I Refuse To Be Lonely
I Refuse to Be Lonely was released five months after Phyllis Hyman s terrible suicide, and it is virtually impossible to listen to this album without realizing that many of these songs more than faintly hint at the tragedy that was brewing. This immaculately produced set begins with her self-affirming, yet ultimately tragic ballad "I Refuse to Be Lonely," which finds Hyman basically crying the lyric. Not all the songs on this set are so maudlin, however. "I Refuse to Be Lonely" is followed by the jazzy "Waiting for the Last Tear to Fall" and the dramatic and impressive "This Too Shall Pass," which finds Hyman convincing herself that her troubles will soon be over, set against a backdrop of heavy percussion and soaring backing vocals. Hyman gets jazzy on "It Takes Two" and provides a sophisticated quiet storm ballad with "Why Not Me." Hyman also sounds sexy and less depressed on the piano ballad "I'm Truly Yours" and the happier, jazzy "Back to Paradise," which still keeps with the troubling prophetic nature of the album with the repeated lyric "I've been waiting here at the gates of heaven." All of this is only heightened by the last song, prophetically titled "Give Me One Good Reason to Stay," where Hyman sings "It's true I'm leaving/My bags are at the door." Phyllis Hyman despite all her troubles, managed to leave the world another wonderful set of classy, sophisticated quiet storm jazz ballads with I Refuse to Be Lonely augmented by her one-of-a-kind, brutally raw and honest voice. Nancy Wilson in the liner notes, laments Hyman s passing and also ponders at the marvels she would have produced had she chosen to record the songs of Cole Porter or George Gershwin This album, however, only hints at the wonders which, sadly, the world will never know. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
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Credits »
Michael Aharon - MIDI Production
Leon Huff - Executive Producer
Kenny Gamble - Executive Producer
Kenny Gamble - Producer
Steven Ford - Producer
Steven Ford - Programming
Steven Ford - Conductor
David Campbell - String Arrangements
Cassandra McShepard - Wardrobe
John Baker - Mastering
John Anthony - Engineer
Michael Aharon - Programming
Dexter Wansel - Producer
Phyllis Hyman - Main Performer
Phyllis Hyman - Producer
Nancy Wilson - Liner Notes
Bruce Weeden - Mixing Engineer
Bruce Weeden - Engineer
Arthur Stoppe - Engineer
Ken Ross - Assistant Engineer
Joe Peccerillo - Mixing
Rob Paustian - Engineer
Mark Partis - Engineer
Jay Oliver - Engineer
John Montagnese - Mixing
Sammy Merendino - Drum Programming
Nick Martinelli - Producer
Karen Manno - Vocal Arrangement
Peter Kent - Concert Master
Alec Head - Mixing Engineer
Craig White - Engineer
Ron A. Shaffer - Engineer
Jud J. Friedman - String Arrangements
Jud J. Friedman - Producer
Jud J. Friedman - Programming
Gordon Rice - Assistant Engineer
Andy Katz - Mixing
Cassandra McShepard - Stylist
Joseph D. Tarsia - Mastering
Danny Wintrode - Hair Stylist
Rubin Benson - Art Direction
Rubin Benson - Design
Fran Cooper - Make-Up
Paul Smith - Assistant Engineer
Scott Aispach - Programming
Scott Aispach - Engineer
Michael Fossenkemper - Mixing Engineer
Diana Germano - Assistant Engineer
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