Roberta Flack – First Take

Wrong John Pizzarelli tagged here. This one is John Pizzarelli Jr and was 9 years old when this record came out. It's his father John "Bucky" Pizzarelli who plays guitar on this record.

Under rated album to say the least! Atlantic pressing is quiet and clean this many years later.

if you have never heard of Roberta Flack or her beautiful voice this is a great introduction. if you see one buy it!!!

She’s so fucking cool. Pressing is warm yet crisp, and does right by her. Love this album.

Dynamic, wide pressing of a classic album, thanks to the expert cut made by the always dependable George Piros. P.S. Respinning this today in Roberta's memory. RIP 2.24.25

In my opinion it isn't as good as the vg+/nm 1969 original that I also have, but is still enjoyable and perfectly listenable. Classic album.

Fantastic album - very disapointing sound on this pressing though. My copy looks clean, but has severe surface noise. Not sure why.

What an amazing album. So raw and emotive. I’m glad I found my copy by chance, in a bargain bin for $10.

Although made in the UK in 1969, the label on it is blue on top half and orange on bottom half.

Plays mint.

Favorite track: I told Jesus. It’s like we’re privileged to be privy to a conversation between Flack and Jesus.

Anwen Crawford (October, 2020) sums it up like this:

At the centre of First Take is Flack’s arrangement of the hymn “I Told Jesus”. It’s a song about the cost of following one’s conscience. The singer asks Jesus to change her name, and Jesus warns her, “The world will turn away from you, child, if I change your name.” The singer replies that this will be alright, and as the world does exactly what Jesus has predicted – father, mother, brother each turning away – Flack digs into the bass octaves on her piano like a climber finding foothold. Horns and strings rise around her, clouds that skim the summit that she’s seeking. For the final time she vows, “It’d be alright, if He’d change my name.”

Beautiful music but not the best mastering (if this album ever had one). Lots of surface noise (in the music not the pressing).

Roberta had supposedly sung and performed there in that club own the cover, over eight-hundred songs... -- Dave