This 1977 set is the debut from one of music's most emotional and beloved singers. Her career got a jump-start from her work on Norman Connors's 1976 album You Are My Starship, where Hyman gave a melancholy and skilled reading of the Stylistics' hit "Betcha by Golly Wow." That album set the standard for Hyman's career and features a classy, mellow R&B sound made with esteemed jazz/R&B players. But among her late-'70s and early-'80s output, Phyllis Hyman is, curiously, one of her most forgotten efforts, though it included many songs she would be later be identified with. Skip Scarborough's "No One Can Love You More" is indicative of her plentiful sensual charm and her rich vocal timbre. Although Hyman's vocal prowess is well-known, this set also shows that she was gifted with an uncommon maturity. Hyman was only in her mid-twenties when this was recorded, and her self-possession enabled her to glide through the majority of the material here. Hyman's version of Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "I Don't Want to Lose You" (originally recorded by the Spinners) is even more of a tearjerker. From singing the chorus in the intro to a Sarah Vaughan-like scat in the middle, the song was hers. Her debut also displays her skill: the blessing and the curse of making half-baked material interesting. On "Beautiful Man of Mine" and Hubert Eaves' "Children of the World," her vocals are undoubtedly the best thing about the tracks. Phyllis Hyman veers from instant melodic classics to unformed ideas, a mix that prevents it from being essential.
In 1977 Buddah Records released Hyman's self-titled debut LP, which featured the singles "Loving You, Losing You" and "I Don't Wanna Lose You". A year later Hyman was signed to Arista Records. Her premiere album for the label Somewhere in My Lifetime, was released in 1978. Somewhere in My Lifetime included several tracks that Phyllis had recorded for a 2nd album at Buddah titled Sing A Song.
Somewhere in My Lifetime is the third studio album by singer Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Arista Records in 1979, becoming Hyman's debut Arista release (see 1979 in music).
Six of the tracks were first used on her previous album on Buddah, with three tracks produced by Theodore Life and the title track, co-produced and arranged by Barry Manilow, added for the Arista release. The album was reissued on CD in 2008 through BMG Special Products; the release features two bonus tracks.
Somewhere in My Lifetime, Phyllis Hyman's second album (but her first for Arista), is similar to many of her efforts: a great singer, but too many so-so songs. The album starts off with a cover of Exile's disco/pop hit, "Kiss You All Over"; despite her best attempts, the horrible lyrics and the song's origins make this a waste of precious studio time. The lachrymose title-track ballad, produced by Barry Manilow and Ron Dante, finds Hyman's voice poorly recorded and placed into a schmaltzy arrangement. Still, the album features quite a few of the songs she came to be identified with: "The Answer Is You," "Gonna Make Changes," and Gary Glenn's "Be Careful (How You Treat My Love)," all skillfully produced by then-husband Larry Alexander and Skip Scarborough. The song "Be Careful" followed the Norman Connors example of providing Hyman with a sympathetic arrangement, then getting the best take possible. After all of the botched crossover attempts and so-so dance moves, Somewhere in My Lifetime ended on a good note. "Here's That Rainy Day" has her accompanied only by a piano, and she turns in an affecting performance, neither self-pitying nor melodramatic. Although this effort had a few career-threatening detours, Hyman's charisma and some solid songs make this a solid effort.
You Know How to Love Me was Phyllis Hyman's most successful album and was carefully tailored to become the artist's crossover breakthrough, with prolific producer/songwriters James Mtume and Reggie Lucas on board. The end result is a carefully constructed blend of contemporary disco-styled songs and ballads, some better than others, and the more routine tracks are always rescued by Hyman stellar pipes. The album never truly realized its full potential, but does include the song that would become one of Hyman's signature tunes, "You Know How to Love Me." The song was never a blockbuster hit, but has grown into a classic, covered by artists such as Lisa Stansfield and Robin S. Other highlights include the excellent quiet storm of "Some Way," which allows Hyman's husky voice to shine; the somber, sublime piano ballad "But I Love You"; and the jazzy saxophone ballad "Complete Me." You Know How to Love Me is as close as Hyman truly came to becoming a commercial force and is an important and essential chapter in this star's musical legacy. The album was re-released in 2002, boasting excellent liner notes by biographer David Nathan, rare photos, and a bonus track, "You're the One," recorded in 1977, which blends in perfectly with the rest of the disc. This is the case of an album that was not a blockbuster upon initial release, but, like a great overlooked film, has grown into a classic whose importance will only increase with the passing of time.
Can't We Fall in Love Again? is the fifth album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Arista Records in 1981.[2]
The original album was mainly produced by previous collaborator, Norman Connors, but Chuck Jackson was brought in to mix and complete most of the tracks and to produce the title track, when Connors dropped out.
Although Hyman was a premier vocalist, she was often given songs hat betrayed her impressive gifts, and this effort too often proves the point. Leading this 1981 set is "You Look So Good to Me," reminiscent of the Pointer Sisters' hit "He's So Shy." As talented as she was, girl-group sweetness wasn't her forte. The meandering dance workout "I Ain't Asking" is short on lyrics and Hyman has to riff over half of the song. The title track brought her back to a sense of normalcy; featuring duet partner Michael Henderson, the then-labelmates steam it up and exchange screams. With his booming voice, Henderson was one of the few male singers who had both the vocal range and persona to match her. The most pleasant surprise here is Hyman reuniting with Norman Connors on "The Love Too Good to Last," which was arranged by Paul Riser and written by Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, and Peter Allen. Hyman's take was warm, polished and sexy; she didn't give an inch on her phrasing to tackle the abrupt cadences of the lyrics. "The Sunshine of My Life," with a smooth sax solo from Gary Bartz, sounds like it came from one of Connors' own classic late-'70s or early-'80s albums.
Goddess of Love is the sixth album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Arista Records in 1983.
In 2010, the album was released on compact disc for the first time. Reel Music, an imprint of the Sony Music Entertainment company, oversaw this remastered collection and included a bonus dance re-mix of "Riding the Tiger".
This 1983 set was Hyman's last effort for Arista. During the early '80s she easily maneuvered between R&B and jazz with a skill few artists possessed. Regrettably, this takes Hyman away from jazz and often puts her knee-deep in pablum. The album splits the production duties between Narada Michael Walden and Thom Bell; the tracks with Walden may be a little too mainstream for Hyman acolytes. Glossy '80s dance exercises "Riding the Tiger and "Goddess of Love" have Hyman singing goofy lyrics like "You'll feel the fear of my name" and "My skin never lies." Even Grace Jones couldn't do anything with that. Walden acquits himself nicely with the good, hooky ballad "Why Did You Turn Me On," a song he put on one of his own albums a few yeas before. The work with Bell is below his customary excellence. He and his writers must have used all of their best tracks for Deniece Williams' classic My Melody, because Hyman is left with mostly re-treads. After a few so-so tracks, Goddess of Love does go out with a bang. The sparsely arranged "Just Twenty Miles to Anywhere" has Hyman finally getting lyrics of a substantive nature so she could soar, and displays all of the greatness Hyman had to offer; it's too bad that most of this album didn't follow suit.
"Old Friend" was released as the first single from the album in the United States. It entered the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on August 30, 1986 and peaked at no. 14 in the week dated November 1, 1986.[2] The 7" single included a shortened version of the song with the album version of "Screaming at the Moon" on the b-side.[3] A 12" single was also released, which contained a total of four tracks; the short and full-length album versions of "Old Friend", and the album and extended versions of "Screaming at the Moon".[4]
"Living All Alone" was the second U.S. single from the album. It entered the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on December 20, 1986 and peaked at no. 12 in the week dated March 7, 1987.[2] The 7" single included a shortened version of the song with "What You Won't Do for Love" as the b-side.[5] A promotional 12" release included a rare 'Special Edit' of the song which was a minute longer than the album version.[6]
"Ain't You Had Enough Love" was released as the third U.S. single. It entered the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on May 9, 1987 and peaked at no. 29 on July 11, 1987.[2] The 7" single included the album version of the track with "First Time Together" on the b-side.[7] The 12" single included an extended version of the song.[8] A promotional 12" release additionally included an instrumental and the 'Percussapella' mix.[9]
"You Just Don't Know" was the final U.S. single from Living All Alone. The 7" single included the album version of the song with "Slow Dancin'" on the b-side.[10] A promotional 12" single was also released, but unlike previous singles it contained the same content as the 7" single.[11] "You Just Don't Know" was the only single from the album which did not enter the Billboard Hot Hip-Hop/R&B Songs Chart.
"Screaming at the Moon" was released as a single in the United Kingdom, entering the singles chart on April 4, 1987 at its peak position of no. 83, staying on the chart for three weeks.[12] The U.K. 7" single included a shortened version of the song with the album version of "Ain't You Had Enough Love" on the b-side.[13] The 12" single included the extended and album versions of "Screaming at the Moon".[14] The b-side "Ain't You Had Enough Love" had a promotional 12" release in the United Kingdom, containing the extended and 'Percussapella' versions.
Coming off a successful though problematic tenure with Arista, Phyllis Hyman signed with Philadelphia International shortly after the label switched from CBS to Capitol. Like Shirley Jones' 1986 album Always in the Mood, Living All Alone typified the synth-based but still melodic mid-to-late-'80s Philly sound. The producers and writers gave her an album's worth of instant-classic singer's songs. The album's first single, the bittersweet "You Just Don't Know," typified the powerful and classy proceedings. "First Time Together" also follows the same style. While Hyman's vocals are top-notch here, fans listening to Living All Alone can't help but be struck by the sense of melancholy apparent in the sessions. That's not true of the title track, an oddly sensual song that has her trademark fire, as she does some great vocalizations and screams, and seems to live the lyrics. The poignant Thom Bell and Linda Creed gem "Old Friend" quickly became a fan favorite. Although most of Living All Alone is emotionally draining, it's one of Hyman's finest efforts.
Prime of My Life is the eighth studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman.
It was released by Philadelphia International Records on June 11, 1991 and featured "Don't Wanna Change the World", which peaked at #1 on the US Billboard R&B chart. Both the album and single were RIAA certified gold on September 24, 1992. The album charted at #10 on the Billboard R&B chart and #117 on the Billboard 200.[2]
Prime of My Life was the final studio album released during Hyman's lifetime, after which she took her own life four years later.
Listening to Phyllis Hyman's 1991 emotional tour de force Prime of My Life is at once a happy and sad experience. Happy because it finds Hyman at a moment when she was not tortured by her inner demons and tragic because it provides an undeniable glimpse into Hyman's tortured soul and the pending suicide which would materialize four years later. Prime of My Life granted the sophisticated lady her first R&B chart-topper with the saucy "Don't Wanna Change the World," which incorporates elements of new jack swing, hip-hop, and early-'90s house, and even features a rare, sexy rap by the songstress herself. The album opens with the jazzy quiet storm hit "When You Get Right Down to It" and features several shimmering, gorgeous ballads, most notably the timeless audience favorite "Meet Me on the Moon," one of the high points of Hyman's catalogue, period. Other gems include the light, bittersweet closer "Whatever Happened to Our Love," "I Can't Take It Anymore," which is a sad tune pitted against a happy beat, and the self-assured yet ultimately tragic "Prime of My Life." One of the true highlights, however, is the over-seven-minutes-in-length "Living in Confusion," which Hyman belts with unmistakable integrity, growling out the bewildered lyrics with overflowing conviction, and provides more than a glimpse into what was really going on in the singer's life. Hyman could take an average song and tear through it like a tiger, which is what made her music so appealing. This album is a true gem and proves that the husky-voiced Hyman was a timeless song stylist in a class all her own. [The Japanese version of the album includes a bonus track, "Hottest Love Around."]
I Refuse to Be Lonely is the ninth studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released posthumously in November 1995, five months after the singer's death on June 30, 1995.[4]
The album reached number 12 on the Billboard R&B albums chart and peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200.
I Refuse to Be Lonely was released five months after Phyllis Hyman's terrible suicide, and it is virtually impossible to listen to this album without realizing that many of these songs more than faintly hint at the tragedy that was brewing. This immaculately produced set begins with her self-affirming, yet ultimately tragic ballad "I Refuse to Be Lonely," which finds Hyman basically crying the lyric. Not all the songs on this set are so maudlin, however. "I Refuse to Be Lonely" is followed by the jazzy "Waiting for the Last Tear to Fall" and the dramatic and impressive "This Too Shall Pass," which finds Hyman convincing herself that her troubles will soon be over, set against a backdrop of heavy percussion and soaring backing vocals. Hyman gets jazzy on "It Takes Two" and provides a sophisticated quiet storm ballad with "Why Not Me." Hyman also sounds sexy and less depressed on the piano ballad "I'm Truly Yours" and the happier, jazzy "Back to Paradise," which still keeps with the troubling prophetic nature of the album with the repeated lyric "I've been waiting here at the gates of heaven." All of this is only heightened by the last song, prophetically titled "Give Me One Good Reason to Stay," where Hyman sings "It's true I'm leaving/My bags are at the door." Phyllis Hyman, despite all her troubles, managed to leave the world another wonderful set of classy, sophisticated quiet storm jazz ballads with I Refuse to Be Lonely, augmented by her one-of-a-kind, brutally raw and honest voice. Nancy Wilson, in the liner notes, laments Hyman's passing and also ponders at the marvels she would have produced had she chosen to record the songs of Cole Porter or George Gershwin. This album, however, only hints at the wonders which, sadly, the world will never know.
Forever with You is the tenth and final studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Volcano Records on July 28, 1998. The album was released three years after Hyman's death and contains twelve previously unreleased songs that were recorded between 1985 and 1995 during her time on the Philadelphia International Records label. The album charted on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart at No. 66 in 1998.
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