Killing Me Softly with his song - wikipedia Killing Me Softly with his song `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The song was written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman, who recorded the song in late 1971. In 1973 it became a number - one hit in the US and Canada for Roberta Flack, also reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including the version by the Fugees, which won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Contents 1 Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins 2 Roberta Flack version 3 Cover versions 3.1 Chart performance 3.2 Weekly 3.3 All - time 4 Fugees version 4.1 Background 4.2 Composition 4.3 Critical reception 4.4 Music video 4.5 Bounty Killer remix 4.6 Track listing 4.6. 1 UK CD1 4.6. 2 UK CD2 4.7 Charts and certifications 4.7. 1 Weekly charts 4.7. 2 Year - end charts 4.7. 3 Sales and certifications 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins According to Lori Lieberman, who performed the original recording in 1971, the song was born of a poem she wrote after experiencing a strong reaction to the Don McLean song `` Empty Chairs '', writing some poetic ideas on a napkin at the Troubadour Club after seeing McLean perform the song, then related this information to Gimbel, who took her feelings and put them into words. Then Gimbel passed the words to Fox, who set them to music. According to Norman Gimbel, Gimbel was introduced to the Argentinian - born composer Lalo Schifrin ( then of Mission : Impossible fame ) and began writing songs to a number of Schifrin 's films. Both Gimbel and Schifrin made a suggestion to write a Broadway musical together, and Schifrin gave Gimbel an Argentinean novel -- Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar -- to read as a possible idea. The book was never made into a musical, but in chapter two, the narrator describes himself as sitting in a bar listening to an American pianist friend `` kill us softly with some blues ''. Gimbel put the phrase in his `` idea book '' for use at a future time with a parenthesis around the word `` blues '' and substituted the word `` song '' instead. Don McLean said he did n't know the song described him and, when asked about it, said `` I 'm absolutely amazed. I 've heard both Lori 's and Roberta 's version and I must say I 'm very humbled about the whole thing. You ca n't help but feel that way about a song written and performed as well as this one is. '' Nevertheless, Fox has repudiated Lieberman 's having input into the song 's creation, saying : `` We ( Gimbel and Fox ) wrote the song and ( Lieberman ) heard it and said it reminded her of how she felt at ( a Don McLean ) concert. Don McLean did n't inspire Norman or me to write the song but even Don McLean thinks he 's the inspiration for the song. '' Don McLean supported Lieberman both on his website and from the stage of a concert which he invited her to attend in 2010. However, the matter only reached an unequivocal conclusion when contemporaneous articles from the early 1970s were exhumed, all of them vindicating Lieberman. In an April 5, 1973 article in the Daily News, Norman Gimbel was quoted as follows : `` She ( Lori Lieberman ) told us about this strong experience she had listening to McLean ( ' I felt all flushed with fever / Embarrassed by the crowd / I felt he had found my letters / And read each one out loud / I prayed that he would finish / But he just kept right on ' ). I had a notion this might make a good song so the three of us discussed it. We talked it over several times, just as we did for the rest of the numbers we wrote for this album and we all felt it had possibilities. '' Roberta Flack version `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' One of A-side labels of U.S. vinyl single Single by Roberta Flack from the album Killing Me Softly B - side `` Just Like a Woman '' Released January 21, 1973 Format 7 '' single Recorded November 17, 1972 Genre Soul Length 4 : 46 Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Charles Fox Norman Gimbel Producer ( s ) Joel Dorn Roberta Flack singles chronology `` Where Is the Love '' ( 1972 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' ( 1973 ) `` Jesse '' ( 1973 ) `` Where Is the Love '' ( 1972 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' ( 1973 ) `` Jesse '' ( 1973 ) Alternative release German vinyl single `` Killing Me Softly With His Song '' Roberta Flack 's `` Killing Me Softly With His Song '' from Killing Me Softly Problems playing this file ? See media help. Lieberman was the first to record the song in late 1971, releasing it in early 1972. Helen Reddy has said she was sent the song, but `` the demo... sat on my turntable for months without being played because I did n't like the title ''. Roberta Flack first heard the song on an airline, when the Lieberman original was featured on the in - flight audio program. After scanning the listing of available audio selections, Flack would recall : `` The title, of course, smacked me in the face. I immediately pulled out some scratch paper, made musical staves ( then ) play ( ed ) the song at least eight to ten times jotting down the melody that I heard. When I landed, I immediately called Quincy ( Jones ) at his house and asked him how to meet Charles Fox. Two days later I had the music. '' Shortly afterwards Flack rehearsed the song with her band in the Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, but did not then record it. In September 1972, Flack was opening for Marvin Gaye at the Greek Theater ; after performing her prepared encore song, Flack was advised by Gaye to sing an additional song. Flack later said, `` I said well, I got this song I 've been working on called ' Killing Me Softly... ' and he said ' Do it, baby. ' And I did it and the audience went crazy, and he walked over to me and put his arm around me and said, ' Baby, do n't ever do that song again live until you record it. ' '' Released in January 1973, Flack 's version spent a total of five non-consecutive weeks at # 1 in February and March, more weeks than any other record in 1973, being bumped to number 2 by the O'Jays ' `` Love Train '' after four straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1973. Charles Fox suggested that Flack 's version was more successful than Lieberman 's because Flack 's `` version was faster and she gave it a strong backbeat that was n't in the original ''. According to Flack : `` My classical background made it possible for me to try a number of things with ( the song 's arrangement ). I changed parts of the chord structure and chose to end on a major chord. ( The song ) was n't written that way. '' Flack plays electric piano on the track. The bass is played by Ron Carter, the guitar by Hugh McCracken and the drums by Ray Lucas. The single appeared as the opening track of the album of the same name, issued in August 1973. Flack won the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for the single, with Gimbel and Fox earning the Song of the Year Grammy. In 1996 a house remix of Flack 's version went to number one on the US dance chart. In 1999 Flack 's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It ranked number 360 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and number 82 on Billboard 's greatest songs of all time. Cover versions Perry Como included his rendition of the song on his 1973 hit album And I Love You So. Contralto pop singer Vicki Lawrence covered the song on her 1973 debut album, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. Eric Gale made an instrumental cover of the song in his 1973 debut album, Forecast. Chart performance Weekly Chart ( 1973 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 19 Canada ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 30 Ireland ( IRMA ) 10 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 32 UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Hot R&B Singles US Hot Adult Contemporary Singles All - time Chart Position US Billboard Hot 100 92 Preceded by `` Crocodile Rock '' by Elton John Billboard Hot 100 number - one single February 24, 1973 ( four weeks ) Succeeded by `` Love Train '' by The O'Jays Preceded by `` Love Train '' by The O'Jays Billboard Hot 100 number - one single March 31, 1973 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia '' by Vicki Lawrence Fugees version `` Killing Me Softly '' Single by Fugees from the album The Score Released May 31, 1996 Format CD single Recorded 1995 Genre R&B, hip hop soul Length 4 : 58 ( album version ) 4 : 16 ( radio edit ) 4 : 00 ( radio edit : without intro ) Label Ruffhouse Songwriter ( s ) Charles Fox Norman Gimbel Producer ( s ) The Fugees Fugees singles chronology `` Fu - Gee - La '' ( 1996 ) `` Killing Me Softly '' ( 1996 ) `` Ready or Not '' ( 1996 ) `` Fu - Gee - La '' ( 1996 ) `` Killing Me Softly '' ( 1996 ) `` Ready or Not '' ( 1996 ) `` Killing Me Softly '' The Fugees ' `` Killing Me Softly '' from The Score Problems playing this file ? See media help. Hip hop group Fugees covered the song ( as simply `` Killing Me Softly '' ) on their 1996 album The Score, with Lauryn Hill singing the lead vocals. Their version became a hit, reaching number two on the U.S. airplay chart. The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom, where it became the country 's biggest - selling single of 1996. It has since sold 1.36 million copies in Britain. The Fugees recording won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and their video earned the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. This version sampled the 1990 song `` Bonita Applebum '' by A Tribe Called Quest ( ATCQ ) from their debut album People 's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. ATCQ themselves had sampled the riff from the song `` Memory Band '' from psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection 's 1967 eponymous debut album. The Fugees single was so successful that the track was `` deleted '' and thus no longer supplied to retailers whilst the track was still in the top 20 so that attention could be drawn to the next single, `` Ready or Not ''. Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the 1972 recording by Roberta Flack was remixed in 1996 with the vocalist adding some new vocal flourishes : this version topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Flack and the Fugees have performed the song together since then. In 2008, `` Killing Me Softly '' was ranked number 25 on VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and # 44 on its list of the `` 100 Greatest Songs of the ' 90s ''. Background `` Killing Me Softly '' was the last song the Fugees recorded for The Score, after member Pras Michael made the suggestion to cover it. They wanted to `` see how we can create break beats. And of course, we all love A Tribe Called Quest and we went in like ' Okay, let 's cut that sample. ' '' They then added a bass reggae drop. Initially, the Fugees wanted to change the lyrics of the song to make it anti-drugs and anti-poverty but the songwriters, Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox, refused. Composition The Fugees ' version features `` percussive rhythms '' with `` a synth sitar sound, Wyclef 's blurted chants, Hill 's vocal melisma on the scatted bridge, and a bombastic drum - loop track ''. Critical reception In January 1997, Spin called the song `` an instant classic, pumped out of every passing car from coast to coast, with Lauryn Hill 's timeless voice never losing its poignant kick ''. Celebrating the album 's 20th anniversary in February 2016, Billboard reviewed the song, saying : `` It 's a lovely cover that maintains the spirit of the original while taking the material in new directions. '' Music Video The video, directed by Aswad Ayinde and based on Lauryn Hill 's ideas, never came out commercially in America. It features Roberta Flack. Bounty Killer remix The Fugees recorded a dancehall version with Bounty Killer rapping and Hill singing a rewritten chorus. However, they did not receive permission to release it on The Score. Track listing UK CD1 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Version W / Out Intro ) -- 4 : 03 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Instrumental ) -- 4 : 03 `` Cowboys '' ( Album Version ) -- 3 : 35 `` Nappy Heads '' ( Remix ) -- 3 : 49 UK CD2 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Version With Intro ) -- 4 : 16 `` Fu - Gee - La '' ( Refugee Camp Global Mix ) -- 4 : 15 `` Vocab '' ( Refugees Hip Hop Mix ) -- 4 : 07 `` Vocab '' ( Salaam 's Acoustic Remix ) -- 5 : 54 Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1996 -- 97 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canada ( RPM ) 6 Denmark ( IFPI ) Europe ( Eurochart Hot 100 ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( FIMI ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Spain ( AFYVE ) 8 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 30 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) 20 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) 48 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Radio Songs ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1996 ) Position Australia Singles Chart ( ARIA ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 43 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 4 × Platinum 280,000 Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Platinum 50,000 France ( SNEP ) Platinum 500,000 Germany ( BVMI ) 2 × Platinum 1,000,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) 2 × Platinum 1,200,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Preceded by `` Three Lions '' by Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds UK Singles Chart Number 1 single June 2, 1996 -- June 30, 1996 ( four weeks ) Succeeded by `` Three Lions '' by Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds Preceded by `` Three Lions '' by Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds UK Singles Chart Number 1 single July 7, 1996 -- July 13, 1996 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Forever Love '' by Gary Barlow See also List of number - one singles in Australia during the 1970s List of RPM number - one singles of 1973 List of number - one singles in 1973 ( New Zealand ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) List of number - one singles in Australia during the 1990s List of number - one hits of 1996 ( Austria ) List of Dutch Top 40 number - one singles of 1996 List of European number - one hits of 1996 List of number - one hits of 1996 ( France ) List of number - one singles of 1996 ( Ireland ) List of number - one singles in 1996 ( New Zealand ) List of number - one singles from the 1990s ( UK ) List of number - one dance singles of 1996 ( U.S. ) List of Mainstream Top 40 number - one hits of 1996 ( U.S. ) List of Billboard Rhythmic number - one songs of the 1990s References Jump up ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9McU5zPEjs Jump up ^ `` The `` Killing Me Softly '' Story ``. Don-mclean.com. January 21, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2016. Jump up ^ Lori Lieberman - Killing Me Softly ( The Story Behind ) on YouTube Jump up ^ `` Classic Albums - Don McLean : American Pie ''. BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 10 December 2017. Jump up ^ Billboard Magazine, June 22, 1974. p. 53 ^ Jump up to : Davis, Sheila ( 1984 ). The Craft of Lyric Writing. Writers Digest Books. p. 13. ISBN 0 - 89879 - 149 - 9. Retrieved 22 September 2010. Jump up ^ Cortázar, Julio ( 1966 ). Hopscotch. Pantheon Books. p. 15. ISBN 0 - 394 - 75284 - 8. Jump up ^ `` The `` Killing Me Softly '' Story ``. Don-mclean.com. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014. ^ Jump up to : Daeida February 2012. p. 11 Jump up ^ O'Haire, Patricia `` A Killer of a Song Archived 2013 - 05 - 14 at the Wayback Machine., '' Daily News Jump up ^ Cad, Saint. `` Top 10 Famous Songs With Unknown Originals ''. listverse.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013. Jump up ^ Reddy, Helen. The Woman I Am. Penguin Group, New York, NY. ISBN 1 - 58542 - 489 - 7. p. 158 Jump up ^ Fox, Charles. Killing Me Softly : My Life In Music. Scarecrow Press, Lanham, MD. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8108 - 6991 - 2. ( 2010 ) p. X Jump up ^ `` Roberta Flack Recalls Debuting `` Killing Me Softly '' At The Greek Theatre With Marvin Gaye ``. 94.7 The WAVE -- Smooth R&B. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2014. Jump up ^ Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1973 Jump up ^ Cresswell, Toby. 1001 Songs. Hardie Grant Books, Pahran, Aus. ISBN 978 - 1 - 74066 - 458 - 5. ( 2005 ) p. 388 Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Hot Dance / Disco : 1974 - 2003. Record Research. p. 100. Jump up ^ `` GRAMMY Hall Of Fame ''. GRAMMY.org. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2014. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived 29 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Eric Gale - Forecast ''. Discogs. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Roberta Flack -- Killing Me Softly with His Song '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 31 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Roberta Flack Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Roberta Flack '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Roberta Flack -- Killing Me Softly with His Song ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Roberta Flack -- Killing Me Softly with His Song ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Killing Me Softly With His Song ''. Official UK Charts Co. Retrieved 26 April 2016. ^ Jump up to : Purple Rain > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2011. Jump up ^ Bronson, Fred ( August 2, 2013 ). Hot 100 55th Anniversary : The All - Time Top 100 Songs. Billboard.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013. Jump up ^ Ami Sedghi ( 4 November 2012 ). `` UK 's million - selling singles : the full list ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Year in Music - Band of the Year ''. Spin. Camouflage Associates : 54. January 1997. ^ Jump up to : Various Mojo Magazine ( November 1, 2007 ). The Mojo Collection : 4th Edition. Canongate Books. p. 626. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Producer Jerry Wonder Talks About The 16th Anniversary of `` The Score '' ``. Complex. February 14, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Iandoli, Kathy ( February 22, 2016 ). `` Inside Fugees ' The Score, 20 Years Later, With Its Collaborators ''. Pitchfork. Retrieved August 9, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Weisbard, Eric ( 2007 ). Listen Again : A Momentary History of Pop Music. Duke University Press. p. 194. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Year in Music - Band of the Year ''. Spin : 54. January 1997. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Partridge, Kenneth ( February 13, 2016 ). `` Fugees ' ' The Score ' at 20 : Classic Track - by - Track Album Review ''. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Tardio, Andres ( July 29, 2013 ). `` The Fugees ' `` Killing Me Softly '' Video Director Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison For Sexual Assault ``. HipHopDX. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Coleman, Brian ( March 12, 2009 ). Check the Technique : Liner Notes for Hip - Hop Junkies. New York : Random House Publishing Group. p. 218. Retrieved August 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Fox, Charles ( 2010 ). Killing Me Softly : My Life in Music. Scarecrow Press. p. x. Retrieved August 10, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 31 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Fugees : Killing Me Softly '' ( in Finnish ). Musiikkituottajat -- IFPI Finland. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ( With His Song ) '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Fugees Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Fugees '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ( With His Song ) ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Fugees : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Chart History ( Dance Club Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Chart History ( Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Fugees Chart History ( Radio Songs ) ''. Billboard. ^ Jump up to : `` ARIA End Of Year Singles 1996 ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1996 ''. RPM. Retrieved November 26, 2017. Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1996 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Austrian single certifications -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly '' ( in German ). IFPI Austria. Enter Fugees in the field Interpret. Enter Killing Me Softly in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen Jump up ^ `` French single certifications -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly '' ( in French ). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( Fugees ; ' Killing Me Softly ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Fugees -- Killing Me Softly ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter Killing Me Softly in the search field and then press Enter. External links Music video at MTV.com Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Roberta Flack Studio albums First Take ( 1969 ) Chapter Two ( 1970 ) Quiet Fire ( 1971 ) Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway ( 1972 ) Killing Me Softly ( 1973 ) Feel Like Makin ' Love ( 1975 ) Blue Lights in the Basement ( 1977 ) Roberta Flack ( 1978 ) Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway ( 1980 ) I 'm the One ( 1982 ) Born to Love ( 1983 ) Oasis ( 1988 ) Set the Night to Music ( 1991 ) Roberta ( 1994 ) The Christmas Album ( 1997 ) Holiday ( 2003 ) Live albums Live & More ( 1980 ) At Her Best -- Live ( 2008 ) Soundtrack albums Bustin ' Loose ( 1981 ) Compilation albums The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1981 ) Greatest Hits ( 1984 ) Softly with These Songs : The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1993 ) The Very Best of Roberta Flack ( 2006 ) Singles `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' `` Where Is the Love '' `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' `` Feel Like Makin ' Love ( Roberta Flack song ) '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' `` If Ever I See You Again '' `` Making Love '' `` Tonight, I Celebrate My Love '' `` Oasis '' `` Uh - Uh Ooh - Ooh Look Out ( Here It Comes ) '' Related articles Discography Donny Hathaway Best - selling singles by year in the United Kingdom 1952 -- 1969 1952 : `` Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart '' -- Vera Lynn ( UK ) 1953 : `` I Believe '' -- Frankie Laine 1954 : `` Secret Love '' -- Doris Day 1955 : `` Rose Marie '' -- Slim Whitman 1956 : `` I 'll Be Home '' -- Pat Boone 1957 : `` Diana '' -- Paul Anka 1958 : `` Jailhouse Rock '' -- Elvis Presley 1959 : `` Living Doll '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1960 : `` It 's Now or Never '' -- Elvis Presley 1961 : `` Wooden Heart '' -- Elvis Presley 1962 : `` I Remember You '' -- Frank Ifield ( UK ) 1963 : `` She Loves You '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1964 : `` Ca n't Buy Me Love '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1965 : `` Tears '' -- Ken Dodd ( UK ) 1966 : `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' -- Tom Jones ( UK ) 1967 : `` Release Me '' -- Engelbert Humperdinck ( UK ) 1968 : `` Hey Jude '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1969 : `` Sugar, Sugar '' -- The Archies 1970 -- 1989 1970 : `` The Wonder of You '' -- Elvis Presley 1971 : `` My Sweet Lord '' -- George Harrison ( UK ) 1972 : `` Amazing Grace '' -- The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band ( UK ) 1973 : `` Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree '' -- Tony Orlando and Dawn 1974 : `` Tiger Feet '' -- Mud ( UK ) 1975 : `` Bye Bye Baby '' -- Bay City Rollers ( UK ) 1976 : `` Save Your Kisses for Me '' -- Brotherhood of Man ( UK ) 1977 : `` Mull of Kintyre '' / `` Girls ' School '' -- Wings ( UK ) 1978 : `` Rivers of Babylon '' / `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' -- Boney M. 1979 : `` Bright Eyes '' -- Art Garfunkel 1980 : `` Do n't Stand So Close to Me '' -- The Police ( UK ) 1981 : `` Do n't You Want Me '' -- The Human League ( UK ) 1982 : `` Come On Eileen '' -- Dexys Midnight Runners ( UK ) 1983 : `` Karma Chameleon '' -- Culture Club ( UK ) 1984 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid ( UK ) 1985 : `` The Power of Love '' -- Jennifer Rush 1986 : `` Do n't Leave Me This Way '' -- The Communards ( UK ) 1987 : `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' -- Rick Astley ( UK ) 1988 : `` Mistletoe and Wine '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1989 : `` Ride on Time '' -- Black Box 1990 -- 2009 1990 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- The Righteous Brothers 1991 : `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' -- Bryan Adams 1992 : `` I Will Always Love You '' -- Whitney Houston 1993 : `` I 'd Do Anything for Love ( But I Wo n't Do That ) '' -- Meat Loaf 1994 : `` Love Is All Around '' -- Wet Wet Wet ( UK ) 1995 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- Robson & Jerome ( UK ) 1996 : `` Killing Me Softly '' -- Fugees 1997 : `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' / `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' -- Elton John ( UK ) 1998 : `` Believe '' -- Cher 1999 : ``... Baby One More Time '' -- Britney Spears 2000 : `` Can We Fix It ? '' -- Bob the Builder ( UK ) 2001 : `` It Was n't Me '' -- Shaggy featuring Rikrok ( UK ) 2002 : `` Anything Is Possible '' / `` Evergreen '' -- Will Young ( UK ) 2003 : `` Where Is the Love ? '' -- The Black Eyed Peas 2004 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid 20 ( UK ) 2005 : `` Is This the Way to Amarillo '' -- Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay ( UK ) 2006 : `` Crazy '' -- Gnarls Barkley 2007 : `` Bleeding Love '' -- Leona Lewis ( UK ) 2008 : `` Hallelujah '' -- Alexandra Burke ( UK ) 2009 : `` Poker Face '' -- Lady Gaga 2010 -- present 2010 : `` Love the Way You Lie '' -- Eminem featuring Rihanna 2011 : `` Someone Like You '' -- Adele ( UK ) 2012 : `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' -- Gotye featuring Kimbra 2013 : `` Blurred Lines '' -- Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 2014 : `` Happy '' -- Pharrell Williams 2015 : `` Uptown Funk '' -- Mark Ronson ( UK ) featuring Bruno Mars 2016 : `` One Dance '' -- Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla ( UK ) 2017 : `` Shape of You '' - Ed Sheeran ( UK ) Grammy Award for Record of the Year ( 1970s ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) produced by Bones Howe ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King produced by Lou Adler ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack produced by Joel Dorn ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack produced by Joel Dorn ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John produced by John Farrar ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) produced by Daryl Dragon ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson produced by Tommy LiPuma ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) produced by Bill Szymczyk ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel produced by Phil Ramone ( 1979 ) Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year ( 1970s ) 1970 Joe South - `` Games People Play '' 1971 Paul Simon - `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' 1972 Carole King - `` You 've Got a Friend '' 1973 Ewan MacColl - `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox - `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch - `` The Way We Were '' 1976 Stephen Sondheim - `` Send in the Clowns '' 1977 Bruce Johnston - `` I Write the Songs '' 1978 Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams - `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' and Joe Brooks - `` You Light Up My Life '' 1979 Billy Joel - `` Just the Way You Are '' Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song&oldid=828032671 '' Categories : 1971 songs 1973 singles 1996 singles Soul ballads Pop ballads Fugees songs Songs with lyrics by Norman Gimbel Songs with music by Charles Fox ( composer ) Roberta Flack songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Billboard Mainstream Top 40 ( Pop Songs ) number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Austria RPM Top Singles number - one singles Number - one dance singles in Canada European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles SNEP Top Singles number - one singles Number - one singles in Germany Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Number - 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Question: when was the song killing me softly released
Answer: 1971