By the '90s,
Roberta Flack had completely immersed herself in the adult contemporary portion of the radio world, and this 1991 album is concrete proof of that. Largely based on collaborations with fellow adult radio singer
Maxi Priest,
Set the Night to Music is an odd assortment of standards with a few new compositions thrown in here and there for good measure. No doubt, the album's title track is the standout hit, and one of the biggest commercial successes in
Flack's esteemed career. But there are also small surprises here and there on the album, including a stirring rendition of
Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" and the
Bell-
Creed Philly soul classic "You Make Me Feel Brand New." The production values and choice of instrumentation give this album a slightly dated feel, with a greater emphasis placed on polished synthesizers over the warm tones of a Fender Rhodes or grand piano, but all in all it's a strong album that presents
Flack's classy, distinct vocal styling in a palatable fashion. ~ Rob Theakston