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"
Released Flag of the United Kingdom.svg October 1990

Flag of the United States.svg October 11, 1990

Flag of Germany.svg December 6, 1990
Recorded1989
Genre
Length4:16
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Brian Simpson
Bernard Jackson
Producer(s) Surface
Surface singles chronology
"Can We Spend Some Time"
(1990)
"The First Time"
(1990)
"All I Want Is You"
(1991)

"The First Time" is a single by American R&B/pop music trio Surface that hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 for two weeks, the trio's only chart-topper. The song also spent one week at number one on the U.S. R&B chart [2] and two weeks atop the adult contemporary chart. [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. February 16, 1991. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. March 2, 1991. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  7. Charts.nz
  8. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 2, 1991
  9. "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media Inc. December 21, 1991. p. YE-14.
  10. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1991". Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  11. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  12. "American single certifications – Surface – The First Time". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 7, 2025.