Quiet Fire proves to be an apt title, as Flack's MOR-informed jazz and gospel vocals simmer just below the surface on the eight sides here.
Forgoing the full-throttled delivery of, say, Aretha Franklin, Flack translates the pathos of gospel expression into measured intensity and sighing, elongated phrases.
There's even a bit of Carole King's ashen tone in Flack's voice, as manifested on songs like "Let Them Talk," Van McCoy's "Sweet Bitter Love," and a meditative reworking of King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." The album's other high-profile cover, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," features the ideal setting for Flack's airy pipes with a tasteful backdrop of strings and a chorus featuring soul songstress Cissy Houston (Whitney's mom).
Switching from this hushed sanctity, Flack digs into some groove-heavy southern soul on "Go Up Moses," "Sunday and Sister Jones," and an amazing version of the Bee Gees hit "To Love Somebody" (this perennial number has been done by everyone from Rita Marley to Hank Williams, Jr.).
Flack finally completes the modern triumvirate of southern music, adding the country tones of Jimmy Webb's "See You Then" to the Quiet Fire's stock of gospel and soul.
And thanks to top players like guitarist Hugh McCracken, organist Richard Tee, bassist Chuck Rainey, and drummer Bernard Purdie, the varied mix all comes off sounding seamless.
One of Flack's best.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go up MosesJoel Dorn, Roberta Flack, Jesse Jackson | Roberta Flack | Play | 05:23 | 12 MB | 0 MB |
| 2 | Bridge over Troubled WaterPaul Simon | Roberta Flack | Play | 07:16 | 16 MB | 0 MB |
| 3 | Sunday and Sister JonesGene McDaniels | Roberta Flack | Play | 05:00 | 11 MB | 0 MB |
| 4 | See You ThenJimmy Webb | Roberta Flack | Play | 03:42 | 8 MB | 0 MB |
| 5 | To Love SomebodyBarry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Sharon Robinson | Roberta Flack | Play | 06:43 | 15 MB | 0 MB |
| 6 | Let Them TalkSonny Thompson | Roberta Flack | Play | 03:54 | 8 MB | 0 MB |
| 7 | Sweet Bitter LoveVan McCoy | Roberta Flack | Play | 06:05 | 13 MB | 0 MB |
| 8 | Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow | Roberta Flack | Play | 04:10 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 42 mins | 96 MB | |||||
| 0 mins | 0 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshie Armstead | Vocals (Background) |
| 2 | Jim Bailey | Vocals (Background) |
| 3 | Seymour Barab | Cello |
| 4 | Rod Bristow | Photography |
| 5 | David Carey | Vibraphone |
| 6 | Ron Carter | Bass, Guest Artist |
| 7 | Deodato | Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements |
| 8 | Joel Dorn | Composer, Producer, Vocals (Background) |
| 9 | Bill Eaton | Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements |
| 10 | Joe Farrell | Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 11 | Roberta Flack | Arranger, Composer, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals |
| 12 | Ira Friedlander | Cover Design |
| 13 | Barry Gibb | Composer |
| 14 | Maurice Gibb | Composer |
| 15 | Gerry Goffin | Composer |
| 16 | Lewis Hahn | Engineer |
| 17 | Corky Hale | Harp |
| 18 | Hilda Harris | Vocals (Background) |
| 19 | Cissy Houston | Vocals (Background) |
| 20 | Ted Hoyle | Cello |
| 21 | Jesse Jackson | Composer |
| 22 | Wally Kane | Bassoon |
| 23 | Carole King | Composer |
| 24 | Hubert Laws | Flute |
| 25 | Buddy Lucas | Harmonica |
| 26 | Ralph MacDonald | Congas, Percussion |
| 27 | Arif Mardin | Flute Arrangement, String Arrangements, Vocals (Background) |
| 28 | Les McCann | Vocals (Background) |
| 29 | Van McCoy | Composer |
| 30 | Hugh McCracken | Guitar |
| 31 | Gene McDaniels | Composer, Vocals (Background) |
| 32 | Kermit Moore | Cello |
| 33 | Romeo Penque | Flute, Sax (Soprano) |
| 34 | Terry Plumeri | Bass (Acoustic) |
| 35 | Seldon Powell | Sax (Tenor) |
| 36 | Bernard "Pretty" Purdie | Drums |
| 37 | Chuck Rainey | Bass, Bass (Electric) |
| 38 | George Ricci | Cello |
| 39 | Sharon Robinson | Composer |
| 40 | Paul Simon | Composer |
| 41 | Billy Slapin | Flute |
| 42 | Grady Tate | Drums, Percussion |
| 43 | Richard Tee | Organ |
| 44 | Bruce Tergesen | Engineer |
| 45 | Tasha Thomas | Vocals (Background) |
| 46 | Sonny Thompson | Composer |
| 47 | Sammy Turner | Vocals (Background) |
| 48 | Jimmy Webb | Composer |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |