A timeline of Roberta Flack’s career in 10 essential songs

Roberta Flack, a classically trained pianist with a soulful twist, reshaped the emotional and textural aspects of contemporary soul music through her upbringing. This renowned singer, who passed away at 88 on Monday, was known for her exceptional ability to interpret songs and her instinctive collaboration in duets. She skillfully bridged the gaps between genres such as folk, jazz, and R&B, discovering creative potential that others saw only as marketing constraints. Her music embodied the intricacies of love yet remained open to the struggles (and at times, the humiliations) of the larger world. Here is a list of 10 of her most important recordings, arranged in the order they were released.

‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ (1969)

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In simpler terms, “First Time” by American singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin, originally released in 1969, is a unique interpretation of a ballad penned by British folk artist Ewan MacColl from the late 50s. This song became Franklin’s breakout hit and one of the slowest to top Billboard’s Hot 100, with its intricate chamber-soul arrangement that moves steadily yet unhurriedly. The vocal delivery extends each phrase slightly longer than expected, adding a touch of suspense. Initially recorded for Franklin’s debut album “First Take,” the song gained significant popularity after being featured in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” Following this movie appearance, it rose to No. 1 on the charts and won a Grammy for Record of the Year.

1971 saw Carole King’s song ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ get a soulful rendition as Donny Hathaway, who had previously studied at Howard University with Flack, was enlisted to play piano and arrange the vocals for the “Chapter Two” album. Following Jerry Wexler’s suggestion from Atlantic Records, they collaborated on a gospel-inspired duet of this song, making it one of three versions released in 1971, following Carole King’s original and James Taylor’s cover.

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‘Make Me Truly Yours’ (1972)

Flack and Hathaway’s duo album in full length produced other hits like their rendition of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and “Where Is the Love,” which reached No. 5 on the Hot 100. However, this lesser-known track – penned by the duo along with Charles Mann – might be the LP’s emotional core. Flack sings, “Your hair, soft and wavy / Your physique, robust and imposing,” against a relaxed rhythm, “You don’t need to explore the world / As I hold your love right here at home.

The soulful ballad ‘Killing Me Softly’ (1973), a signature tune for Donna Summer, was transformed from a simple folk melody by Lori Lieberman. It is believed that Lieberman drew inspiration for the lyrics from witnessing Don McLean perform at the Troubadour one evening. Summer discovered this song while listening to an in-flight audio program on an airline flight. ‘Killing Me Softly’ climbed to the top of the Hot 100 charts and made Summer the first artist to win record of the year twice consecutively at the Grammys. Two decades later, Lauryn Hill and the Fugees breathed new life into this classic with their popular hip-hop rendition.

‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ (1974)

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For her sixth studio album, Rubina Flake (formerly known as Flack) stepped into the producer’s role, having worked with Joel Dorn for quite some time. This album, titled, marked the introduction of the smooth and jazzy R&B subgenre called quiet storm. One of her most tender vocal performances on this album, “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” reached No.1 as a single and was later covered by D’Angelo in his 2000 album “Voodoo.

Originally released in 1977, ‘The Closer I Get to You’ is a heartfelt ballad penned by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, who were part of Flack’s touring band and later formed the group Mtume, known for their hit “Juicy Fruit” from the early ’80s. This song brought together Flack and Hathaway once more, five years after they had collaborated on an album. Ranking at No. 2 on the Hot 100, ‘The Closer I Get to You’ feels like a private chat between two trusted friends, which is even more remarkable considering Hathaway’s fragile mental state during recording, restricting him from meeting up with Flack in person.

1979 saw Flack and Hathaway joining forces again for a second collaborative album, following the success of “Closer I Get.” Unfortunately, Hathaway passed away at 33 years old after the duo had only recorded two songs together, including this lively, upbeat tune that Stevie Wonder also helped to compose.

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In 1981, Flack released this soulful funk tune titled ‘You Stopped Loving Me’ as part of Richard Pryor’s “Bustin’ Loose” soundtrack. The song was penned by the rising star Luther Vandross, who had previously worked in Flack’s band towards the end of the 70s. Vandross acknowledged that Flack inspired his remarkable rendition of Dionne Warwick’s “A House Is Not a Home”.

‘Tonight, I Celebrate My Love’ (1983)

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Following Hathaway’s passing, I found myself deeply inspired by my collaboration with Peabo Bryson. This blossomed into a prolific creative partnership that reached its zenith with our lush duet for lovers, which became a Top 20 hit and paved the way for Bryson’s successful stint as a refined Disney balladeer in the early ’90s. His collaborations with Celine Dion (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Regina Belle (“A Whole New World”) further cemented his status during this period.

The final studio album by Roberta Flack, titled “Let It Be Roberta” (2012), could be seen as a journey back to her origins. This album, a daring reinterpretation of a dozen Beatles songs, showcased her unique touch. Tracks like the bluesy “Oh! Darling” and the pulsating “We Can Work It Out” set the tone. The album concludes with a breathtaking live recording from Carnegie Hall in 1972 of one of Paul McCartney’s most beautiful songs, encapsulating the essence of freedom and mastery – a state that Roberta Flack embodied for nearly half a century.

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2025-02-25 01:31

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