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. Near the end, 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