About

Classy, urbane, reserved, smooth, and sophisticated — all of these terms have been used to describe the music of Roberta Flack, particularly her string of romantic, light jazz ballad hits in the 1970s, which continue to enjoy popularity on MOR-oriented adult contemporary stations. Flack was the daughter of a church organist and started playing piano early enough to get a music scholarship and eventually, a degree from Howard University. After a period of student teaching, Flack was discovered singing at a club by jazz musician Les McCann and signed to Atlantic.

Her first two albums: 1969's First Take and 1970's Chapter Two were well received but produced no hit singles; however, that all changed when a version of Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," from her first LP, was included in the soundtrack of the 1971 film "Play Misty for Me". The single zoomed to number one in 1972 and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year's biggest hit. Flack followed it with the first of several duets with Howard classmate Donny Hathaway, "Where Is the Love." "Killing Me Softly with His Song" became Flack's second number one hit (five weeks) in 1973, and after topping the charts again in 1974 with "Feel Like Makin' Love," Flack took a break from performing to concentrate on recording and charitable causes.

Arc Records are proud to announce Lost Takes; a collection of tracks recorded by Roberta Flack in the sessions leading up to the recording of her seminal debut album First Take. The music has never been released on wax before and is presented here as a double LP in a beautiful midnight blue gatefold sleeve and pressed on heavy-weight 180g black vinyl with sleeve-notes from Harmony Holiday. This album marks the third instalment of the series of special reissues from the storied archives of the Atlantic Jazz archive and personally curated by DJ and Broadcaster Gilles Peterson. Hear Roberta’s take on a number of Jazz classic’s including Peterson favourite "Afro Blue" at one of her creative peaks.

“Imagine the excitement when I saw Roberta had recorded a version of Afro Blue during her demo sessions for ‘first take ‘… and then some.” - Gilles Peterson

Pressed By – The Vinyl Factory
(Album sampler currently not available, we've included the original album here)

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Label: Arc Records
Format: 2x Vinyl, LP, 45rpm, Album, Gatefold 180g
Country: UK
Released: Dec 15, 2023
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Soul, Soul-Jazz
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File under: Funk / Soul