P.P. Arnold--The First Cut is the Deepest (1967)

      P.P. Arnold toured with Ike and Tina Turner as an Ikette for a few years in the mid-60's. During a gig in London, Mick Jagger was impressed enough with her singing that he suggested to their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham to sign her to his new record label Immediate Records. She quit her gig with the Turners and stayed in London to concentrate on her solo career. Arnold had her major success in Britain during the late 60's and has had what could be considered an on again/off again career, although has always kept busy either performing on the stage, doing solo work, or studio work for others.

      "The First Cut is the Deepest" was written by Cat Stevens (who celebrates his 63rd birthday today), although Arnold was the first to release it in May of 1967. Stevens had made a demo of the song before Arnold, but at the time just wanted to be a songwriter, so it wasn't until September of that year that his actual recording was done. The song has been covered many times, most notably by Rod Stewart in 1977 and Sheryl Crow in 2003....