Chapter Two
Roberta Flack · 1970
38 min · 8 tracks · jazz
A seamless blend of jazz-inflected soul and folk, showcasing Flack's rich vocals and emotive storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Just Like a Woman — This cover of Bob Dylan's classic highlights Flack's ability to reinterpret popular songs, infusing them with her unique emotional depth and vocal prowess.
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Reverend Lee Start here — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its soulful melody and poignant lyrics that reflect themes of love and longing.
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Do What You Gotta Do — This song captures a sense of resolute empowerment, showcasing Flack's expressive vocal delivery amidst a lush instrumental backdrop.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances and arrangements but lacks the impact of her later work.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow tempo track, 'Reverend Lee', and maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace throughout the first half.
- Several tracks incorporate lush string arrangements that complement the piano and rhythm section, creating a rich sonic texture.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective emotional exploration
- steady, calming listening experience
- rich vocal storytelling
- thoughtful reflections and moods
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Flack's presence and showcased her versatility.
- Career context
- Released on August 12, 1970, Chapter Two was Roberta Flack's second studio album, following her self-titled debut which gained critical acclaim. By this point in her career, she was establishing herself as a powerful voice in adult contemporary music, setting the stage for her subsequent commercial success with hits like 'Killing Me Softly.'
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nina Simone· Bill Withers· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 Reverend Lee Start here 4:32
- 2 Do What You Gotta Do 4:10
- 3 Just Like a Woman 6:15
- 4 Let It Be Me 4:59
- 5 Gone Away 5:16
- 6 Until It’s Time for You to Go 4:59
- 7 The Impossible Dream 4:42
- 8 Business Goes on as Usual 3:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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