Summer (The First Time)

"Summer (The First Time)" is a song by American singer Bobby Goldsboro, recorded for his album of the same name and released as a single in June 1973. It was written by Bobby Goldsboro, Ashley Abram and Timmy Tappan, and produced by Goldsboro and Bob Montgomery.

"Summer (The First Time)"
Single by Bobby Goldsboro
from the album Summer (The First Time)
B-side"Childhood—1949"
ReleasedJune 29, 1973
RecordedApril 11, 1973
StudioThe Sound Shop, Nashville, Tennessee
GenrePop
Length4:37
LabelUnited Artists Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bob Montgomery and Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro singles chronology
"With Pen in Hand"
(1972)		 "Summer (The First Time)"
(1973)		 "Hello Summertime"
(1974)

Background

According to Bobby Goldsboro, the song was loosely based on something that happened to him with someone older, but not as romantic as that depicted in the song.[1] The song was recorded largely as Goldsboro had envisioned apart from the piano riff that started the song and repeated throughout the song as well as the ending descending scale, which were written by his pianist conductor Timmy Tappan. The song was preceded by the sounds of ocean waves and seagulls, taken from a sound effect library. The label had wanted to remove these sounds to shorten the song, but Goldsboro insisted that they be kept.[2]

The song is about someone reminiscing about being a 17-year-old boy in his first romantic experience with a 31-year-old woman during the summer. Using a repeating piano riff, 12-string guitar, and an orchestral string arrangement (engineered by Ernie Winfrey), the song was suggestive enough to spark some controversy at the time. The sound of seagulls combined with the string arrangement at the start of the record, which last 57 seconds until the vocals come in, creates the impression of being on a beach in mid-summer. Whilst Goldsboro' was writing the music he and his band made a television appearance on The Tonight Show. During this appearance Goldsboro' played part of the song on guitar when musician Tappan first played the piano riff that dominated part of the song.

It has been suggested that the musical theme of the song may have provided inspiration for Jean-Claude Borelly's 1975 hit "Dolannes Melodie".[3]

The song was also inspired by the movie "Summer of 42" (1971)

Chart history

The song was Goldsboro's second UK hit recorded on United Artists Records UP35558 and peaked at number nine in the UK Singles Chart, spending 10 weeks in the UK Top 50 singles chart.[4] It reached number seven in the Australia, and became a Top 40 Pop and Adult Contemporary hit in both the U.S. and Canada.

Cover versions

Although the German song Und Es War Sommer (1976) by Peter Maffay, covers exactly the same subject as Bobby Goldsboro's song,[19] it cannot be considered as a cover, since the melody is clearly different.

Millie Jackson released a cover of Summer (the first time) as the closing track of her 1974 album Caught Up. It is sung from the females perspective with only a few adjustments made to the lyrics.

References
  1. Bobby Goldsboro Interview (2011), Stuart Cameron. Event occurs at 20:20–21:10 – via Spotify.
  2. Bobby Goldsboro Interview (2011), Stuart Cameron. Event occurs at 21:20–24:00 – via Spotify.
  3. Simpson, Kim (April 27, 2014). "Early '70s radio: Bobby Goldsboro and Jeane-Claude Borelly". Early '70s Radio. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  4. UK Official Charts, 4 August 1973
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4922." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4929." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Summer (The First Time)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  9. Flavour of New Zealand, 11 March 1974
  10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bobby Goldsboro" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  11. UK Official Charts, 4 August 1973
  12. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  13. "Bobby Goldsboro Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  14. "Bobby Goldsboro Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  15. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 11, 1973
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. Canada, Library and Archives (July 13, 2017). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada.
  18. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  19. "The Originals © by Arnold Rypens - UND ES WAR SOMMER".
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