The First Cut Is the Deepest - wikipedia The First Cut Is the Deepest 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 Genre Rock 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 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 four different artists : P.P. Arnold ( 1967 ), Keith Hampshire ( 1973 ), Rod Stewart ( 1977 ), and Sheryl Crow ( 2003 ). Contents 1 Cat Stevens version 1.1 Personnel 2 P.P. Arnold version 3 Keith Hampshire version 4 Rod Stewart version 4.1 Chart performance 4.1. 1 Weekly singles charts 4.1. 2 Year - end charts 5 Sheryl Crow version 5.1 Music video 5.2 Chart performance 5.2. 1 Weekly charts 5.2. 2 Year - end charts 6 References 7 External links Cat Stevens version Stevens made a demo recording of `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' in 1965, but originally hoped to become a songwriter. 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, as well as 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. Personnel Cat Stevens - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Big Jim Sullivan - electric guitar Herbie Flowers - bass guitar Chris Hunt - drums P.P. Arnold version American expatriate singer P.P. Arnold had the first hit with the song, reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart 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. 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. It also topped the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. This recording also charted in the US, albeit outside the top 40. Rod Stewart version `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' Single by Rod Stewart from the album A Night on the Town B - side `` I Do n't Want to Talk About It '' Released February 1977 Format 7 - inch single Recorded 1976 Genre Rock Length 3 : 21 Label Riva Songwriter ( s ) Cat Stevens Producer ( s ) Tom Dowd Rod Stewart singles chronology `` I Do n't Want to Talk About It '' ( 1976 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 1977 ) `` You 're in My Heart ( The Final Acclaim ) '' ( 1977 ) `` I Do n't Want to Talk About It '' ( 1976 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 1977 ) `` You 're in My Heart ( The Final Acclaim ) '' ( 1977 ) 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 Do n't Want to Talk About It ''. It was a huge success, and spent four weeks at number one 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. 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. Chart performance Weekly singles charts Chart ( 1977 ) Peak position Australia KMR 19 Canada RPM 11 Germany Ireland Netherlands New Zealand 5 UK U.S. Billboard Hot 100 21 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 43 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 17 Year - end charts Chart ( 1977 ) Rank Australia 70 Canada 110 UK U.S. ( Joel Whitburn 's Pop Annual ) 136 Sheryl Crow version `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' Single by Sheryl Crow from the album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow Released 20 October 2003 Recorded 2003 Genre Pop, pop rock, country Length 3 : 44 Label A&M Songwriter ( s ) Cat Stevens Producer ( s ) John Shanks Sheryl Crow singles chronology `` It 's So Easy '' ( 2002 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 2003 ) `` Light in Your Eyes '' ( 2004 ) `` It 's So Easy '' ( 2002 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 2003 ) `` Light in Your Eyes '' ( 2004 ) Audio sample file help 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, remaining 36 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, and was also Crow 's first Top 40 solo country hit, following the success of her hit duet with Kid Rock, `` Picture ''. The song topped the airplay charts in the US and became a platinum seller, also reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and went to number one on the AC chart for two nonconsecutive weeks. It was also featured during an episode of HBO 's The Sopranos and The CW 's One Tree Hill, in which she also guest starred. Music video The Sheryl Crow music video for `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' was directed by Wayne Isham. Filmed in southern Utah, the video features Crow in a rocky desert singing with her guitar, riding horses and interacting in a cowboy environment. Crow 's single was nominated for a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards, losing to `` Sunrise '' by Norah Jones. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 2003 -- 04 ) Peak position Australian ARIA Charts 50 Austrian Singles Chart 31 Brazilian Singles Chart ( ABPD ) 59 Irish Singles Chart 13 New Zealand RIANZ Charts 19 Poland ( ZPAV ) 42 UK Singles Chart 37 US Billboard Hot 100 14 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 35 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) 10 Year - end charts Chart ( 2004 ) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 28 Preceded by `` The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia '' by Vicki Lawrence Canadian RPM 100 number - one single ( Keith Hampshire version ) 12 May 1973 Succeeded by `` The Cisco Kid '' by War ( band ) Preceded by `` Free '' by Deniece Williams UK number one single ( Rod Stewart version ) 21 May 1977 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Lucille '' by Kenny Rogers Preceded by `` You Raise Me Up '' by Josh Groban US Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one single ( Sheryl Crow version ) 10 April 2004 ( first run ) 1 May 2004 ( second run ) Succeeded by `` You Raise Me Up '' by Josh Groban `` 100 Years '' by Five for Fighting References Jump up ^ Islam, Yusuf ( 2008 ). `` Biography 1964 ''. Official Website for Yusuf Islam. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ Marrin, Minette ( 26 September 2004 ). `` Profile : Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens : Not so much a zealot more a lost musician ''. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Yusuf Islam Named Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Awards in London ''. Ascap.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 30. Jump up ^ Ruhlmann, William. `` Cat Stevens Biography on Yahoo ! Music ''. Yahoo ! Music. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2014. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 28. Jump up ^ http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4813&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4813.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4813 Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 339 -- 40. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. ^ Jump up to : `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 1977 ''. top-source.info. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Joel Whitburn 's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 2002 Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending APRIL 02, 19YY ''. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 200 Singles of ' 77 -- Volume 28, No. 11, December 31 1977 ''. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts ''. Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 30. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1999 ). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 142 - X. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow - The First Cut Is The Deepest ''. YouTube. December 23, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2018. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived 10 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Steffen Hung. `` Sheryl Crow - The First Cut Is The Deepest ''. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Brazil '' ( PDF ). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online ''. Lp3.polskieradio.pl. 2014 - 03 - 21. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Sheryl Crow Chart History ( Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam / Yusuf Studio pop albums As Cat Stevens Matthew and Son New Masters Mona Bone Jakon Tea for the Tillerman Teaser and the Firecat Catch Bull at Four Foreigner Buddha and the Chocolate Box Numbers Izitso Back to Earth As Yusuf An Other Cup Roadsinger Tell ' Em I 'm Gone As Yusuf / Cat Stevens The Laughing Apple Live albums Saturnight Majikat Spiritual albums The Life of the Last Prophet Prayers of the Last Prophet A Is for Allah I Look I See Footsteps in the Light Compilations Greatest Hits Footsteps in the Dark : Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 The Very Best of Cat Stevens Gold I Have No Cannons That Roar Singles `` I Love My Dog '' `` Matthew And Son '' `` I 'm Gonna Get Me A Gun '' `` A Bad Night '' `` Kitty '' `` Lovely City ( When Do You Laugh ) '' `` Here Comes My Wife '' `` Where Are You '' `` Lady D'Arbanville '' `` Father And Son '' `` Wild World '' `` Moonshadow '' `` Peace Train '' `` Morning Has Broken '' `` Another Saturday Night '' `` Oh Very Young '' Other songs `` Blue Monday '' `` Boots and Sand '' `` Do n't Let Me Be Misunderstood '' `` The First Cut Is The Deepest '' `` I Think I See The Light '' `` Here Comes My Baby '' `` Banapple Gas '' `` ( I Never Wanted ) To Be A Star '' `` If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out '' `` Into White '' `` Trouble '' `` Where Do The Children Play ? '' Categories Albums Compilation albums Live albums Songs Songs written by Cat Stevens Related topics Discography Harold and Maude ( soundtrack ) Book Category Rod Stewart singles 1970s `` It 's All Over Now '' ( 1970 ) `` Reason to Believe '' / `` Maggie May '' ( 1971 ) `` Every Picture Tells a Story '' / `` Reason to Believe '' ( 1971 ) Spain only `` ( I Know ) I 'm Losing You '' / `` Mandolin Wind '' ( 1971 ) `` Handbags and Gladrags '' ( 1972 ) `` You Wear It Well '' ( 1972 ) `` Angel '' ( 1972 ) `` What 's Made Milwaukee Famous ( Has Made a Loser Out of Me ) '' ( 1972 ) `` Twistin ' the Night Away '' ( 1973, 1987 ) `` Oh ! No Not My Baby '' ( 1973 ) `` Farewell '' / `` You Send Me '' ( 1973 ) `` Mine for Me '' ( 1974 ) `` You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything '' ( 1974 ) Stewart / Faces `` Sailing '' ( 1975 ) `` This Old Heart of Mine '' ( 1975 ) `` Tonight 's the Night '' ( 1976 ) `` The Killing of Georgie '' ( 1976 ) `` Get Back '' ( 1976 ) `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' ( 1977 ) `` I Do n't Want to Talk About It '' ( 1977, 1990 ) `` You 're in My Heart ( The Final Acclaim ) '' ( 1978 ) `` Hot Legs '' ( 1978 ) `` I Was Only Joking '' ( 1978 ) `` Da Ya Think I 'm Sexy ? '' ( 1978, 1997 ) `` Ai n't Love a Bitch '' ( 1979 ) `` Blondes ( Have More Fun ) '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` ( If Loving You Is Wrong ) I Do n't Want to Be Right '' ( 1980 ) `` Passion '' ( 1980 ) `` Tonight, I 'm Yours ( Do n't Hurt Me ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Young Turks '' ( 1982 ) `` How Long ? '' ( 1982 ) `` Baby Jane '' ( 1983 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' ( 1983 ) `` Infatuation '' ( 1984 ) `` Some Guys Have All the Luck '' ( 1984 ) `` All Right Now '' ( 1984 ) `` People Get Ready '' ( 1985, 1991, 1993 ) Stewart / Beck `` Love Touch '' ( 1986 ) `` In My Life '' ( 1987 ) `` Forever Young '' ( 1988 ) `` My Heart Ca n't Tell You No '' ( 1988 ) `` This Old Heart of Mine ( Is Weak for You ) '' ( 1989 ) Stewart / Isley `` Downtown Train '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` It Takes Two '' ( 1990 ) Stewart / Turner `` Rhythm of My Heart '' ( 1991 ) `` The Motown Song '' ( 1991 ) `` Your Song '' ( 1992 ) `` Ruby Tuesday '' ( 1993 ) `` Have I Told You Lately '' ( 1993 ) `` Reason to Believe '' ( unplugged, 1993 ) `` All for Love '' ( 1993 ) Stewart / Adams / Sting `` Leave Virginia Alone '' ( 1995 ) `` Lady Luck '' ( 1996 ) `` Ooh La La '' ( 1998 ) `` Rocks '' ( 1998 ) `` Cigarettes and Alcohol '' ( 1998 ) `` Faith of the Heart '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` These Foolish Things '' ( 2002 ) `` They Ca n't Take That Away from Me '' ( 2003 ) `` Time After Time '' ( 2003 ) `` What a Wonderful World '' ( 2004 ) `` Blue Moon '' ( 2004 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' ( 2005 ) `` I 've Got a Crush on You '' ( 2005 ) `` I 've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm '' ( 2006 ) `` Have You Ever Seen the Rain ? '' ( 2006 ) 2010s `` Everybody Hurts '' ( 2010 ) `` Let It Snow ! Let It Snow ! Let It Snow ! '' ( 2012 ) `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' ( 2012 ) `` She Makes Me Happy '' ( 2013 ) `` It 's Over '' ( 2013 ) `` Brighton Beach '' ( 2013 ) `` Everyday '' ( 2015 ) `` Love Is '' ( 2015 ) Sheryl Crow Studio albums Tuesday Night Music Club Sheryl Crow The Globe Sessions C'mon, C'mon Wildflower Detours Home for Christmas 100 Miles from Memphis Feels Like Home Be Myself Compilation albums The Very Best of Sheryl Crow iTunes Originals Hits & Rarities Live albums Sheryl Crow and Friends : Live from Central Park Singles `` Leaving Las Vegas '' `` All I Wanna Do '' `` Strong Enough '' `` Ca n't Cry Anymore '' `` Run Baby Run '' `` What I Can Do for You '' `` If It Makes You Happy '' `` Everyday Is a Winding Road '' `` Hard to Make a Stand '' `` A Change Would Do You Good '' `` Home '' `` Tomorrow Never Dies '' `` My Favorite Mistake '' `` There Goes the Neighborhood '' `` Anything but Down '' `` Sweet Child o ' Mine '' `` Soak Up the Sun '' `` Steve McQueen '' `` The First Cut Is the Deepest '' `` Light in Your Eyes '' `` Good Is Good '' `` Perfect Lie '' `` Always on Your Side '' `` Real Gone '' `` Not Fade Away '' `` Shine over Babylon '' `` Love Is Free '' `` Now That You 're Gone '' `` Motivation '' `` Summer Day '' `` Sign Your Name '' `` Easy '' `` Callin ' Me When I 'm Lonely '' `` Shotgun '' Guest singles `` Picture '' ( with Kid Rock ) `` Building Bridges '' ( with Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill ) `` Just Stand Up ! '' `` Coal Miner 's Daughter '' ( with Miranda Lambert and Loretta Lynn ) Related articles Discography Awards and nominations Ghost Brothers of Darkland County Book Category Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_First_Cut_Is_the_Deepest&oldid=825426018 '' Categories : 1967 singles 1977 singles 2003 singles Cat Stevens songs Rod Stewart songs Sheryl Crow songs Music videos directed by Wayne Isham UK Singles Chart number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Songs written by Cat Stevens Music videos directed by Bruce Gowers Billboard Adult Top 40 number - one singles Song recordings produced by Mike Hurst ( producer ) Song recordings produced by Tom Dowd 1967 songs Immediate Records singles Riva Records singles Warner Bros. Records singles A&M Records singles Songs about betrayal Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates from January 2012 Use British English from January 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2009 Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Français 日本 語 Português Svenska Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 13 February 2018, at 09 : 36. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who recorded the first cut is the deepest
Answer: P. P. Arnold