Living All Alone

1986 studio album by Phyllis Hyman
Living All Alone
Studio album by
Phyllis Hyman
ReleasedAugust 15, 1986
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre
  • R&B
  • soul
  • funk
Length40:04
LabelPhiladelphia Int'l, Manhattan, Capitol
ProducerThom Bell
  • Kenny Gamble
  • Reggie Griffin
  • Leon Huff
  • Nick Martinelli
  • Dexter Wansel
Phyllis Hyman chronology
Goddess of Love
(1983)
Living All Alone
(1986)
Prime of My Life
(1991)
Singles from Living All Alone
  1. "Old Friend"
    Released: August 1986
  2. "Living All Alone"
    Released: December 1986
  3. "Screaming at the Moon"
    Released: March 1987
  4. "Ain't You Had Enough Love"
    Released: April 1987
  5. "You Just Don't Know"
    Released: 1987

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]

Background

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[16]

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

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Living All Alone"Cynthia Biggs, Kenneth Gamble, Dexter WanselDexter Wansel5:09
2."First Time Together"Cynthia Biggs, Kenneth Gamble, Thom BellThom Bell, Kenneth Gamble4:02
3."If You Want Me"Reggie Griffin, Junior GiscombeReggie Griffin4:19
4."Slow Dancing"Thom Bell, LeRoy Bell, Casey JamesThom Bell4:24
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
5."Old Friend"Linda CreedThom Bell4:51
6."You Just Don't Know"Cynthia Biggs, Kenneth Gamble, Thom BellThom Bell, Kenneth Gamble4:15
7."Ain't You Had Enough Love?"Carl McIntosh, Jane Eugene, Steve NicholNick Martinelli4:12
8."Screaming at the Moon"Wayne Wallace, Ronald HollinsNick Martinelli4:09
9."What You Won't Do For Love"Bobby Caldwell, Alfons KettnerNick Martinelli4:09
Total length:40:04
Bonus track on 2005 reissue (with Prime of My Life) – Edsel Records MEDCD 808
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
10."Run Jesse Run" (with Lou Rawls and Rev. James Cleveland)Bunny Sigler, Gary Gilbert, Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffBunny Sigler6:33
Total length:46:37

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

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 97
US Billboard 200[17] 78
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 11

References

  1. ^ "Living All Alone – Phyllis Hyman". AllMusic. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Phyllis Hyman Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Old Friend (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. B-50031.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Old Friend (Media notes). Phyllis Hyman. Philadelphia International Records. V-56032.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ a b "Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  17. ^ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  • Living All Alone at Discogs (list of releases)
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Compilations
  • Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection 1976–1998 (2021)
Singles
Related
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  • MusicBrainz release group