For the First Time (Brenda Lee and Pete Fountain album)

For the First Time is a studio album by American singer Brenda Lee and American instrumentalist Pete Fountain. Credited under the names "Brenda and Pete", For the First Time was released by Decca Records on March 15, 1968, and featured 11 tracks. The recordings featured Lee performing lead vocals while Fountain provided instrumentation solos on his clarinet. The album was met with positive reviews from critics following its release. It also made the US albums chart in 1968.

Background, recording and content
Known for her early sixties teen pop songs, Brenda Lee had found success with singles like "I'm Sorry", "All Alone Am I" and "Fool No. 1". Separately, Pete Fountain first found success as an instrumentalist performing on The Lawrence Welk Show in the late fifties. His popularity led him to opening a nightclub in New Orleans, Louisiana. The pair first met in 1960 when Fountain had first opened his New Orleans nightclub, which ultimately led to the duo performing onstage that evening. Their collaboration in 1960 led to the idea of Lee and Fountain recording together, which finally occurred later in the decade.

For the First Time was recorded in September 1967. The sessions were produced by Owen Bradley and Charles "Bud" Dant. The album was a collection of ten tracks, featuring Lee singing lead vocals and Fountain performing solos on the clarinet. Music chosen for the project was Jazz and pop-influenced. Its opening track was the song "Cabaret" from the musical of the same name. Another musical theater song included on the album was the song "Anything Goes" from the musical of the same name. The pairing also covered pop songs of the era such as "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)".

Release, reception, chart performance and singles
For the First Time was released by Decca Records on March 15, 1968. It was distributed as a vinyl LP with five selections on side one and six selections on side two. The disc credited the performers under the title "Brenda and Pete". The album was met with positive reviews from critics and publications. Billboard found the duo "complement[ed] each other splendidly". Cashbox also remarked positively of the pairing between Lee and Fountain. "The LP should prove popular with a wide listenership," they concluded. AllMusic's Greg Adams gave the disc three out of five stars and wrote, "For the First Time isn't a masterpiece, but it does make one wonder whether Brenda Lee could have gained acceptance in the jazz field. After all, if Teresa Brewer did it..."

For the First Time featured one single as well. The duo's version of "Cabaret" was released as a seven-inch single in March 1968 by Decca. The disc reached a charting position on the US Billboard 200 record survey in 1968, peaking at number 187. It was among Brenda Lee's lowest-charting albums on Billboard and her first to chart since 1966. It was Fountain's only charting Billboard album.

Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of For the First Time.


 * Owen Bradley – Producer
 * Hal Buksbaum – Cover photo
 * Charles "Bud" Dant – Director, producer
 * Brenda Lee – Vocals
 * Pete Fountain – Clarinet