Customer Reviews

Loving You Losing You: Classic Balladry

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Before leaving this world for the next, the late Phyllis Hyman contributed her voice in singing some of the most beautiful ballads I have ever heard. This album, a short compilation of her greatest hits, was the album that introduced me to the legend that Hyman was and forever would be. Songs like "Gonna Make Changes," and "Betcha By Golly Wow," showcase the true vocal talent his singer had. Unlike many of today's soul singers, Hyman's vocals are pure innocence and her style can never be reproduced in today's world of sythesizers and sampling.

If you want to discover one of the greatest jazz voices the music world has ever known, then by this album. Let me warn you, that once you have listened to this album, you will be craving more and more of this talented vocalist.

No music collection is complete without this piecce. Phyllis is one artist who did not get the recognition that I felt she deserved

Phyllis Hyman burst onto the scene in 1979 with a couple of #1 R&B/pop dance tracks (You Know How To Love Me and Don't Wanna Change The World), however, her true audience grew to love her as a soulful balladeer, and she is remembered that way by the audience she created in her nearly 20 year career as a popular recording artist. This CD compilation showcases her best-loved ballads. Her interpretation of the lyrics ingnited the love affair she enjoyed with her R&B and jazz fans. This album is based upon her Buddha recordings from the 1977-1978 period. These classic ballads formed a permanent part of her repertoire. While she usually only sang the tunes "Betcha By Golly Wow" and "I Don't Wanna Lose You" in live performances, most of the other songs are well loved by her fans.
Four songs from her debut album for Buddha are also included here, "I Don't Want To Lose You," "Loving You, Losing You," "No One Can Love You More," and "Was Yesterday Such A Long Time Ago." Five of the other songs are taken from the Sing A Song ablum that was never released inside the US, as well as the Hyman-written song "Gonna Make Changes" which exposes some of her social outlooks and concerns. One of the compilation's gems is the standard "Here's That Rainy Day," which is beautifully executed in the interpretive style she is so loved for. "Sounds Like A Love Song" was discovered in the vaults of Buddha records by producer Paul Williams, and would have been another number one hit if it had been released.
Certainly no one collection of Hyman's recordings could capture the genius of Hyman's artistry, but this compilation represents some of the finest material she ever recorded, and many of her fans will find some gems among them. This compilation will prove that Phyllis Hyman's voice and body of work is timeless and will be enjoyed by R&B fans for years to come. If you want to listen to a truly soulful artist with a hypnotic voice unlike any in the industry today, then discover Phyllis Hyman.

This CD is worth particular consideration for the previously unissued "Sounds Like A Love Song" which features a simple yet compelling arrangement that serves as the perfect companion to a breathtakingly beautiful and powerful vocal performance by Phyllis and is unquestionably the glistening diamond among this collection of gems. You will find yourself listening to the track on repeat without tiring of it -- at least that's what happened to me! The rest of the track listing is top notch if nothing new, although the title track is very much uptempo (albeit lovely) and stands in sharp contrast to the 10 ballads that comprise the bulk of the disc. That said, you really can't go wrong with these smooth sailing highlights from her first two albums, both released on Buddha Records at a time when Phyllis Hyman was a relative newcomer to the music business and budding on the edge of mainstream breakthrough.

Queen who else but Phyllis, noone to compare she was the Utimate Great Soulful Ballard singers.

This CD is just a repeat of the various Phyllis compilations that concentrates on her stint with Buddah/Arista. The only exception is the inclusion of a previously unreleased gem called "Sounds Like A Love Song". Other than that, you should invest your money into a more comprehensive set, preferably one that concentrates more on her Philly/Zoo years.

an instrumental guide of how music should be today. travels from the innocent years of phyllis' early recordings to the brazen, gutsy masterpieces recorded today. all with an air of rare class found in modern music.

Focusing primarily on Phyllis' 1976-78 recordings for the Buddah and Arista labels this 11-track CD serves as a fine introduction to her early works and the songs which established her as one of the best Soul and Jazz songstresses of our time. With the sole exception of the previously-unissued "Sounds Like A Love Song", however, this collection offers nothing new. While I enjoy this CD greatly I must also say that the "Legacy of Phyllis Hyman" 2-CD set is a much better and truly definitive anthology of the late and much-missed Ms. Hyman's works.