"Set the Night to Music" is a song written by Diane Warren and recorded by American rock band Starship for their second LP, No Protection (1987). It became a major hit for American singer Roberta Flack in 1991. Starship's original version became a Top-10 hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number nine in the spring of 1988, and also charted minorly in Canada. The song appeared at the end credits of the 1988 fantasy-comedy film Vice Versa starring Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage.

Cash Box said of the Starship version that "punctuated by lush strings and acoustic guitars, it's as warm and appealing a ballad as they have ever put on record."

Roberta Flack cover Roberta Flack covered "Set the Night to Music" as a duet with Maxi Priest. The song is the title track to Flack's album Set the Night to Music (1991).

Flack's rendition reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine in Canada;RPM Top Singles, November 23, 1991 it was her final charting Billboard Hot 100 hit. The song was a bigger Adult Contemporary hit, reaching number two in the US and number one in Canada.RPM Adult Contemporary, December 7, 1991

Personnel Roberta Flack – lead vocals Robbie Kondor – keyboards, programming, arrangements Sammy Merendino – drum programming Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion Arif Mardin – string arrangements and conductor Gene Orloff – concertmaster Jerry Barnes – backing vocals Katreese Barnes – backing vocals Maxi Priest – lead vocals

Charts Weekly charts Starship Chart (1988)PeakpositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)92US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)9

Roberta Flack Chart (1991–1992)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)80Canada Top Singles (RPM)RPM Top Singles, November 23, 19919Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)RPM Adult Contemporary, December 7, 19911Europe (European Hit Radio)38UK Airplay (Music Week)40US Cash Box Top 1005

Year-end charts Chart (1991)RankCanada Top Singles (RPM)RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991 67Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)17 Chart (1992)RankUS Adult Contemporary (Billboard)38US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 199248

References

External links (Roberta Flack) (Jefferson Starship)