Is Set the Night to Music a good place to start with Roberta Flack?

Yes, Set the Night to Music is recommended as a starting point for new Roberta Flack listeners. Soulful melodies intertwine with jazz-inflected arrangements, showcasing Flack's emotive vocals and rich musicality. By 1991, Roberta Flack was in a period of artistic evolution, having gained fame in the 1970s with hits like 'Killing Me Softly'. 'Set the Night to Music' marked her return to the studio after a five-year hiatus, aiming to re-establish her presence in the adult contemporary scene. This album features collaborations that blend her classic sound with contemporary influences.

Who is Set the Night to Music for?

Set the Night to Music works well if you're into intimate moments for reflection, steady pacing for evening relaxation and smooth vocals for cozy ambiance.

How many songs are on Set the Night to Music?

Set the Night to Music has 11 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Set the Night to Music

Roberta Flack · 1991

50 min · 11 tracks · jazz

Soulful melodies intertwine with jazz-inflected arrangements, showcasing Flack's emotive vocals and rich musicality.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Waiting Game Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Set the Night to Music — This title track encapsulates the album's romantic essence with its smooth instrumentation and showcases Flack's ability to evoke deep emotion through song.
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You Make Me Feel Brand New — Flack's rendition of this classic showcases her vocal mastery, breathing new life into a well-known love ballad with fresh emotional depth.
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Summertime — Her interpretation of this jazz standard highlights Flack's versatility and connection to traditional jazz elements, merging them beautifully with her soulful style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album features strong vocals and arrangements but lacks a cohesive flow across its runtime.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a slow to mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a more upbeat rhythm.
Flack's vocal delivery is prominent throughout, often accompanied by lush instrumental arrangements that include strings and horns.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

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

intimate moments for reflection
steady pacing for evening relaxation
smooth vocals for cozy ambiance
heartfelt themes of love and
for quiet gatherings

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy tracks
prefer fast-paced listening

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Reaffirms Flack's appeal and showcases her artistic evolution in the 90s.
Career context: By 1991, Roberta Flack was in a period of artistic evolution, having gained fame in the 1970s with hits like 'Killing Me Softly'. 'Set the Night to Music' marked her return to the studio after a five-year hiatus, aiming to re-establish her presence in the adult contemporary scene. This album features collaborations that blend her classic sound with contemporary influences.
Stylistic neighbors: Nina Simone· Bill Withers· Aretha Franklin