Customer Reviews

Prime of My Life

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Phyllis Hyman's "Prime of My Life" is a modern classic. Released in 1991, Ms. Hyman seemed more confident and self-assured on "Prime" than she did on previous and subsequent recordings during her painfully short career (we lost her way too soon). Unlike many of her albums, the material seems perfectly suited for her gorgeous contralto voice and her obvious sophistication, the only misstep being the overly trendy "Don't Wanna Change the World."

As I write this, I am listening to "Meet Me On the Moon," my favorite track and one of the many fine ballads that form the heart of "Prime of My Life". It is at once elegant, contemplative and very sexy without resorting to cliches or excessive vamping. The tracks "When I Give My Love (This Time)" and the Quiet Storm radio hit "Living in Confusion" exhibit similar qualities, but in their own unique way. Other highlights include the sublime "When You Get Right Down To It" with special guest background vocals from R&B legend Betty Wright, the confident title track and the classy "Walk Away."

If you like sophistcated R&B at its best, this is a good place to hear it. Buy without hesitation.

This is simply Phyllis Hyman's best album. A true classic. Phyllis Hyman was my favorite singer. I am so grateful I was able to see her in concert before she passed. I brought all of her albums prior to her death as soon as they were released. Before I even heard them. Her talent was not appreciated while she was alive. And it still is not appreciated so many years after her death. "Meet Me On The Moon" is her masterpiece! This is a rare CD where every song on it is outstanding. My favorites are "Meet Me On The Moon", "I Found Love", "When I Give My Love This Time", "When You Get Right Down To It" and Living In Confusion". Phyllis Hyman was truly in a class by her self. A truly great talent!

I still remember where I was when I heard that this wonderfully talented woman had taken her own life. This is the last CD she made before her untimely death, and I think it's her best. I don't think it was any accident that it's titled "Prime of Life." Her talent was matched by her imposing physical presence. I think she was about 6 feet tall. I met her once at The Black Expo in Manhattan back in '90. She was so gracious and even posed for pictures.

What can I say about that voice? It's husky, impassioned and supple -- absolutely inimitable. When I get married, I intend to use "Meet Me on the Moon" in the wedding. Those lyrics are so earnest and Phyllis sings them with such conviction --"You be my love and I'll be yours too. As long as the sun warms the heavens. Tell me. You be my love and here's what we'll do. We'll skywrite our love through the heavens" -- I don't think there will be a dry eye in the house. The printed word does this song no justice. "I found Love" is also a very sweet ballad. I enjoyed them all.

A friend once said of Phyllis "She was the bomb, and she didn't even know it." So true. At least she left behind a beautiful musical legacy. RIP.

That voice is beyond the signature of incredible power.......and control.....that lady had AMAZING CONTROLLLLLLLL!!! god, have u ever heard "Living In Confusion (The Album Version)" WOWWWW!!

When she yelled out "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!" wow,she must have really be tired of going through what she was going through at that time she co-wrote the song......thats one thing about any song phyllis hyman sings,she convinces u to the maximum , that what shes singing about is the absolute truth......

OMG,I love Phyllis so much.....she is juss my mentor,my inspiration......i wish i had enough money to buy every thing by her at one time.....

believe me......u cant go wrong with anything Phyllis sings,its just straight up down to earth material,incredible power......strong lyrical arrangements....

I LOVE U PHYLLIS!!!!

"Prime Of My Life" is frequently considered one of the Sophisticated Lady's best albums, and there are many reasons why. Enduring distribution issues with PIR, Phyllis seized the opportunity to perform many of the songs from this album during her live performances; thereby giving her truly passionate audience a sneak preview of things to come. The material was very well-received and the first single, "Don't Wanna Change The World," climbed to the number one spot on the R&B charts. Alas, this would be her only song to reach that plateau. The follow up single, the aching ballad, "Living In Confusion," echoed Phyllis' long-standing history to sing songs with integrity. "When You Get Right Down To It" continued her love affair of blending R&B with jazz, with soothing quiet storms resulting. "I Found Love" supplemented the selection of singles, providing a tender ballad of joy and happiness.

In addition, the album tracks stand strong on their own and are worth mentioning. "Prime Of My Life" may have suggested Phyllis' state of mind during this time, despite her troubled soul that she fought long and hard to overcome. Perhaps "I Can't Take It Anymore" was an early hint of just how difficult her inner demons were becoming to her.

By far, the two tracks which stand out for any Phyllis Hyman fan are "When I Give My Love (This Time)" and "Meet Me On The Moon." No sweeter sound can be heard than by playing these tracks back to back. "When I Give My Love (This Time)" is a true torch song in every sense of the word. It creeps up on you from the opening drum tap, to the picking of the electric guitar and flowing bassline. Her vocals are smooth and tender...building to a crescendo so high that you never want to come down. Her vocal delivery is adamant, confident and assured.

"Meet Me On The Moon" sneaks in with a piano tickle. If a voice could every be carried on the clouds above, then this is how it would sound. No romantic evening is complete without the blessing of hearing this ballad. It is known that this was one of Phyllis' favorite songs from her repertoire. In fact, she had to fight to have it included on this project. She performed it a cappella to Kenny Gamble one morning, determined with her passion for the song. The decision to include it was indeed a wise one.

If you can only pick up a precious few of her albums, this must be one of them. Highly recommended for the true music and vocalist lover.

What else can you say about this CD? It is absolute heaven. Every song sounds so carefully produced. Phyllis' performance is breath-taking throughout the entire CD. The astonishing "Meet Me On The Moon" is worth the price of the CD alone. I am lucky enough to have the Japanese Import version of this CD, which contains a bonus track, "Hottest Love Around", which was not included on the American release.

If you listen carefully, "Prime of My Life" tells a story. A story of love. A story about falling in love. A story about troubled love. A story about falling out of love. A story of healing and reflection. This was not only Phyllis' story, but the story of so many others. I think this is why this was Hyman's most successful album because so many people could relate to what she was singing about.

Without a doubt, "Prime of My Life" is Phyllis' best work. Brilliant is the only word I can come up with to describe this CD. I still mourn her passing to this day. She left a void in the music industry that will never be filled during our lifetime.

I'm only 21 but i know good music when i hear it. I love everything about Phyllis Hyman. Prime Of My Life his my favorite album by her. You can hear the pain in her voice, you can feel her joy and love through the lyric's. She stands out as a R&B and Jazz legend. She is truely missed.

Prime of My Life was self poetic of Phyllis. She found her place and she was very comfortable with in her place on this CD. The songs, many of which spoke her truest feelings. It was her self assured title track that let her fans know that she was in her Prime. She exuded true poise and sophistication. Each track showed that she was in her zone and she was there to stay, even if for just a little while. Although she was a self admitted ballad queen, which is shown in the romantic track, Meet Me on the Moon and I've Found Love, somehow she kept finding her place and her voice on the dance floor with the #1 release, Don't Wanna Change The World. Not only does she tell the man that she doesn't want to change his world, she lays down a serious rap, and when she's finished, she asks, "Understand what I'm sayin'?" It doesn't get any better than that.

Then you move from that onto the trademark and heartfelt heartbreak tunes that Phyllis fans know her for: Whatever Happened to Our Love, When I Give My Love This Time and Walk Away. Alas, one mustn't forget the liberating tunes that she poetically recites in the most controlled voice at that point in her career: Living In Confusion, I Can't Take It Anymore and the When I Give My Love This Time. She makes the transition on this album seamless. It proved to those fans old and new that she was a woman in her Prime--listen to her roar a tune in a sophistication and class that solely belongs to Phyllis.

This Cd is full of Phyllis' soaring, emotional vocals, recorded at a time in her life when she obviously felt strong and well. "I Found Love", remains, in my opinion, one of Hyman's best ballads, "Don't Wanna Change The World" is a kick-ass dance tune where Phyllis does a sexy little rap, and "Prime Of My Life" is her message to the world of how she felt about herself. But the diamond in this collection is the jazzy and soulful "Meet Me On The Moon", where she lifts you into the night sky and takes you there.

Prime Of My Life is a wonderful CD that showcases Phyllis' powerful vocals. I love every song from "When You Get Right Down To It" to "Whatever Happened to Our Love," and you all know that's the whole CD. If you can find a customized remastered version of this CD, there are some bonus tracks on there. If you don't have this, I recommend you buy it pronto, and buy every Phyllis Hyman CD that you possibly can. Phyllis is irreplacable; she's a legend, and I hope that she's happy and at peace.

See you on the other side, Phyllis. I love you!!!