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Mindblowing work from Roberta Flack – an album that should be in the collection of any fan of righteous soul music! Forget all the wimpier modes of Flack's later years – because here, the young Roberta is a vision of positive power and spiritual soul – a singer with roots in jazz, which helps to transform some of the album's very surprising song choices – and a depth and sensitivity that goes way past the usual female soul modes of the time. Donny Hathaway handled half the arrangements for the record – a perfect choice for Flack – and Deodato handles the other, with some large arrangements that still have just the right sort of gentleness to go with her voice. Titles include a version of "Reverend Lee", penned by Eugene Daniels – and the great "Gone Away", written by Curtis Mayfield, Leroy Hutson, and Hathaway – plus the tracks "Just Like A Woman", "Do What You Gotta Do", "Business Goes On As Usual", and "Until It's Time For You To Go".

What can we say? We've heard this one a million times, it sold over a million copies – but it's still incredible! The record is Roberta's first, and it features her in a mellow trio format, augmented by some occasional larger arrangements by William Fischer. At most points, though, the sound is incredibly spare – with vocals that are much more soulful than any of Roberta's other records, and a sound that hints at Nina Simone, but which has it's own jazzy groove and deep sense of feeling. Includes the classic funky version of "Compared To What", plus "Angelitos Negros", "Our Ages Our Our Hearts", and "Tryin Times".

No matter how many times we'd heard Roberta Flack and winced during the 70s, we have to admit that we actually enjoy hearing her quite a bit these days – especially on material like this, pulled from her classic years at Atlantic when she was forging a whole new sound that was a unique blend of soul, jazz, and spiritualism. The album includes the famous title cut, remade by The Fugees years later – plus a version of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne", and the cuts "River", "No Tears", "I'm The Girl", and "Conversation Love".

Over the years, the team of Flack & Hathaway became such an adult easy soul cliche that it's easy to forget what an amazing record this is! At the time of its release, Flack and Hathaway were some of the hippest forces in soul. Individually, each had taken the music to new heights and new audiences, through the use of jazzy phrasing and sophisticated lyrics, while never selling out in the way that earlier pop soul acts had been reduced to. Flack's somber folksy style is a perfect match for the warm spirituality of Hathaway – and the pair work beautifully in counterpoint on hits like "You've Got A Friend" and "Where Is The Love", as well as on more obscure numbers like "Be Real Black For Me", "When Love Has Grown", and "For All We Know". The album also features a 7 minute spare acoustic/electric piano instrumental called "Mood".

A sweet 70s classic from Roberta Flack – recorded with a mellow jazzy undercurrent that really fits the spirit of the title! The set's a bit more varied in moods than some of Flack's previous Atlantic efforts – showing a stretching of wings from Roberta, but still very much in some righteous territory overall – given that Eugene McDaniels is overseeing the record on production. Arrangements are by Harry Whittaker, Hugh McCrackin, Leon Pendarvis, and Roberta herself – and instrumentation is warmly electric, yet never too slick to wash away the deeper soul of Flack's vocals. Titles include "The Closer I Get To You", "Why Don't You Move In With Me", "Love Is The Healing", "Soul Deep", "Where I'll Find You", "25th Of Last December", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", and "Fine Fine Day".

Obscure bit of spiritual soul by Wayne Davis, who also recorded another record for the Black Fire label (home of Oneness of Juju). Roberta Flack guests on this album, and gives him the thumbs up in the notes on the back, and the whole thing's got the same sort of jazzy soul feel of her first album, or of other work in the same vein. Includes a nice long one called "Joel 2:28", plus "I Love You So", and a cover of "Somebody's Watching You". Very righteous stuff!

A very hip record of vocal tracks – done in the same sort of spiritual soul style that Les introduced on Roberta Flack's first album, and which was also showing up on some of Donny Hathaway's work for Atlantic. While the record is not on of McCann's funkiest, it more than makes up for that with the well-conceived vocal performances – especially on the tracks that feature arrangements by William S Fischer. Titles include "What I Call Soul", "How Many Broken Wings", "Can't We Be Strangers Again", "Comment", and "Baby Baby".

The last album ever from the amazing Minnie Riperton – and one of her greatest records as well! The album was sadly issued after Minnie's untimely early passing from this planet – but it's a heavenly batch of tunes that definitely shows that her love of music lives forever – thanks not only to a strong talent for songwriting and sublime production from husband Richard Rudolph – but also some important help from a variety of all-star guests who are all brought together out of deep affection for Minnie. George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, Patrice Rushen, Peabo Bryson and others all make key appearances here – working with arrangements from Johnny Pate, and vocals the Minnie recorded for the record before its completion. Titles include the perennial favorite "Here We Go" – easily one of Minnie's greatest tunes ever – plus "I'm In Love Again", "You Take My Breath Away", "Strange Affair", "Island In The Sun", and " The Song Of Life (La-La-La)".

Culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! 18 tracks inall, including "The Ghetto" by Donny Hathaway, "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" by Tyrone Davis, "Compared To What" by Les McCann & Eddie Harris, "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" and "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin, "Groove Me" by King Floyd, "Patches" by Clarence Carter, "Funky Nassau (parts 1 & 2)" by the Beginning Of The End, "Thin Line Between Love & Hate" by the Persuaders, "You've Got A Friend" and "Where Is The Love?" by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, "Clean Up Woman" by Betty Wright, "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "Mighty Love" and "I'll Be Around" by the Spinners, "Killing Me Softly" and "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Roberta Flack and "Lo9ve Won't Let Me Wait" by Major Harris.