No One Can Love You More
Remembering a true legendby j. brotherlove
To watch and hear Phyllis Hyman perform was to witness a true artist and musical diva. She was poised, statuesque and disarmingly beautiful. She was also pretty funny and loved to wear extravagant outfits. And then, there was the voice. Warm and expressive, it would embrace notes and lyrics intimately and send chills up and down your spine.
Hyman was raised in Philadelphia but it was in New York that she gained popularity. Soon she was selected by Norman Conners to sing on his 1976 album You Are My Starship and her star began to rise. Her version of “Betcha By Golly Wow” from that album is still a favorite.
In 1977 she released her self-titled debut album on Buddah Records which had moderate success. Her next recordings were on Arista due to a merger. Despite a few hits on those albums, Hyman’s dissatisfaction for Arista and how she was treated by the label was well-documented.
Still, with each recording, Hyman’s voice and phrasing matured. Her beginning in jazz gave her the skills to elevate mediocre material. Even when she sang club classic “You Know How To Love Me” and “new jack” radio hit “Don’t Wanna Change the World” her vocals floated over the arrangements in an uncommon way.
Hyman never became rich from recording and that, along with her battle with weight and alcohol, lead her to deep depression. The trio of Living all Alone, Prime Of My Life and I Refuse To Be Lonely highlight a soul battling personal troubles and triumphs. Already famous for torch songs, she delivered the final blow on June 30th, 1995 when she committed suicide hours before a performance. I cried that day.
Phyllis Hyman has a ton of songs with the word “love” in them. This week’s lovesong is one of her earliest (and my favorite):
No one can tell me
That I’m pretending
Why should I play games
Love’s not a play thingQuestions people ask of me for loving you
Why should I say?
The reasons are my ownNo one has wanted more than I want you
No one has needed more than I do
No one has wanted more than I want you
No one has love you more than I love youNo I’m not dreaming
Love has a meaning
Your’e all I live for
No one can give moreQuestions people ask of me for loving you
Why should I say?
The reasons are my ownNo one has wanted more than I want you
No one has needed more than I do
No one has wanted more than I want you
No one has love you more than I love you
Oh, could she bring the wonderfulness …