Blue Lights in the Basement is the sixth studio album by American singer Roberta Flack, released by Atlantic Records on December 13, 1977. A commercial success, it peaked at number eight on the US Billboard 200, becoming her third top-ten album on the chart, while also reaching number five on the R&B albums chart. In February 1978, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments over 500,000 copies.
The album features the single "The Closer I Get to You", a duet with Flack's friend and fellow soul musician Donny Hathaway, which became the biggest hit from the album, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart. The collaboration with Hathaway would be one of his final singles released in his lifetime before his death in 1979.
Background Blue Lights in the Basement was produced by Flack along with Joe Ferla and Gene McDaniels. The track "After You," a song released originally by Diana Ross in 1976, would be the first of several Michael Masser compositions Flack would record (with the 1983 Peabo Bryson duet "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" becoming a million-seller). In 2008, she would cite "After You" as one of her favorite recordings.Hackensack Record 8 February 2008 "Celebrating Her Love of Love: Flack to pour her heart into Valentine's Day performance" by Ian Spelling p.15
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Jason Elias found that the "album finds Flack responding to [...] changing times with a batch of smooth tracks and a polished and accomplished production. Of course by this time, she seemed to be divorced from the intelligent and recondite work that typified the early part of her career. Some of the tracks here do come close to that style [...] Flack is indeed in great voice here, but Blue Lights in the Basement is most notable for its hit single rather than the tracks that surround it."
Billboard worte: "Roberta's back in time for Christmas with a strong seasonal tune that could be a classic wrapped up in an LP containing nine other soft, warm ballads that are impeccably produced and arranged, but lacking the drama of her previous hits. Her voice shines through the orchestration, however."
Commercial performance Blue Lights in the Basement was a commercial success, peaking at number eight on the US Billboard 200, becoming her third top-ten album on the chart. It also reached number five on the R&B albums chart. On February 27, 1978, the album received a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments over 500,000 copies.
Track listing
Personnel Performers and musicians
Roberta Flack – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, arrangements Paul Griffin, Don Grolnick, Rob Mounsey – keyboards Ronnie Foster – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals Leon Pendarvis – keyboards, backing vocals, musical arrangements Harry Whitaker – keyboards, musical arrangements Hugh McCracken – guitar, musical arrangements Reggie Lucas, Jeff Mironov, David Spinozza, John Tropea – guitars Basil Fearrington, Anthony Jackson, Will Lee – electric bass Gary King – electric bass, musical arrangements Steve Gadd, Howard King, Idris Muhammad, Allan Schwartzberg, Jimmy Wong – drums Errol "Crusher" Bennett, David Carey, Jimmy Maelen – percussion James Mtume – percussion, backing vocals Michael Kamen – oboe solo (10), musical arrangements Donny Hathaway – lead vocals (2) Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Yvonne Lewis, Gene McDaniels, Zach Sanders, Brenda White, & Deniece Williams – backing vocals
Technical
Joe Ferla – producer, engineer, remixing Rubina Flake & Gene McDaniels – producers Ahmet Ertegun – executive producer Brian Christian, Mike Moran, Ralph Moss, Phil Schier, & Ted Spencer – engineers Jack Adelman – mastering Stewart Bosley & Gazebo Group – album design Dave Gahr – back photography John Pinderhughes – front photography
Studios Recorded at The Hit Factory, Columbia Recording Studios, RCA Studios, and Record Plant N.Y.C. (New York, NY); Record Plant and Westlake Audio (Los Angeles, CA); Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA); P.S. Recording Studios (Chicago, IL).
Charts + Weekly chart performance for Blue Lights in the Basement Chart (1977) Peakposition
Certifications
References