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".
(Original 1841 Broadway label pressing. Cover has ring & edge wear.)