Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

There appears to be conflicting versions as to the story of this song, but the airline story seems consistent. One of the stories indicates that this hit song was recorded in 1972 by a young female artist. She was said to have been inspired by Don McLean's performance of his song, "Empty Chairs," during his concert, and wrote a poem how she felt right there and then. She then told her lyricist about her own experience and the poem she wrote.

To promote the song, Capitol programmed the song on American Airlines. Back then, airlines had different music channels - rock, classical, pop. Their playlists were on loops. Passengers couldn't skip songs or go back. You had to listen all the way through before the playlist repeated.

In 1972, on a flight from NY to LA (the Wall Street Journal story, July 29, 2019, but Songfacts story says, LA to NY), another singer happened to listen to the plane's music channels and heard the original version of this song. She recorded her own version in 1973, and, as they say, the rest is history.

The song's inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzHlyVRc9o

The original version (airline song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGlGJp3IarQ

The (remake) popular version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2n167F0eBc

Aah, the 70s...Except for the disco, 8-track tape, lava lamp, bell-bottoms, and Elton, you're OK.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

From your thread I would never have guessed the song and it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Wow... You blurred my vision. I had no idea of any of the facts you showed.
An interesting story that fits perfectly to her presence at Don McLean's show.
As for his song, it follows the same melodic lines of "Starry, starry night",
as we can almost sing it along with "Empty chairs". Thanks.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

The 70's are nothing without Disco, so please don't leave it out! I liked bell bottoms, too. Why? I could put them on or take them off all with my shoes on.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Agree. At the time I was more to Heavy Metal, but some Disco songs were great.
Bell bottoms too. And Elton, Barry (Man and White). We were eclectic then.

Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

I was just kidding about 70s and Disco and bell bottoms. The 60s and 70s were my 2 decades of wild existence.

Re: Bell bottoms - like you I could put them on or take them off with my shoes on. I can still do that today, but I can never button it. I will need bell bottoms and bell belly pair of pants to do all that.

.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

Me too...

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Funny! Thanks for the comeback.

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

I seem to remember Perry Como singing this....in the last century!

FrankR Loc: NYC

There’s a bell-like purity to Roberta Flack’s voice that always makes me stop and listen.

will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

I agree.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

"And now you know the rest of the story"; so interesting. Thanks for sharing Mark!

ft Loc: New York, USA

I don’t know when or where I first heard the original (might have been on American Airlines) but I do remember afterward my determination to see this singer in person to hear her perform it live. Lori Lieberman played in a club in Greenwich Village. I have her album (vinyl) somewhere. Seems very few people believe that Roberta Flack was not the original performer of the tune.
Thanks for the history!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Saturday Night Fever was a major hit movie. It was parodied in one of the Airplane movies.