Set the Night to Music (album) explained

Set the Night to Music
Type:	studio
Artist:	Roberta Flack
Cover:	Set the night to music (album cover).jpg
Released:	September 17, 1991
Recorded:	1991
Genre:	R&B, soul
Length:	50:09
Label:	Atlantic
Producer:	Arif Mardin, Ahmet Ertegün (Co-producer "My Foolish Heart"), Joe Mardin (Co-producer "When Someone Tears Your Heart in Two" & "Summertime")
Prev Title:	Oasis
Prev Year:	1988
Next Year:	1993

Set the Night to Music is an album released by Roberta Flack in 1991 on Atlantic Records. The title track, written by Diane Warren and originally the 11th track of Starship's 1987 album No Protection, was remade as a duet with Maxi Priest and reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.^[1] In Canada, "Set the Night to Music" peaked at number nine on the pop singles chart and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[2] It became the 17th biggest Canadian Adult Contemporary hit of 1991.^[3]

Track listing

1. "The Waiting Game" (Claude Gaudette, Alan Roy Scott) - 4:38
   • Rap performed by Quincy Jones
2. "Set the Night to Music" (Diane Warren) - 5:23
   • Duet with Maxi Priest
3. "When Someone Tears Your Heart In Two" (Bob Gaudio, Madeline Stone) - 4:04
4. "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me" (Bette Midler, Robert Kraft, Barry Reynolds) - 4:56
5. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (Thomas Bell, Linda Creed) - 4:58
6. "Unforgettable" (Irving Gordon; Intro written by Arif Mardin) - 5:30
   • Duet with Mark Stevens
7. "Summertime" (Sharon Robinson, Leonard Cohen) - 4:22
8. "Natural Thing" (Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes) - 4:41
9. "My Foolish Heart" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) - 4:39
10. "Friend" (Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes) - 3:00
11. "Always" (Irving Berlin; Closing verse written by Roberta Flack and Barry Miles) - 4:35

Personnel

• Roberta Flack – lead vocals, main backing vocals (1), arrangements (11)
• Steve Skinner – keyboards (1, 4), programming (1, 4), arrangements (1, 4), additional keyboards (8), drum programming (8)
• John Mahoney – Synclavier programming (1)
• Joe Mardin – additional keyboards (1, 4, 10, 11), additional programming (1, 4), keyboards (3, 7, 9), programming (3, 7, 9, 10), synth bass (3, 9), arrangements (3, 7, 10), string arrangements and conductor (7), keyboard solo (10), drum programming (11)
• Robbie Kondor – keyboards (2, 6, 11), programming (2, 6, 11), arrangements (2), additional arrangements (11)
• Robbie Buchanan – acoustic piano (3)
• David LeBolt – keyboards (5), programming (5), arrangements (5)
• Reggie Griffin – keyboards (8), programming (8), drum programming (8), backing vocals (8, 9), arrangements (8)
• Keith Barnhart – additional keyboards (9), additional programming (9)
• Greg Phillinganes – main keyboards (9), keyboards (10)
• Michael O'Reilly – guitar (4)
• Sammy Merendino – drum programming (1, 2)
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (2)
• Andy Snitzer – alto saxophone (4), tenor saxophone (6, 9)
• Rob Paparozzi – harmonica (6)
• Arif Mardin – arrangements (1, 4, 6, 8, 9), string arrangements and conductor (2, 6, 9), vocal arrangements (8, 9)
• Shelton Becton – additional arrangements (8)
• Barry Miles – additional arrangements (11)
• Gene Orloff – concertmaster (2, 6, 7, 9)
• Jerry Barnes – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), vocal arrangements (8), arrangements (10), bass (10)
• Katreese Barnes – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), soprano saxophone (4), alto saxophone (8), vocal arrangements (8)
• Quincy Jones – rap (1)
• Maxi Priest – lead vocals (2)
• Mark Stevens – backing vocals (3, 5, 8), lead vocals (6)
• Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (4, 5, 7)
• Rachele Cappelli – backing vocals (4, 5, 6, 9)
• Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (4, 5)
• Patti Austin – backing vocals (6)
• Lani Groves – backing vocals (6, 7)
• Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (9)

Production

• Arif Mardin – producer
• Joe Mardin – co-producer (3, 7)
• Michael O'Reilly – recording, mixing
• Jack Joseph Puig – additional recording
• David Richards – additional recording
• Bruce Buchanan – assistant engineer
• Bruce Calder – assistant engineer
• Steven Deur – assistant engineer
• Suzanne Dyer – assistant engineer
• Steve Holroyd – assistant engineer
• Jeff Lippay – assistant engineer
• Brian Pollack – assistant engineer
• Ken Quartarone – assistant engineer
• Jay Ryan – assistant engineer
• David Schiffman – assistant engineer
• Arthur Steuer – assistant engineer
• George Marino – mastering
• Suzane Koga – production coordination
• Lisa Maldonado – production coordination
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Thomas Bricker – design
• Bridgette Lancome – photography

Studios

• Recorded at Atlantic Studios, Unique Recording Studios, The Hit Factory, RPM Studios, Soundtrack Studios and Skyline Studios (New York City, New York); Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California).
• Mixed at Right Track Recording (New York City, New York).
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).

Notes and References

1. allmusic > Set the Night to Music > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles
2. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
3. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.