Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Roberta Flack · 1972
43 min · 10 tracks · jazz
Soulful harmonies intertwine with heartfelt lyrics, creating a rich tapestry of love and longing.
Top tracks — play these first
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You've Got a Friend Start here — This track stands out as a beautiful rendition that emphasizes the duo's chemistry, transforming Carole King's classic into a soulful exchange of reassurance and love.
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Where Is the Love — Its poignant questioning of societal issues resonates deeply, embodying the spirit of activism prevalent during the early 70s while showcasing Hathaway's emotive vocals alongside Flack's smooth delivery.
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I (Who Have Nothing) — Flack and Hathaway's interpretation imbues this classic with raw emotion, allowing their vocal interplay to convey vulnerability and strength that defines the album's essence.
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 emotive arrangements, making it a notable collaboration in soul and R&B.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album includes three cover songs that showcase the duo's vocal interplay, while the second half shifts to more original material.
- Several tracks incorporate lush string arrangements that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics, particularly in 'Where Is the Love' and 'For All We Know'.
- 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
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
- steady emotional exploration
- heartfelt harmonies for connection
- for intimate gatherings
- soulful melodies for reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This collaboration solidified Flack's reputation and showcased her emotive storytelling.
- Career context
- Released in 1972, this album marked a significant collaboration between Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, both established artists by then. Flack had gained acclaim with her hit 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', while Hathaway was recognized for his powerful vocal delivery and songwriting. Their partnership on this album showcased their combined strengths at the peak of their artistic synergy.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nina Simone· Bill Withers· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
- 1 I (Who Have Nothing) 5:03
- 2 You've Got a Friend Start here 3:25
- 3 Baby I Love You 3:27
- 4 Be Real Black for Me 3:33
- 5 You've Lost That Loving Feeling 6:38
- 6 For All We Know 3:39
- 7 Where Is the Love 2:46
- 8 When Love Has Grown 3:26
- 9 Come Ye Disconsolate 4:52
- 10 Mood 7:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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