Is Phyllis Hyman's lovely LOVING YOU LOSING YOU something of a continuation of :

[remicks]

*****


......the Spinners' RUBBERBAND MAN !!! ????


Give it a listen and you tell me !! :icon_mrgreen:

An aside :
( It's a 7:30 song with a long intro ....so,
Q: How far into the song would you guess Phyllis begins singing??? ....
A: Be patient ! :icon_biggrin::icon_lol:)







.... well, both songs are written and composed by Mr. Thom Bell.... :icon_rolleyes:



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[Disco Kicks]

Of course not everyone knows the Rubberband man, so it might help to show the song you want people to compare it too.
The Spinners. Rubberband Man.


Phyliss Hyman is my all time favourite artist.

[needlefingers]

Someone gave me this just a few weeks ago.






She didn't finish her last name, but I'm not sure when it was signed and what condition she was in at the time.

Still, gotta love it.

[Disco Kicks]

I would give my right arm for that, especially as my names carl too.:icon_razz:

[remicks]

Of course not everyone knows the Rubberband man, so it might help to show the song you want people to compare it too.

Thanks ! I did want to post the song but couldn't find a well recorded one of the studio version .....:icon_rolleyes:

Neat acquisition needlefingers ....think she was having trouble with the pen and gave up ??


Seems Phyllis was drawn to Thom Bell songs .Too bad the two of them never got to hook up .....who knows how history mighta ......... ( She would've been perfect for THEN CAME YOU )

Thom Bell's
BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW :

Phyllis Hyman


Original Stylistics version : (sorry for the unrelated "other song" intro:icon_evil:)



Thom Bell's I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU :
Phyllis Hyman:



original version by The Spinners :



as for LOVING YOU LOSING YOU .... I'm not sure how she came unto this Thom Bell song .... can't find it as having been recorded previously ...(??)..... unless its the same song done by The Delfonics in 1968 called LOSING YOU? .....:icon_question:


*****

[keefelc]

Hey Remicks, I take it you don't have the "Goddess of Love" album - Phyllis worked with Thom Bell on many tracks on that album! :icon_biggrin:

[markydefad]

"Loving You, Losing You" is one of the greatest opening tracks to ever appear on a debut artist's LP...talk about a fanfare for a new artist....just gives me goosebumps as it builds and builds, adding instrumentation, hyperactive swirling strings and tympanii pounding...and repeating that vamp of the chorus over and over...until finally several minutes into it, back-up vocalists sing a heralding "Dut-DAH..Dut-DAH..Dut-DAH"...... then, at 2:49 into the track, it's like a pinspot light apears out of the darkness on the lovely Miss Hyman and she starts to sing..."In the middle of my life I had nothing to lose".... goosebumps!!! Talk about getting one's attention!!!

The track screams Thom Bell, at his most ornately extravagant, but, strangely, he is not the producer...Jerry Peters is given that credit. Maybe a protege'???

As Keefe pointed out, Mr. Bell met Miss Hyman on side 2 of her "Goddess Of Love" LP + the final track on side 1--the other 3 LP tracks were produced by Narada Michael Walden ["Riding The Tiger," "Goddess Of Love," and "Why Did You Turn Me On."]

These are the Thom Bell produced, arranged & conducted tracks:

4 Your Move, My Heart Merrill, Rubicam
5 Let Somebody Love You Glass
6 Falling Star Merrill, Neale, Rubicam
7 We Should Be Lovers Jefferson, Marshall, Simmons
8 Just Me and You Bell
9 Just 25 Miles to Anywhere Bell, Jefferson

The critical assessment below from AMG is way too harsh, IMHO...if you like Miss Hyman, check it out...some gems are to be found here...

3 stars out of a possible 5...

This 1983 set was Hyman's last effort for Arista. During the early '80s she easily maneuvered between R&B and jazz with a skill few artists possessed. This regrettably takes Hyman away from jazz and often puts her knee-deep in pabulum. The album splits the production duties between Narada Michael Warden and Thom Bell; the tracks with Warden still may be a little too mainstream for Hyman acolytes. Glossy '80s dance exercises "Riding the Tiger and "Goddess of Love" have Hyman singing goofy lyrics like "You'll feel the fear of my name" and "My skin never lies." Even Grace Jones couldn't do anything with that. Warden acquits himself nicely with the good, hooky ballad "Why Did You Turn Me On," a song he put on one of his own albums a few yeas before. The work with Bell is below his customary excellence. He and his writers must have used all of their best tracks for Deniece Williams' classic My Melody, because Hyman is left with mostly re-treads. After a few so-so tracks, Goddess of Love does go out with a bang. The sparsely arranged "Just Twenty Miles to Anywhere" has Hyman finally getting lyrics of a substantive nature so she could soar. Tt displays all of the greatness Hyman had to offer; it's too bad that most of this album didn't follow suit.

[remicks]

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Good info !! Yep that's some intro!!! :icon_biggrin::icon_exclaim::icon_biggrin:

keefelc , I'm not sure that I have that album .....must not ....??

How wonderful that Miss Hyman and Thom Bell did indeed get a chance to work together . I'm wondering if that was by her specific request ... if it came about because she pursued it, since she seemed to like his music. If so, it then only adds to the total tragedy of her story . How disappointing that the results of their collaboration were so lackluster .... with no hits . Are any of those tracks exemplary ?? I wonder why they didn't redo at least one of his older songs as was Phyllis's tendency and why they only did a partial project? :icon_confused:

I can only find this one cut from that album on Youtube:



... with Narada providing that simpler Kashif like sound of the day . (Sounds like Marlena Shaw meets Elvira ! )


_________________________



Back to
LOVING YOU LOSING YOU :

Markydefad: The track screams Thom Bell, at his most ornately extravagant, but, strangely, he is not the producer...Jerry Peters is given that credit. Maybe a protege'???

I at first assumed LOVING YOU LOSING YOU was Thom Bell produced ...apparently a purposeful attempt being made here to sound as such ... not so sure incorporating Thom's bouncy rubber band sound played well to the song's serious sentiments though ... :icon_rolleyes:

Now as for Jerry Peters I'm finding his name popping up here and there .... particularly it is he providing those commanding keyboards on Eddie Kendricks BOOGIE DOWN as well as on Marvin Gaye's I WANT YOU .

Disco standouts :



and :




Not bad !!!:icon_biggrin::icon_cool:


*****

[PhyllisHyman]

Is this doesn't bring a tear to your eye then you've no heart (and I'm not referring to the shoulder pads).
Does anyone know if this concert is available as a dvd?

YouTube - Phyllis Hyman Old Friend live!!

[remicks]

*****

It's rather painful to watch isn't it ....:icon_sad:
........What year was that?

PhyllisHyman : it'd be most interesting to learn what your thoughts are about the songs she and Thom Bell put together for the GODDESS OF LOVE LP. :icon_question:

*****

[discokicks]

It's so remarkable to see an artist expressing herself so open and candidly in song....such intense emotion pouring from the heart but somehow managing to keep the voice in control...pure natural talent that thankfully was left behind in recordings. :icon_sad:

[SandraDee]

Gosh, that clip's brought a lump to my throat.:icon_cry:

[markydefad]

remicks, I'm telling you that you would like the Thom Bell/Phyllis Hyman LP...

one of my fave tracks "Falling Star"... is on YouTube..I don't know how to embed ithere...but check this out...

YouTube - Falling Star by Phyllis Hyman

And you must hear "Just 25 Miles From Anywhere" & "Just You & Me"

All the Thom Bell produced stuff is superior to the Narada Michael Walden tracks which sound very dated today...ersatz Kashif is dead-on.

[remicks]

remicks, I'm telling you that you would like the Thom Bell/Phyllis Hyman LP...

one of my fave tracks "Falling Star"... is on YouTube..I don't know how to embed ithere...but check this out...

YouTube - Falling Star by Phyllis Hyman

And you must hear All the Thom Bell produced stuff is superior to the Narada Michael Walden tracks which sound very dated today...ersatz Kashif is dead-on.

Oh dear .....I must not be in the mood for this one...:icon_rolleyes: ... gee its a rainy day and everything . :icon_rolleyes:
But it starts off ....flat and just kinda stays there ....:icon_redface::icon_redface::icon_sad: ....not bad ...not great . (sorry!)
"you're my falling star " ... What does that mean anyway ..... is there a point to this meteor metaphor ???




....... but I'm gonna hold out hopeful for the other two songs ....
"Just 25 Miles From Anywhere" & "Just You & Me"


*****

[keefelc]

Mark is absolutely right, Remicks! The Thom Bell tracks makes the "Goddess Of Love" album worth owning. Those tracks can also be found on the many Phyllis "best of" CDs that have been released through the years.

As for the "Old Friend" clip, that's from a Live At The Blue Note in Tokyo concert that was filmed for a television special in Japan (lucky them!). For awhile the DVD was available on Ebay and I grabbed one as soon as I was able to win an auction! In the show, Phyllis talks about the "Prime Of My Life" album coming out hopefully in 1990.

One of the tracks she sings in "My Funny Valentine" which reminded me of seeing her at the Circle Star Theater (remember that place in San Carlos?) as part of a show with Roy Ayers. During her set, she sang with Roy and his band. Mmmmmmmm... Phyllis's voice floating over Roy's vibes! Just beautiful, but apparently she didn't think so because as she sang "My Funny Valentine" with him, she turned around with an angry look on her face. From his reaction, you could tell she was saying something unpleasant to him and the band. Later, he started fussing with the vibes and eventually switched to an electric piano. So, some technical problems and Phyllis knew it!!

[remicks]

*****

Now ,

THIS
is a song about a falling star !!! :icon_cool:






*****

[Videoskooter]

... is on YouTube..I don't know how to embed ithere...

Use the Force, young apprentice!

http://www.discomusic.com/forums/sit...deos-your.html

[Disco Kicks]

Here is another great track taken from her album "Living All Alone" with her famous whistling and interview towards the end.

Living All Alone - Phyllis Hyman.

• Producer: Thom Bell, Terry Burrus, Kenny Gamble, Reggie Griffin, Leon Huff, Phyllis Hyman, Juanita Johnson, Nick Martinelli, and Dexter Wansel.
• Arranger: Thom Bell, Terry Burrus, Randy Cantor, Reggie Griffin, Nick Martinelli, Jim Salamone, and Dexter Wansel.
• Horn Arrangements: Larry Davis.
• Engineers: Pete Humphries, Arthur Stoppe, and Mike Tarsia.
• Assistant engineers: Randy Abrams, Poke, MacMinn, and Adam SilvermanScott.
• Mixing: Mike Tarsia.
• Executive producer: Thom Bell, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff.
• Label Philadelphia International.

• Devoted fans of the late singer Phyllis Hyman describe her as a songstress extraordinaire with a no-nonsense attitude, and a lavish, larger than life stage persona. Deep-voiced and statuesque, Phyllis sang with a life affirming energy and emotional intensity found in few other female vocalists.
  Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Philadelphia, her professional career began in New York city where, during an engagement, she was spotted by producer Norman Connors and contemporaries Jean Carne and Roberta Flack among others. Phyllis was immediately offered a guest appearance on Connors' "You Are My Starship" album, which included her rendition of "Betcha By Golly Wow."
  In 1977 Buddah Records released her self-titled debut LP which featured the hits "Loving You/Losing You" and "I Don't Wanna Lose You." A year later Hyman was signed to Arista Records. Her premiere album for the label was "Somewhere In My Lifetime," released in 1978. The title track (produced by-then songster Barry Manilow, a longtime admirer of Hyman's) became Phyllis' first radio hit. A cover version of Exile's "Kiss You All Over" was remixed for club play as part of Arista's promotion, showcasing her versatility. The following year "You Know How To Love Me" hit the record stores, and the title track became one of Hyman's biggest dance anthems. She would include it in her repertoire until the time of her passing.
  In 1981 Phyllis starred in the hit Broadway tribute to Duke Ellington, "Sophisticated Ladies" and continued in the role for two and a half years, garnering a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award for Best newcomer. The original cast recording was released by RCA and still remains a top seller on CD. While performing in Ladies, Phyllis cut her next album, "Can't We Fall In Love Again" (1981) featuring the title track, a duet with Michael Henderson. Phyllis was at the peak of her career at this period, and was widely recognized as a New York celebrity. She was everywhere.
  "Goddess Of Love" (1983) featured a sensational cover shot of Hyman at her most seductive, draped in a silver bugle beaded gown (which, according to Phyllis, weighed thirty pounds!) and sporting chandelier-sized earrings, a Hyman trademark. The recording, although containing two strong tracks, was patchy at best and Phyllis, discontented with the material chosen for this project was blunt about her feelings toward the record label and its cavalier attitude towards her. "Firstly, I came to the label because of the takeover of Buddah.so I didn't have much choice in the matter," she recalled. "There were some nice records, but I'd say I was pretty much overlooked and ignored." Ironically, the title "Goddess Of Love" stuck with Phyllis as a term of endearment from both critics and fans.
  Phyllis was left unrecorded for four years due to contractual discrepancies. It was during this time that a greatest hits package, entitled "Under Her Spell" (1989), was issued. She appeared on numerous albums as a guest vocalist, toured extensively with her band, did a college lecture tour, and lent her voice to several television commercials. In 1987 she recorded "Living All Alone" for the resurgent Philadelphia International record label, released through Manhattan/EMI and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The release of the first single, "Old Friend," brought Hyman back to the forefront of the industry with saturated radio play, international concert bookings, talk show appearances and countless magazine articles. Phyllis also had a cameo role in the Spike Lee film, "School Daze" (1988), performing the tune "Be One," to which a video was later released. Other film appearances include "Lenny" (1976), "Two Scared To Scream" (1983) and a co-starring role with Fred Williamson in the action drama "The Kill Reflex" (1991).
  "Prime Of My Life" (1991, Zoo/BMG) was Phyllis' eagerly awaited follow up album after a four year lull, but was well worth the wait as she took an active role in selecting the material. While making the album, she agonized over a recent breakup. "It made the songs difficult to record, but the results were fabulous," Phyllis conceded. "Don't Wanna Change The World" was enthusiastically received by clubs and radio, attaining international status and becoming her first number one record according to Billboard. When the song's popularity soared, Zoo issued a remixed version to accommodate the demands of disk jockeys around the country.
  In 1992 Phyllis was voted Number One Best Female Vocalist in the United Kingdom by Blues & Soul magazine readers, beating out the likes of Anita Baker, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. During this time Phyllis became involved in combating the AIDS crisis by lending her voice to countless benefit shows and visiting wards and hospices in and around New York. Many patients requested Phyllis' presence, which left the singer feeling inadequate and perplexed as to their reasons for wanting to see her as opposed to a family member or friends. The visits took a heavier toll on Phyllis that she realized. By now, her own personal problems were becoming evident. An ongoing battle with alcohol and weight gain, combined with career and financial woes were making life difficult for Hyman and those around her. In 1993 she was dealt another blow when both her mother and grandmother died within a month of one another.
  Although Phyllis continued to record new material and perform live, her bouts of depression were clearly overwhelming her. Her irrational, self-destructive behavior was becoming common knowledge to those inside the music industry, her friends and also her fans and on June 30th, 1995, only hours before a scheduled performance at the Apollo Theatre in New York, Phyllis' lifeless body was found in her apartment where all efforts to revive her failed. Her suicide, while shocking, was not a surprise to many insiders. We, like so many others who know her, believed she would pull her life together. Sadly, we were mistaken.
  In the posthumous released, "I Refuse To Be Lonely" (1995, Zoo/BMG), Phyllis alluded to her inner struggle on several songs, five of which she co-wrote. Her most intimate and emotional project yet, "I Refuse To Be Lonely" has reached the top 15 in Billboard's R&B chart, proving that talent of this caliber will always stand the test of time.
  Her passing has left a void in the entertainment world, and in the hearts of many, including ourselves. Phyllis Hyman.our hero, our friend. We miss you.

[remicks]

remicks, I'm telling you that you would like the Thom Bell/Phyllis Hyman LP...

YouTube - Falling Star by Phyllis Hyman



And you must hear "Just 25 Miles From Anywhere" & "Just You & Me"

.

now on youtube











******