Just heard 'You Know How To Love Me' on Kev Roberts Solar Radio.

Not heard the full 12" remix for years, what a timeless superb record this is from 79.

So I just wikipedia'd her career & was sad to learn she committed suicide.

Such a shame & what a great talent she was & she had worked with the best in her career, Gamble, Huff, Grover Washington Jr, Lonnie Liston Smith.

Such a sad shame her life ended that way.

 

AId.

There's great footage of Ms Hyman knocking around the 'net. She made a good living out of singing commercial jingles and radio fills as well as her recording career.  One of Philly's unsung heroines for sure.

 

Here's a slice of an interview she did :

 

 

Regards,

 

Dave

Here's a slice of an interview she did :

 

 

Dave

 

Great footage there Dave, 

What an absolute stunning beauty she was too.

When I read about her substance dependancy & the way her life ended I could almost weep.

 

Aid.

Great footage there Dave, 

What an absolute stunning beauty she was too.

When I read about her substance dependancy & the way her life ended I could almost weep.

 

Aid.

 

She struggled through most of her adult life Mate. Tragic really as Gamble and Huff almost rescued her from oblivion but human nature is what it is, I guess. She left some great music behind. Not just her discofied outings but she could sing it all. Some of her ballads are up with the very best.

 

Regards,

 

Dave

her ' i refuse to be lonely ' is supberb

The Living All Alone lp is a classic , no interest to the northern fraternity though, but if you like your Soul slow and deep it comes highly recommended.

Why is this in freebasing?

 

Anyway, there is a superb (well I thought so) biography about Phyllis called Strength Of A Woman and gives a full and frank insight into her life and troubles.  Excellent read.  She was her own worst enemy at times but as Dave says she left some great music behind.

There used to be a website where you could buy it, the authors I think but I can't find it right now, could be out of print.  On amazon but almost £70!!!

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strength-Woman-Phyllis-Hyman-Story/dp/0979489008

Just heard 'You Know How To Love Me' on Kev Roberts Solar Radio.

Not heard the full 12" remix for years, what a timeless superb record this is from 79.

So I just wikipedia'd her career & was sad to learn she committed suicide.

Such a shame & what a great talent she was & she had worked with the best in her career, Gamble, Huff, Grover Washington Jr, Lonnie Liston Smith.

Such a sad shame her life ended that way.

 

AId.

 

I never realised that she took her own life either Aid, just looked it up in one of my books, sooooo sad 

 

There's great footage of Ms Hyman knocking around the 'net. She made a good living out of singing commercial jingles and radio fills as well as her recording career.  One of Philly's unsung heroines for sure.

 

Here's a slice of an interview she did :

 

 

Regards,

 

Dave

 

Brilliant footage Dave, she even makes a Burger King advert sound classy      

her ' i refuse to be lonely ' is supberb

 

Cheers Toad, just cried listening to that    I agree, it is superb 

Why is this in freebasing?

 

Anyway, there is a superb (well I thought so) biography about Phyllis called Strength Of A Woman and gives a full and frank insight into her life and troubles.  Excellent read.  She was her own worst enemy at times but as Dave says she left some great music behind.

There used to be a website where you could buy it, the authors I think but I can't find it right now, could be out of print.  On amazon but almost £70!!!

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strength-Woman-Phyllis-Hyman-Story/dp/0979489008

 

 

.... cos Aid's a gloit

 

I say it should be moved to a more deserving place    

Just heard 'You Know How To Love Me' on Kev Roberts Solar Radio.

Not heard the full 12" remix for years, what a timeless superb record this is from 79.

So I just wikipedia'd her career & was sad to learn she committed suicide.

Such a shame & what a great talent she was & she had worked with the best in her career, Gamble, Huff, Grover Washington Jr, Lonnie Liston Smith.

Such a sad shame her life ended that way.

 

AId.

 

And she was gorgeous!!

From what I remember reading Clive Davis at Arista records fully believed in her but she was headstrong and wouldn't take advice, wouldn't listen, always wanting to do things her way. I think in the end he gave up on her and the company put it's resources into Whitney Houston.  That was a big body blow to Phyllis.  I'll have to get the book out and re-read it.

And she was gorgeous!!

 

She sure was Jordi.....

 

One of my favourite singers. IMO one of the best tracks never to make it on the scene was 'Heavenly'. Played at the short lived Beford Nite Spot nighters in 1980 a couple of times - bombed, Should have been as big as YKHTLM

What a sad loss, She was the lady with velvet vocals for me, Sadly missed  

https://youtu.be/2l1jSOvUXho

 

Stevie

She sure was Jordi.....

 

MI0002748810.jpg               she was in men only ?  magazine topless. 79ish. true true.   seen it with my own eyes.

this has always been popular from '76

she was in men only ?  magazine topless. 79ish. true true.   seen it with my own eyes.

 

 

she wouldn't be the first singer to appear in the likes of playboy, Barbara McNair was another.

One of my favourite singers. IMO one of the best tracks never to make it on the scene was 'Heavenly'. Played at the short lived Beford Nite Spot nighters in 1980 a couple of times - bombed, Should have been as big as YKHTLM

 

I love Heavenly

 

Used to pester Adam to play it at Leicester and the like. Thanks for reminding me!

YKHTLM is still an all time fave record.

She sure was Jordi.....

 

MI0002748810.jpg               she was in men only ?  magazine topless. 79ish. true true.   seen it with my own eyes.

 

Playboy  - Phyllis had more class than a down market Paul Raymond publication like Men Only.  As did Vanessa Williams ! 

Spoke to the author of her biography who hopes the book will come into print again but not down to him.  He has passed on a link though...

 

phyllishymanstory.com

Noman Connors could certainly spot talent, and her involvement with Gamble & Huff, Mtume & Lucas, and Skip Scarborough left us with a legendary legacy of great music

This used to get an occasional spin at George Jackson nights in London. A beautiful Philly ballad from Phyllis's first group, The New Direction.

 

Bloodey ell  thought that was Terri Bryant  on vocals ????

 

Cheers Paul

Stunning voice and a god like face,You Know How to love Me, Dont  Tell Me Tell Her.Let Somebody Love You ect awesome talent

She was a beautiful woman with a superb voice - so pretty. A desperately sad life that ended so tragically.

 

I like lots of her stuff and used to spin this locally.

 

 

Peter

 

Bloodey ell  thought that was Terri Bryant  on vocals ????

 

Cheers Paul

Good point Paul. I don't know who's actually singing on that album, but Phyllis's autobiography and Wikipedia page both state she was definitely in the group, maybe just as a touring member. On listening to it again it could be her, but then again might be Terri Bryant too. 

I love Heavenly

 

Used to pester Adam to play it at Leicester and the like. Thanks for reminding me!

 

Come to think of it Joan, it may have been Adam that played it at the Bedford nighters (?)...I know I used to hammer it at the local soul nights too.......A cracking sound whatever !!!! Glad Im not the only one to remember it

Good point Paul. I don't know who's actually singing on that album, but Phyllis's autobiography and Wikipedia page both state she was definitely in the group, maybe just as a touring member. On listening to it again it could be her, but then again might be Terri Bryant too. 

Looks nothing like Phyliss on the LP cover, don"t think it sounds like her either but I've not listened to the LP for a while. So maybe a touring member

 

Cheers Paul

yes but that was the bipolar talking for sure........

From what I remember reading Clive Davis at Arista records fully believed in her but she was headstrong and wouldn't take advice, wouldn't listen, always wanting to do things her way. I think in the end he gave up on her and the company put it's resources into Whitney Houston.  That was a big body blow to Phyllis.  I'll have to get the book out and re-read it.

she said jus b4 she died this is my life and it is also my death, its my choice which one i want so be it...

yes but that was the bipolar talking for sure........

yes but that was the bipolar talking for sure........

Maybe? She was highly insecure throughout her life and the only way she could over come this was to take control. Also drugs had a big say in her downfall so I think it was a mixture of things that led to her demise.

 

The Living All Alone lp is a classic , no interest to the northern fraternity though, but if you like your Soul slow and deep it comes highly recommended.

What you won't do for love,Old friend,If you want me,You just don't know love um  

one of the classic symptoms of bipolar when your on a high is control, apparently you feel you could rule the world ,but when your on a low you want to leave the world.

Maybe? She was highly insecure throughout her life and the only way she could over come this was to take control. Also drugs had a big say in her downfall so I think it was a mixture of things that led to her demise.

Always get so sad when I think about the loss of a beautiful, great singer...can I just mention "Under your spell" for the dancers and "Ain't you had enough love" for the steppers...

 

Stunning voice and a god like face,You Know How to love Me, Dont  Tell Me Tell Her.Let Somebody Love You ect awesome talent

 

On the spot as usual Mr Doonan, with Don't Tell Me, the No 1 closely followed by Baby I'm Gonna Love You, very closely followed by lots of others. Great voice, not a totally traditional soul voice, but she could hold a note and it was capital S for me. Her first LP on Buddah is still the one for me.

Haven't read her book yet as suspect it will be enthralling and disturbing in the way Divided Soul was, still get upset on reading that. Even though I have about 4 times. Maybe take this quiet weekend ahead for Phyllis music and book!

One aside is I remember her being advertised as singing at Edinburgh Cathedral, I suspect as part of Edinburgh jazz festival. I was gutted I missed it, did anyone see or remember this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5lxfKTQ0UM

Phyllis is definitely desevring of legendary status. Her Arista and PIR albums are brilliant examples of soul music, and stand up against just about any other female artists output. Her guest appearances alongside the likes of Lonnie Liston Smith, Norman Connors, McKoy Tyner etc also showed her versatility. A timeless voice.

To clear up the New Direction thing - she did tour with the group circa 1970/71 but that was after they had recorded the LP for Gamble & Huff's Neptune label. She then joined a group called PH factor before guesting with Norman Connors and recorded 45s for Desert Moon. Her 1st solo album was in 1977.

Here's an example of her perfect tones;

Edited April 3, 201312 yr by phillyDaveG

Thanks for clearing that up Dave. That Pharoah Sanders album has an absolutely brilliant ballad called "Love Is Here" with vocal by Phyllis.