Flack's first collection of holiday recordings includes both standards ("Christmas Song," "We Three Kings of Orient Are," "Little Drummer Boy," "O Come All Ye Faithful"), plus newly-written tunes ("There's Still My Joy," "25th of Last December" and the Peabo Bryson duet "As Long As There's Christmas," which was featured in the direct-to-video Disney film, Beatuy and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas). For it's smooth sound and Flack's fine vocals, it is recommended to her fans. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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, All Music Guide
A Caribbean mood on title and "Shock to My System." ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide
The combination of Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack undeniably ranks atop the all-time great duet parings in the history of R&B. Any opportunity to have one guest on the other's recordings brought out a sensual energy not to be denied, similar to the magnetic duets between Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye for Motown during the '60s. This seven-song session didn't yield any timeless classics à la "The Closer I Get to You," but Flack's distinct and beautiful voice brings a level of class to this outing that few of her contemporaries were able to achieve. Two Stevie Wonder-penned compositions, "You Are My Heaven" and "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long," bring Wonder's unique arrangements together and give this album a more uptempo feel than most of the prior work of Flack and Hathaway, both as solo artists and as a team. The album's climatic piece, "Back Together Again," helps to conclude the album on an upbeat note before breaking it down again into a soft, gentle finale of calm, familiar waters. The realization that these tracks are some of the final recordings Hathaway would appear on before his tragic death brings an element of melancholy to the listening experience. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide