She’s the answer to a tough trivia question. “This artist had a hit with one of the best cover songs of all time. One of this artist’s most famous songs was covered, and that cover became a hit, and is also considered one of the greatest cover songs of all time. In both cases, it was the same song. Name the artist and song.”
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is also a cover. It was first recorded by The Kingston Trio.
Those two songs pretty much put Roberta in the running with Joe Cocker and others to be considered the greatest cover artist in history,
RIP Roberta indeed.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was also beautifully covered by Johnny Cash late in his life.
When I was a stupid immature kid, around 10-11, I had no patience for slow romantic songs. Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face were the first “slow” songs I remember hearing and not wanting to change the station.
I do somewhat dislike the Fugees version of that song.
“… one time…”
Roberta Flack and Joe Cocker might be the greatest covers artists ever, but Joe Cocker succeeded in making the songs into his own unique interpretations, for example, The Letter. Almost two different songs when you consider the original by The Boxtops!!!
Agree. Roberta’s interpretation of Killing Me Softly is really not so different from Lori’s, but Cocker’s With a Little Help From My Friends managed to transform a bouncy little music hall tune into an all-time rock classic. It is barely the same song.
That said, I feel that her interpretation of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was different enough to elevate it from a tender but unmemorable folk ballad into an all-time classic love song that spanned several genres. It really allowed me to see the true potential of that song.
The Flaming Lips made an amazing cover of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face too, with Erykah Badu. One of the best covers ever period.
There will never be another singer like that. A true original. Plus, she did create one of the best love songs ever with Donny Hathaway in “The Closer I Get to You” that did create one of the best covers of that song ever sung by Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour 3”
I love that scene! The Rush Hour films are guilty pleasures for me.