1986 studio album by Phyllis Hyman
Living All Alone is the seventh album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Philadelphia International Records in 1986. The album contains the title track, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and has become one of Hyman's most well-known hits.[1]
Singles
"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.[15]
Reception
Jason Elias of Allmusic called Living All Alone "one of Hyman's finest efforts" with "top-notch" vocals, though noted that there was "a sense of melancholy" apparent throughout the album.[16]
Track listing
Personnel
- Phyllis Hyman – vocals, background whistling (1), backing vocals (7-9), vocal arrangements (7, 8)
- Randy Cantor – keyboards (1, 7, 8), rhythm arrangements (7, 8)
- Dexter Wansel – keyboards (1), arrangements (1)
- Thom Bell – acoustic piano (2, 4-6), synthesizers (2, 4-6), arrangements (2, 4-6)
- Casey James – synthesizers (2, 4-6), percussion (2, 4-6)
- Reggie Griffin –synthesizers (3), lead guitar (3), guitars (3), bass guitar (3), drum programming (3), saxophone (3), arrangements (3)
- Kae Williams, Jr. – keyboards (7, 8), bass (7, 8), acoustic piano (8), Ensoniq Mirage solo (8)
- Terry Burrus – keyboards (9), Linn 9000 (9)
- Joe Fusco – guitars (1)
- Herb Smith – guitars (1)
- LeRoy Bell – guitars (2, 4-6), drums (2, 4-6), percussion (2, 4-6)
- Ron Jennings – guitars (7, 8)
- Michael Dino Campbell – guitars (9)
- Steve Green – bass (1)
- Alvin Moody – bass guitar (9)
- Clifford "Pete" Rudd – drums (1)
- Jim Salamone – drums (7, 8), percussion (7, 8), rhythm arrangements (7, 8)
- Doug Nally – drums (9)
- Daryl Burgee – percussion (7, 8)
- Mayra Casales – percussion (9)
- Greg Scott – tenor saxophone (1)
- Sam Peake – sax solo (7)
- Ron Kerber – soprano saxophone (9)
- Brian Castor – trombone (1)
- Joseph Smithers, Jr. – trumpet (1), flugelhorn (1)
- Studio Brass – horns (8)
- Nick Martinelli – rhythm arrangements (7, 8), vocal arrangements (7, 8), percussion (8)
- Larry Davis – horn arrangements (8)
- Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (3)
- Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals (3)
- Carla L. Benson – backing vocals (4)
- Evette Benton – backing vocals (4)
- Deborah Siler-Young – backing vocals (4)
- Cuca Echevarria – backing vocals (8)
- Juanita Johnson – backing vocals (8)
- James King – backing vocals (8)
- John King – backing vocals (8)
- Terri Wells – backing vocals (8)
- Lou Rawls – vocals (10)
- James Cleveland – vocals (10)
- Josie James – backing vocals (10)
Production
- Thom Bell – executive producer
- Kenny Gamble – executive producer
- Leon Huff – executive producer
- Eileen Whelihan – coordinator (7, 8)
- Peter Humphreys – recording
- Arthur Stoppe – recording
- Michael Tarsia – recording, mixing
- Randy Abrams – assistant engineer
- John Cramer – assistant engineer
- Scott E. MacMinn – assistant engineer
- Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier – assistant engineer
- Adam Silverman – assistant engineer
- Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs (New York, NY) – mastering location
- Paula Scher – cover art direction
- Jean Pagliuso – photography
- Rick Gillette – set environment
- Cassandra McShepard – wardrobe
- Allan Forbes – make-up
- Dan Wintrode – hair stylist
- Gracia, Francis & Associates – management
Charts
References
- ^ "Living All Alone – Phyllis Hyman". AllMusic. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Phyllis Hyman Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ Old Friend (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. B-50031.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Old Friend (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. V-56032.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Living All Alone (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. B-50059.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Living All Alone (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. SPRO-9911.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ain't You Had Enough Love (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. B-50070.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ain't You Had Enough Love (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. V-56051.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ain't You Had Enough Love (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. SPRO-79019.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ You Just Don't Know (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. B-50095.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ You Just Don't Know (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. SPRO 79138.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "The Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Screaming at the Moon (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. PIR 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Screaming at the Moon (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. 12 PIR 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ain't You Had Enough Love (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. PSLP 1007.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
External links
- Living All Alone at Discogs (list of releases)
