“Feel Like Makin' Love” was written by Eugene McDaniels and first recorded by Roberta Flack. McDaniels composed it in 1974, reportedly in 45 minutes, after a conversation with a friend staying at his home in Skyforest, California. Flack’s recording was released as a single in June 1974 and later appeared on her 1975 album of the same name. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, received RIAA gold certification and earned three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The soul song also became a frequent choice for jazz musicians. Bob James, who played keyboards on Flack’s recording, recorded an instrumental version for his 1974 album One just weeks later, using the same band and reshaping the groove into a funkier arrangement. Roy Ayers Ubiquity recorded it for Change Up the Groove in 1974; that version was later sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on “Keep It Rollin'.” D’Angelo’s rendition on his 2000 album Voodoo placed the song in a neo-soul setting, with Pino Palladino on bass and Ahmir Thompson on drums.
