Blue Lights in the Basement [Original recording remastered]

Roberta Flack | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002J5R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sumptuous voice, pop light on the horizon, though, December 29, 2003

By 

souldrummer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blue Lights in the Basement (Audio CD)

Roberta Flack's voice is one of the treasures of black music. She blends folk, jazz, and R&B into a lovely sound that melds sophistication and soul. In many ways, Roberta Flack has had the same predicament that Nina Simone and other R&B artists have had. She can sing jazz and has some piano ability [not as much as Simone] and crafts songs. Yet Simone and Flack went down the opposite paths. Modest chart success empowered Simone to be an utterly uncompromising artist. Major chart success leads Flack to increasingly court the adult contemporary market. Not a problem for me as it gives more people the chance to hear her voice, but I prefer earlier Flack to late Flack. I enjoy this album for the Hathaway collaboration and "Move in With Me". But you also can smell the disco in "Move in With Me" and the adult pop contemporary production that slides into even these treasures.

Roberta Flack's voice always shines and I can't give even her worst work less than 3 stars. This is above average Flack. Those seeking Roberta the artist would be wiser to start with "Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway" and then pick up her earlier albums where her voice was more present and the tunes highlighted what makes her such a unique treasure.

3.5 stars

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful album, July 3, 2006

By 

Dustyfan "Dustyfan" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Lights in the Basement (Audio CD)

For my money, this is one of the best of Flack's albums. She really changes pace here, recording some really upbeat tunes such as "Why Don't You Move In With Me" and "Fine, Fine Day", but it's the ballards where her voice soars. "Twenty-Fifth Of Last December", "The Closer I Get To You" (with Donny Hathaway) and the myserious and lush "Where I'll Find You" are all breath taking. In fact, "Where I'll Find You" is one of my favorite tunes ever recorded by Flack. I understand that it is from a Ken Harper (The Wiz) production called "Bamboo" of which I've never been able to track down any information on. Also, unfortuately, some of the lyrics (especially in the bridge) are difficult to decipher. If anyone can supply more info on this song, please e-mail me. And back to the album, this is a must for anyone who cherishes Flack's lush interpretations and consistently smooth products.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Roberta Flack - Blue Lights . . ., August 18, 2007

By 

J. Teton "High in the Sky" (Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Lights in the Basement (Audio CD)

If you want an album for romantics this is it. Although most of the album you won't find on the greatest hits these tracks are all very good, blend well and will set the mood for many a night.