Rate-O-Rama #36: The First Cut is the Deepest

Are you ready to have fun, let’s play Rate-O-Rama!

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About Rate-O-Rama

Rate-O-Rama is a reader participation game.

Every other Wednesday, I publish an article featuring three songs. Your task is to listen to the provided music videos, then rate each song in the comments section.

Rate-O-Rama #37 will be published on Wednesday July 9, 2025

(Note: You must be a Vocal Media member to comment. If you’re not a member, you can join for free! You’ll never have to pay unless you choose to upgrade your membership.)

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How to Rate

The rating method is simple:

- Rate each song from 1 to 100 (the more you like it, the higher the rating).

- If possible, leave a brief comment sharing your thoughts on each song.

After two weeks (on Monday evening), I will tally the ratings. I’ll announce the average rating each song receives, in the following Rate-O-Rama.

Voting for the 36th Edition of Rate-O-Rama closes on Monday July 7, 2025

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The Results of The 35th Edition of Rate-O-Rama (Mama Said Knock You Out)

🥉Third Place: Five Finger Death Punch 69.6 point average

🥈Second Place: Eagle Eye Cherry 83.3 point average

🥇First Place: LL Cool J 93.7 point average

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The Thirty-Sixth Edition features: The soulful pop-rock classic “The First Cut Is The Deepest”

🎸 Cat Stevens (1967) “The First Cut Is The Deepest” began its life in 1965 as a demo record that Cat Stevens used to promote himself as a songwriter. Finally in October 1967 Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, recorded the song and included it on his second studio album New Masters.

Stevens sold the song to British soul singer P.P. Arnold who had a hit with the song in early 1967.

Stevens released the song as a single in Australia in 1972 to promote the compilation album The World of Cat Stevens. He has won two ASCAP songwriting awards for the song.

🎸 Trivia:

Which performer sang in a televised live Cat Stevens tribute concert in 1973?

• Dolly Parton
• Linda Ronstadt
• Carly Simon

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🎤 Rod Stewart (1977) Included on his chart topping album A Night on theTown. He took the song to #1 in the UK for four weeks. He also reached #5 in New Zealand, #8 in Zimbabwe, #11 in Canada, #19 in Australia, and #21 in the U.S. The song has become one of many signature songs for Rod Stewart.

Famed producer Tom Dowd produced “The First Cut is the Deepest” and the album A Night on the Town. Dowd has also produced Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, The Drifters, The Spinners, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Bee Gees, Chicago, Meatloaf, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Sonny and Cher, Eagles, and too many more to mention.

🎤 Trivia:

“The First Cut is the Deepest” was released as a double A-Side single. What was the other song on this single release?

• ”The Killing of Georgie”
• “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
• “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”

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🎤 Sheryl Crow (2013) Sheryl Crow's version of "The First Cut Is the Deepest", inspired by Rod Stewart's version, 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, peaking at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song stayed on the Hot 100 for 36 weeks and became a gold seller, also reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Adult Top 40, and Triple-A charts. Internationally, it was a top-40 success in Austria, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and the UK.

Sheryl's single was nominated for a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to "Sunrise" by Norah Jones.

🎤 Trivia:

In which state was Crow’s music video for The First Cut is the Deepest recorded

• Colorado
• Utah
• Wyoming

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Bonus Trivia Question

Who did Cat Stevens originally want to record “The First Cut is the Deepest?

• Sam Cooke
• Wilson Pickett
• Otis Redding

My Thoughts

🎸 Cat Stevens: Cat Stevens’ vocal performance here is excellent. Right from the very beginning Stevens had the ability to sing his songs with soul and emotion. “The First Cut is the Deepest” is one of the great love songs of all time and Cat Stevens did write it which gives him a boost. However, I don’t care much for the musical arrangement. The tempo change from the verse to the chorus takes away some of the intimacy of the song. My Rating: 97

🎤 Rod Stewart: and my humble of opinions Rod Stewart has the definitive version of this song. He may not have written it but he sings it like he wrote it. Stewart owns this song with his raspy voice yet highly impassioned reading. My Rating: 99

🎤 Sheryl Crow: her vocal performance on this is executed very well. She infuses just the right amount of emotion. The musical arrangement of course is also very well done. My only problem with it is it’s a bit too similar to Rod Stewart’s recording. My Rating: 90

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Trivia Answers

• Linda Ronstadt. It was a live tribute to Cat Stevens which was aired on the ABC television network in 1973.
• “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”
• Utah
• Bonus: Otis Redding, but his manager instead gave it to P.P. Arnold.

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Now it’s your turn to rate the songs and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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