Roberta Flack - Chapter Two (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

The siren of soul!

J. Hoffman | dover, pa. United States | 08/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"as first take left you breathless, begging for more miss roberta flack gave us more indeed.her very soul runs rapid within the flowing peaceful waters in our minds,bodys,n souls.singing like the true songbird she is without no effort at all,she should definately share the queen's throne as the world's greatest singers on this mother earth.after the soulful reverand lee, she slips into the fabulous,do what you gotta do,just like a woman,let it be me, until it's time for you to go,onto the impossible dream to name the grand highlites.A MUST HAVE!!J.H.52757"

Roberta Flack at her best!

Eric V. Moye | New York, by way of Dallas | 11/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Only a strong album could adequately follow First Take, and she does so. Roberta Flack's strong sensitive voice is surely one of God's great musical gifts."Reverend Lee" is a song to play over and over again. She just tears up "Let It Be Me", and anyone listening to "Gone Away" soon after the breakup of a loving relationship assumes the risk of suicide. "Do What You Gotta Do" makes me want to pick up and run to wherever she might be when she pleads "come on back, and see me when you can".Too strong"

One of the 5 Greatest Albums of All Time, Period.

jeremiah256 | 05/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a child when this album came out and it has haunted me ever since. Turn the lights out, light a fire in the fireplace, select your favorite bottle of wine, kick the kids out, curl up on the couch with your loved one, put this album on and enjoy. Hell, this albums so good you don't need anyone. Kick everyone out. "Reverend Lee", with good reason, is the classic of this album. You'll feel Roberta's warm breath on your neck as she sings of sin and lust. It'll take you back in time to that someone whom you couldn't resist, even though you knew better. Other favorites are "Do What You Gotta Do", "Gone Away", and "Until It's Time For You To Go". Those three songs along with "Just Like A Woman" are beautiful in their meaning and the mood they create. "Business Goes On As Usual" is placed last. It's a haunting anti-war song and you'd think it wouldn't fit in with the other songs of love and regret but it does. That's because it too is about love and the lose of that loved one. My personal favorite is "Let It Be Me". Like "Impossible Dream", Roberta's voice, the tempo, what I believe is a French Horn in the background, all combine to make you realize how beautiful songs can be, even songs you've heard a hundred times, when given to a vocal talent such as Roberta Flack. After you've recharged your soul with this album, let the spouce and kids back in and give them a hug."

Brilliant and every bit as good as "First Take"

jeremiah256 | 07/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The brilliant "First Take" is a tough act to follow, so it's all the more incredible that Roberta Flack actually succeeds in capturing the same high with her performance and musicianship on "Chapter Two". I know it's easy to be cynical 'cos you truly wonder how any contemporary black artiste can offer a fresh perspective on familiar songs like "Let It Be Me", "The Impossible Dream" and "Until It's Time For You To Go" which by 1970 had become standards and are (worse) even included in the repertoire of cabaret artistes like Shirley Bassey and Andy Williams. So, you really gotta hear it to believe it. If anybody thought "First Take" was a one off or an inspired fluke shot, "Chapter Two" should prove beyond all doubt that Roberta Flack is an uncommonly gifted diva with the talent to transform just about anything from pop fodder to folk and blues standards into pure hymns of praise to which any response other than listening in rapt silence would seem less than appropriate. Opening with concert favourite "Reverend Lee", Roberta shows the rocking soul mama side to herself we seldom see when she raises the temparature by a few degrees, breathing and panting over a cooking bass on this slow burning number to deliver a knock out performance. From there on, the tempo slows down with masterful readings of Jimmy Webb's "Do What You Gotta Do" and Bob Dylan's "Just Like A Woman", songs also recorded around the same time by Nina Simone, the other great black diva, who judged on these performances justifiably regarded Roberta as a serious rival for her fan base in the early 70s. The three familiar standards that follow - the sequence broken only by the moving lament "Gone Away" - are majestic virtuoso performances featuring some of the most heartfelt and inspired singing by Roberta ever. The musical accompaniment on "Chapter Two", like all of her early albums, is typically tasteful and restrained, never intrusive or dominating, allowing her naturally unforced and peerless phrasing and performance to carry the songs. The closing anti-war number, "Business Goes On As Usual", is another highlight. It is also quintessentially 70s, featuring a socially conscious Roberta at her most ironic. As with "First Take" and "Quiet Fire", listening to "Chapter Two" reminds us of why we love Roberta Flack. No black artiste with self accompaniment sings so powerfully and majestically yet so naturally and freely from the heart the way she does. "Chapter Two" is in my opinion every bit a brilliant as "First Take". Like I said, you gotta hear it to believe it !"

Search - Roberta Flack :: Chapter Two

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews