“Rod Stewart Ultimate Hits” is released on June 27th and to celebrate the release we are bringing you the low down on all the classic tracks that have been brought together for the first time in the compilation that includes songs ranging from his 1971 hit, “Maggie May” to selections from 2024’s “Swing Fever,”
Today we focus on Rod’s cover of “The First Cut Is the Deepest”
“The First Cut Is the Deepest” is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold for her album “The First Lady of Immediate” in April 1967. Stevens’ own version originally appeared on his album “New Masters” in December 1967 but he never released his version as a single, as he felt Arnold’s rendition was definitive.
The lyrics of “The First Cut is the Deepest” 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.
Rod recorded his version at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, United States, and it appeared on his 1976 album “A Night on the Town”. Originally released as a single in the US and in some European territories, it was released as a double A-side single with “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” in the UK in April. It was a huge success, and spent four weeks at Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1977, Number 11 in April in Canada, and also reached Number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
“The First Cut Is The Deepest” was well known in the UK thanks to P.P. Arnold‘s version, but little known in America, which was a problem when Rod asked the Alabama musicians to back him on it.
“Nobody knew how the song went, apart from myself,” he wrote in his Anthology liner notes. “So a phone call was made to LA and some madman had to go out and buy it, rush back, and play it on the phone with seen guys crowded ’round the receiver at the other end.” Rod ended up changing the end line “But when it comes to being loved, she’s first” in his version.
In a little twist to this this tale Rod once dated P.P. Arnold and reflecting on both versions in Uncut magazine she said “Rod’s version worked for him but I think my version is better,” adding “It’s sincere. I love the song. because I had lived through it. Rod did it because he knew it was a hit and was getting me back because of the way we broke up.”
Rod’s single release was edited to 3:21 from the albums 4:38 version and released on his Riva label and the track was produced by Tom Dowd.
In 1993, Rod recorded a live version during a session of MTV Unplugged. This was included on the 1993 live album “Unplugged…and Seated”.
The success of the song was again helped by a great promo video Bruce Gowers who directed the tracks video told SMILER in 2022 “The First Cut Is the Deepest” was filmed at Rod’s house on Corolwood, There was that beautiful waterfall in the backyard, we dud all the videos for that album there, we originally had other plans , but Rod wanted to do them from home so we improvised and shot it all there.”
Chart (1977)
Australia (Kent Music Report) 19
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 21
UK Singles (OCC) 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 43
US Billboard Hot 100 21
US Cash Box Top 100 17
Zimbabwe (ZIMA) 8
Year-end charts (1977)
Australia 70
Canada 110
UK 4
US (Joel Whitburn’s Pop Annual) 136
The song has also been a chart hit for Keith Hampshire (1973) in Canada/USA, Papa Dee (1995) Europe, and Sheryl Crow (2003) Worldwide.
A Night On The Town Personnel
Rod Stewart – vocals
Donald “Duck” Dunn, Bob Glaub, David Hood, Willie Weeks, Lee Sklar – bass guitar
Steve Cropper, Billy Peek, Joe Walsh, Jesse Ed Davis, David Lindley, Fred Tackett, Pete Carr – guitar
John Barlow Jarvis, David Foster, Barry Beckett, J. Smith – keyboards
Roger Hawkins, Andy Newmark, Al Jackson Jr., Rick Shlosser – drums
Tommy Vig, Joe Lala – percussion
Jimmy Horowitz, Mel Lewis, Arif Mardin – string arrangements
Tower of Power horn section – French horn
Jerry Jumonville, Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone