Unit Four Post: Is the First Cut Really the Deepest? An Exploration of Cover Culture

There are a lot of people who claim to love ALL music. I'd like to think I'm one of the ones who really does. 

Growing up, I listened to a lot of what most people would probably call oldies - music from before 1980. Back in the era of physical discs, my parents had tons of records, cassettes and CDs. On any given day, there might be Bob Dylan playing at my parents' house, or The White Album or The Pretenders or maybe even my late Aunt, who had a beautiful voice and used to send us cassettes she recorded of herself, singing hymns. Apart from simply listening to music, I tried my hand at making it as well, training in the Suzuki violin school starting at three, playing Irish fiddle, and singing. Always singing. 

Amidst all of this musical wonder, it was my mom who introduced me to Rod Stewart. She would put on "The First Cut is the Deepest" in the car and we would rock it out together. Knowing musical history is being cultured, mom would say. There's probably a lot of people out there who don't think that Rod Stewart is culture, but I'm sorry, I'd have to disagree. 

I first fell in love with music because of the sound, the melodies. Later, I fell in love with the stories that music has to tell, and the stories of the musicians who I came to love so deeply. Their stories inspired me. As it turns out, that song my mom and I loved to jam to, "The First Cut is the Deepest", has a pretty great story behind it. 

In the mid sixties, a young man who dreamed about making music wrote a song that would become an international hit for many artists. Being shy himself however, he sold the initial rights to the song to a singer named P.P. Arnold (you can check out her version of the song here). That man's name is Cat Stevens. You probably already guessed what that song is. 

Here is Cat Steven's recording of "The First Cut is the Deepest."

And here he is in all of his youthful glory. 

Eventually Cat (thankfully!) realized he wasn't just a songwriter, he was a performer. He included the song on his album New Masters in 1967. It was a hit.

Many other artists went on to cover "First Cut." After P.P. Arnold, Norma Fraser and Keith Hampshire, Rod Stewart recorded the song in 1976 on his album A Night on the Town. It became a huge hit for him as well. 

However, most people nowadays probably aren't familiar with the version of "First Cut" by either Cat Stevens or Rod Stewart. Today, most people are probably familiar with the Sheryl Crow version, Sheryl Crow of the cowboy boots and swingy blonde hair. Oh, and that amazing voice. Here she is singing her version. 

I used to think that the Rod Stewart version was superior, because that's what I grew up with. Now, I'm not so sure. I've been pondering how many things an artist brings to a song they cover - not just their voice or way of playing music, but also their personality, their background, even (as you see in these music videos) their fashion sense. I think that's true of anything that's covered, whether it's writing or music or visual art.

Although I do have some strong opinions about music, and I'd like to think I'm a bit knowledgable about some areas of it, music is never something that people should be condescending about. Music is an art form of the people. And that's why I think the cover is a great thing.  

In listening to all of these covers I think I'm beginning to understand what Harris meant when he wrote about "taking an approach." When I listen to "The First Cut is the Deepest" as recorded by Rod Stewart or Sheryl Crow, I see their unique stylings come through, but I also see Cat Stevens, a shy young man who just knew he had some musical magic in him. And I love that. 

And in case you're maybe having a bad day, or you just have too many forum posts left to write for this Unit... Take a listen to this, and you might just decide you love Cat Stevens the way I do. 

And by the way, let me know if you have a favorite cover of "First Cut" (or another song!). You might not convince me, but I always enjoy talking music.