The First Time (Surface song)

Last updated

"The First Time"
The First Time - Surface.jpg
Single by Surface
from the album 3 Deep
B-side Closer Than Friends"
ReleasedSeptember 7, 1989
RecordedJune 2, 1989
Genre
Length4:16
Label Columbia
Songwriters
Producer Surface
Surface singles chronology
"Can We Spend Some Time"
(1990)		"The First Time"
(1989)		"All I Want Is You"
(1991)

"The First Time" is a song by American R&B/pop music trio Surface, released in September 1989 by Columbia Records as the first single from their third album, 3 Deep (1990). It is written by Brian Simpson and Bernard Jackson and produced by the band. The song hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 for two weeks, the trio's only chart-topper. It also spent one week at number one on the Billboard R&B chart and two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart. [2] [3]

Contents

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (November 3, 2021). "The Number Ones: Surface's "The First Time". Stereogum . Retrieved December 19, 2023. Consider the chorus of "The First Time," a tender R&B ballad that was the only #1 hit for the group known as Surface...and "The First Time" sounded like a relic of the smoothed-out quiet storm '80s.
  2. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 559.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 237.
  4. ↑ "Bubbling Down Under: Week commencing 11 February 1991" . Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. March 2, 1991. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. February 16, 1991. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ Charts.nz
  8. ↑ "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week . January 26, 1991. p. iii. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 2, 1991
  10. ↑ "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media Inc. December 21, 1991. p. YE-14.
  11. ↑ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1991". Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ "American single certifications – Surface – The First Time". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
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