 (2003-10-20) CD [54]
Australia 27 October 2003 (2003-10-27) [55]
United States Country radio [56]
17 November 2003 (2003-11-17) Contemporary hit radio [57]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4836." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4813." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5283a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  13. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Rod Stewart – The First Cut Is the Deepest". Top 40 Singles.
  14. ↑ "Rod Stewart: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  15. ↑ "Rod Stewart – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Rod Stewart.
  16. ↑ "Rod Stewart – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Rod Stewart.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Papa Dee – The First Cut Is the Deepest" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Haddaway – The First Cut Is the Deepest". VG-lista.
  27. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Haddaway – The First Cut Is the Deepest". Singles Top 100.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ [1] Archived 10 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  33. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  34. ↑ "Musicline.de – Sheryl Crow Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  35. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  36. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The First Cut Is the Deepest". Irish Singles Chart.
  37. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest". Top 40 Singles.
  39. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20031101". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20031101" UK Singles Chart.
  42. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Sheryl Crow.
  43. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Sheryl Crow.
  44. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Sheryl Crow.
  45. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Sheryl Crow.
  46. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Sheryl Crow.
  47. ↑ "Sheryl Crow – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Sheryl Crow.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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