Quiet Fire
Roberta Flack · 1971
42 min · 8 tracks · jazz
A soulful blend of jazz-inflected arrangements and deeply emotive vocals that resonate with intimacy and warmth.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Go Up Moses Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
-
→
Bridge Over Troubled Water — Flack's rendition transforms this classic into a deeply personal expression, showcasing her vocal range and emotional depth while reimagining its iconic melody.
-
→
To Love Somebody — This track highlights Flack's ability to convey vulnerability through her singing, turning the Bee Gees' original into a heartfelt plea for connection.
-
→
Sweet Bitter Love — With its rich instrumentation and poignant lyrics, this song encapsulates the bittersweet nature of love, demonstrating Flack's interpretative prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Flack's emotive delivery and the album's rich arrangements create an engaging listening experience, though it follows familiar jazz-pop templates.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, soulful track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a well-known cover that showcases Flack's vocal range.
- Each song features lush arrangements with prominent piano and string sections, creating a rich sonic backdrop for the vocals.
- The tempo varies across tracks, with some maintaining a steady groove while others shift to more contemplative moments, particularly in the latter half.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
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
- steady melodic progression throughout
- emotive vocals for introspection
- ideal for reflective evenings
- poignant storytelling in each track
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening sessions
- seek upbeat party anthems
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Helped solidify Flack's reputation following her breakout hit earlier that year.
- Career context
- When Quiet Fire was released in November 1971, Roberta Flack was still riding the success of her breakout hit 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' which had topped the charts earlier that year. This album followed closely after her self-titled debut, marking a period where Flack began to refine her signature sound, blending soul, jazz, and folk influences into a cohesive style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nina Simone· Bill Withers· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 Go Up Moses Start here 5:20
- 2 Bridge Over Troubled Water 7:13
- 3 Sunday and Sister Jones 5:00
- 4 See You Then 3:43
- 5 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow 4:06
- 6 To Love Somebody 6:42
- 7 Let Them Talk 3:53
- 8 Sweet Bitter Love 6:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.