JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS

ROBERTA FLACK

b. 10 February 1937, Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Born into a musical family, Flack graduated from Howard University with a BA in music. She was discovered singing and playing jazz in a Washington nightclub by pianist Les McCann, who recommended her talents to Atlantic Records. Two classy albums, First Take and Chapter Two, garnered considerable acclaim for their skilful, often introspective, content before Flack achieved huge success with a poignant version of folk-singer Ewan MacColl 's ballad, 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. Recorded in 1969, it was a major international hit three years later, following its inclusion in the film Play Misty For Me. Further hits came with 'Where Is The Love?' (1972), a duet with Donny Hathaway, and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' (1973), where Flack's penchant for sweeter, more MOR-styled compositions gained an ascendancy. Her cool, almost unemotional style benefited from a measured use of slow material, although she seemed less comfortable on up-tempo songs. Flack's self-assurance wavered during the mid-70s, but further duets with Hathaway, 'The Closer I Get To You' (1978) and 'You Are My Heaven' (1980), suggested a rebirth. She was shattered when her partner committed suicide in 1979, but in the 80s Flack enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Peabo Bryson that reached a commercial, if sentimental, peak with 'Tonight I Celebrate My Love' in 1983. Set The Night To Music was produced by the highly respected Arif Mardin, but the bland duet with Maxi Priest on the title track was representative of this soulless collection of songs. Still, Roberta Flack remains a crafted, if precisionist, performer.

Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 1998

Christmas Album 1997

Roberta 1994

Set The Night To Music 1991

Oasis 1988

Born to Love [w/Peabo Bryson] 1983

I'm The One 1982

Best of Roberta Flack 1981

Featuring Donny Hathaway 1980

Blue Lights In The Basement 1977

Feel Like Makin' Love 1975

Killing Me Softly 1973

Quiet Fire 1971

Chapter Two 1970

First Take 1969

Christmas Album 1997

Christmas Song
There's Still My Joy
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
25th Of Last December
As Long As There's Christmas Because This Child Was Born
When There's Love
Little Drummer Boy
Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Roberta 1994

Let's Stay Together
Sweet Georgia Brown
The Thrill Is Gone
It Might Be You
In A Sentimental Mood
Lookin' For Another Pure Love
I Don't Care Who Knows (Baby, I'm Yours)
Prelude To A Kiss (Intro) Prelude To A Kiss
Angel Eyes
Tenderly
A Cottage For Sale
Isn't It Romantic
My Romance
You'll Never Know ('til You Let Go)

Best Of-Softly With These Songs 1993

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Where Is The Love
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Feel Like Makin' Love
The Closer I Get To You
More Than Everything
Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love)
Back Together Again Making Love
Tonight. I Celebrate My Love
Oasis
And So It Goes
You Know What It's Like
Set The Night To Music
My Foolish Heart
Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes)

Set The Night To Music 1991

Waiting Game
Set The Night To Music
When Someone Tears Your Heart In Two
Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me
You Make Me Feel Brand New
Unforgettable Summertime
Natural Things
My Foolish Heart
Friend
Always

Oasis 1988

Oasis
All Caught Up In Love
Uh-uh Ooh-ooh Look Out (Here It Comes)
Shock To My System
You Who Brought Me Love
Something Magic And So It Goes
You Know What It's Like
And So It Goes(Reprise)
My Someone To Love
(His Name) Brazil

Born to Love [w/Peabo Bryson] 1983

Tonight, I Celebrate My Love
Blame It On Me
Heaven Above Me
Born to Love Maybe
I Just came Here to Dance
Coming Alive
You're Looking like Love to Me
Can We Find Love Again

I'm The One 1982

I'm The One
'Til The Morning Comes
Love And Let Love
Never Loved Before
In The Name Of Love Ordinary Man
Making Love
Happiness
My Love For You

Best of Roberta Flack 1981

Killing Me Softly with His Song
The Closer I get to You
You've got a Friend
Feel Like Making Love
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Where is the Love? The First Time Ever I saw Your Face
Back Together, Again
You are my Heaven
If Ever I See You Again
Jesse

Featuring Donny Hathaway 1980

Only Heaven Can Wait (For You)
God Don't Like Ugly
You Are My Heaven
Disguises Don't Make Me Wait Too Long
Back Together Again
Stay With Me

Blue Lights In The Basement 1977

Why Don't You Move In With Me
The Closer I Get To You
Fine, Fine Day
This Time I'll Be Sweeter
25th Of December After You
I'd Like To Be Baby To You
Soul Deep
Love Is The Healing
Where I'll Find You

Feel Like Makin' Love 1975

Feelin' That Glow
I Wanted It Too
I Can See The Sun In Late December
Some Gospel According To Matthew
Feel Like Makin' Love Mr. Magic
Early Ev'ry Midnight
Old Heartbreak Top Ten
She's Not Blind

Killing Me Softly 1973

Killing Me Softly With His Song
Jesse
No Tears (In The End)
I'm The Girl River
Conversation Love
When You Smile
Suzanne

Quiet Fire 1971

Go Up Moses
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Sunday And Sister Jones
See You Then Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
To Love Somebody
Let Them Talk
Sweet Bitter Love

Chapter Two 1970

Reverend Lee
Do What You Gotta Do
Just Like A Woman
Let It Be Me Gone Away
Until It's Time For You To Go
The Impossible Dream
Business Goes On As Usual

First Take 1969

Compared To What
Angelitos Negros
Our Ages Or Our Hearts
I Told Jesus Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye
The First Time EverI Saw Your Face
Tryin' Times
Ballad Of The Sad Young Men