First Take
Roberta Flack · 1969
46 min · 8 tracks · jazz
Soulful melodies intertwine with jazz-inflected arrangements, showcasing Flack's velvet voice and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Compared to What Start here — This opening track showcases Flack's vocal prowess and political commentary, setting a tone of introspection that resonates throughout the album.
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The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face — This haunting ballad became Flack's signature song, perfectly capturing her ability to convey deep emotion through simple yet profound lyrics.
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Angelitos Negros — Flack's interpretation of this song highlights her cultural roots while tackling themes of identity and race, making it a pivotal moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Flack's debut blends soulful melodies with jazz arrangements, showcasing her vocal talent and emotional delivery.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong, rhythmic track that sets a soulful tone, followed by a series of ballads that showcase Flack's vocal range.
- Each track features intricate piano arrangements that complement the vocal melodies, creating a rich sonic texture.
- The final track is a slow, reflective piece that contrasts with the more upbeat opening, providing a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- late-night contemplative moods
- layered, dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This debut album established Flack's reputation and included a major hit.
- Career context
- Released on June 20, 1969, 'First Take' marked Roberta Flack's debut album. At this point, she was an emerging artist, transitioning from a background in teaching music to establishing herself as a significant voice in soul and jazz.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nina Simone· Bill Withers· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 Compared to What Start here 5:16
- 2 Angelitos Negros 6:56
- 3 Our Ages or Our Hearts 6:09
- 4 I Told Jesus 6:09
- 5 Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye 4:08
- 6 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 5:22
- 7 Tryin' Times 5:08
- 8 Ballad of the Sad Young Men 7:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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