A masterful and commanding singer and an exemplar of sophistication and glamour,
Phyllis Hyman should be as mononymously identifiable as any of the more popular vocalists who have followed her, from
Anita Baker and
Whitney Houston to
Mariah Carey and
Toni Braxton. While she never went Top 40 or gold, and didn't make a certifiable classic album,
Hyman hit the Billboard R&B chart with over two dozen singles -- including the disco-to-new jack swing trio of "You Know How to Love Me," "Living All Alone," and "Don't Wanna Change the World" -- and recorded a slew of fine LPs. Moreover, no list of the best soul ballads, quiet storm deep cuts, or disco singles is complete without her. Hell, odds are strong that some of
Hyman's peers were deeply envious of "Living Inside Your Love," a soaring, knee-buckling wonder buried on side two of
Somewhere in My Lifetime. Numerous anthologies have summarized
Hyman's career to varying extents, but it wasn't until 2021 that the singer was the subject of a comprehensive boxed set. Over nine discs,
Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection 1976-1998 contains all of
Hyman's albums through the posthumous '90s full-lengths, and adds two-and-a-half hours of 7" and 12" versions, non-album tracks, and featured appearances on songs headlined by
Norman Connors (including her breakthrough turn on "Betcha by Golly Wow"),
Pharoah Sanders,
McCoy Tyner, and
Grover Washington, Jr.. Licensing restrictions prevented the inclusion of certain highlights and rarities, such as "Leavin' the Good Life Behind,"
Hyman's 1975 debut single, and "Obsession," her underheard 1990 collaboration with
Lonnie Liston Smith. (Those and other elusive tracks are on
Hip-O's excellent 1998 compilation
One on One.) Even so, there's no better steward for
Hyman's recordings than
SoulMusic. The label worked closely with
Hyman's estate -- manager and executrix
Glenda Garcia, also
Hyman's cousin, wrote the booklet's powerful lead essay, an essential read for fans -- and put obvious love and care into the assembly of this proper testament to
Hyman's excellence. As with
SoulMusic's other boxed sets, the booklet and disc sleeves are rich with images and recording details. ~ Andy Kellman
