Old Friend – The Deluxe Collections 1976-1998

• SoulMusic Records is exceptionally pleased to present the first-ever box set of the music of the late Phyllis Hyman, who created a wonderful legacy of recordings over close to twenty-years that continues to resonate today with her dedicated global audience and beyond. Creatively traversing the soul/R&B and jazz genres from the mid-‘70s until her passing in the mid-‘90s ,with her instantly recognizable and distinctive vocal style, Phyllis developed a solid cadre of discerning music buyers with albums for Buddah, Arista and Philadelphia International Records, collated here along with a number of bonus tracks and guest appearances for a total of (113) tracks. Appropriately named ‘The Deluxe Collection,” this 9CD box has been lovingly created by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan in cooperation with Glenda Gracia, manager & executrix of the Phyllis Hyman estate, who contributes a moving up-close-and-personal essay. Renowned writer Janine Coveney provides a heartfelt tribute with an overview of Phyllis’ music; while SoulMusic Records’ Michael Lewis offers his thoughts on Phyllis’ compelling live performances. In a beautifully-designed box with artwork by Roger Williams along with stellar mastering from Nick Robbins, “Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection” is a fitting celebration of Phyllis Hyman’s contribution through music, to commemorate the anniversary of her 72ND birthday, on 6th July.

• Disc 1, PHYLLIS HYMAN (BUDDAH) marked Phyllis’ official album debut and includes the US R&B/dance charted single, ‘Loving You, Losing You’, co-penned by Philly soul maestro Thom Bell who also co-wrote ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, which Phyllis recorded with jazz drummer Norman Connors in 1976 along with a duet with Michael Henderson (‘We Both Need Each Other’), resulting in her first exposure to a wider audience. Also on this expanded edition, both sides of Phyllis’ 1976 single for Desert Moon Records.

• Disc 2, SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME marked Phyllis’ addition to the Arista Records’ roster when Buddah Records was acquired by the Clive Davis-helmed label. The title cut was co-produced by Barry Manilow; six tracks were included from Phyllis’ 2nd Buddah LP, “Sing A Song” which only gained release outside the US in 1978; expanded edition features bonus tracks from “Sing A Song” and a guest appearance with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, ‘As You Are’ as well as 12” single versions of ‘Kiss You All Over’ and ‘So Strange’.

• Disc 3, YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME teamed Phyllis with James Mtume & Reggie Lucas, hitmakers for Stephanie Mills; the result was Phyllis’ biggest R&B/dance hit with the now-classic title track; expanded edition includes the Thom Bell-produced ‘Magic Mona’, three tracks on which Phyllis guested with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner; and ‘In A Sentimental Mood’ from the Duke Ellington Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies, in which Phyllis starred and was nominated for a Tony award.

• Disc 4, 1981’s CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN featured Phyllis’ highest-charting R&B hit, the title track a duet with Michael Henderson. Other tracks included production by Norman Connors and Natalie Cole’s co-producer Chuck Jackson; this expanded edition features three tracks not on the original LP.

• Disc 5, GODDESS OF LOVE was Phyllis’ final LP for Arista with production from Narada Michael Walden (the R&B/dance hit ‘Riding The Tiger’) and Thom Bell, with a bonus track from the Bell sessions, ‘I’m Not Asking You To Stay’ on this expanded edition.

• Disc 6, LIVING ALL ALONE marks Phyllis’ 1986 pacting with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records’ label and resulted in immediate success with two Top 20 R&B hits, the title track and the perennial ‘Old Friend’, which remained a staple of Phyllis’ live shows; expanded edition features guest appearances with Barry Manilow and Grover Washington Jr.

• Disc 7, 1991’s PRIME OF MY LIFE brought Phyllis her 1st R&B chart-topping single, ‘Don’t Wanna Change The World’ (with the rare non-rap version included on this expanded edition) and included notable tracks ‘Living In Confusion’ and ‘Meet Me On The Moon’. Additional bonus track, ‘Hottest Love Around’ was only previously available on a CD single.

• Disc 8, I REFUSE TO BE LONELY, with primary production by Nick Martinelli (who had worked on Phyllis’ 1991 CD) was released after her passing in June, 1995 and features five tracks co-written by Phyllis including the title track and standout ‘It’s Not About You (It’s About Me’).

• Disc 9, FOREVER WITH YOU consists of a collection of previously-unreleased recordings that Phyllis had recorded for Philadelphia International Records, including four she co-wrote, notably ‘The Strength Of A Woman’, as well as a memorable version of ‘Hurry Up This Way Again’, a 1980 R&B hit for The Stylistics.

DISC ONE:
PHYLLIS HYMAN (BUDDAH) EXPANDED EDITION

1. LOVING YOU, LOSING YOU
2. NO ONE CAN LOVE YOU MORE
3. ONE THING ON MY MIND
4. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU
5. DELIVER THE LOVE
6. WAS YESTERDAY SUCH A LONG TIME AGO
7. THE NIGHT BIRD GETS THE LOVE
8. BEAUTIFUL MAN OF MINE
9. CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
BONUS TRACKS
10. BABY (I'M GONNA LOVE YOU)
11. DO ME
12. YOU'RE THE ONE
13. WE BOTH NEED EACH OTHER – Norman Connors Feat. Phyllis Hyman And Michael Henderson
14. BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW – Norman Connors Feat. Phyllis Hyman
15. JUST IMAGINE… - Norman Connors Feat. Phyllis Hyman

DISC TWO:
SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME EXPANDED EDITION

1. KISS YOU ALL OVER
2. SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME
3. LOOKIN' FOR A LOVIN'
4. THE ANSWER IS YOU
5. SO STRANGE
6. GONNA MAKE CHANGES
7. LIVING INSIDE YOUR LOVE
8. BE CAREFUL (HOW YOU TREAT MY LOVE)
9. SOON COME AGAIN
10. HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY
BONUS TRACKS
11. SO STRANGE (12" VERSION)
12. KISS YOU ALL OVER (12" VERSION)
13. SWEET MUSIC
14. LOVE IS FREE
15. SING A SONG
16. AS YOU ARE - Pharoah Sanders Feat. Phyllis Hyman

DISC THREE:
YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME EXPANDED EDITION

1. YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME
2. SOME WAY
3. UNDER YOUR SPELL
4. THIS FEELING MUST BE LOVE
5. BUT I LOVE YOU
6. HEAVENLY
7. HOLD ON
8. GIVE A LITTLE MORE
9. COMPLETE ME
BONUS TRACKS
10. YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME (SINGLE EDIT)
11. UNDER YOUR SPELL (SINGLE EDIT)
12. MAGIC MONA
13. I'LL BE AROUND - McCoy Tyner (Featuring Phyllis Hyman)
14. LOVE SURROUNDS US EVERYWHERE - McCoy Tyner (Featuring Phyllis Hyman)
15. IN SEARCH OF MY HEART - McCoy Tyner (Featuring Phyllis Hyman)
16. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD

DISC FOUR:
CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN EXPANDED EDITION

1. YOU SURE LOOK GOOD TO ME
2. DON'T TELL ME, TELL HER
3. I AIN'T ASKING
4. CAN'T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN - Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson
5. THE LOVE TOO GOOD TO LAST
6. TONIGHT YOU AND ME
7. THE SUNSHINE IN MY LIFE
8. JUST ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD
BONUS TRACKS
9. CAN'T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (SINGLE VERSION) - Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson
10. YOU SURE LOOK GOOD TO ME (SINGLE VERSION)
11. TONIGHT YOU AND ME (DISCO VERSION)
12. SLEEP ON IT
13. IF YOU EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND
14. IN BETWEEN THE HEARTACHES

DISC FIVE:
GODDESS OF LOVE
EXPANDED EDITION

1. RIDING THE TIGER
2. GODDESS OF LOVE
3. WHY DID YOU TURN ME ON
4. YOUR MOVE, MY HEART
5. LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU
6. FALLING STAR
7. WE SHOULD BE LOVERS
8. JUST ME AND YOU
9. JUST TWENTY FIVE MILES TO ANYWHERE
BONUS TRACKS
10. I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO STAY
11. RIDING THE TIGER (DANCE VERSION)
12. RIDING THE TIGER (SINGLE EDIT)

DISC SIX:
LIVING ALL ALONE
EXPANDED EDITION

1. LIVING ALL ALONE
2. FIRST TIME TOGETHER
3. IF YOU WANT ME
4. SLOW DANCIN'
5. OLD FRIEND
6. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW
7. AIN'T YOU HAD ENOUGH LOVE
8. SCREAMIN' AT THE MOON
9. WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE
BONUS TRACKS
10. BLACK AND BLUE - Barry Manilow & Phyllis Hyman, Featuring Tom Scott
11. SACRED KIND OF LOVE – Grover Washington, Jr. Featuring Phyllis Hyman

DISC SEVEN:
PRIME OF MY LIFE
EXPANDED EDITION

1. WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT
2. I FOUND LOVE
3. DON'T WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD
4. PRIME OF MY LIFE
5. WHEN I GIVE MY LOVE (THIS TIME)
6. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE
7. WALK AWAY
8. LIVING IN CONFUSION
9. MEET ME ON THE MOON
10. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR LOVE
BONUS TRACKS
11. (THE) HOTTEST LOVE AROUND
12. DON'T WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD (NO RAP VERSION)

DISC EIGHT:
I REFUSE TO BE LONELY

1. I REFUSE TO BE LONELY
2. WAITING FOR THE LAST TEAR TO FALL
3. THIS TOO SHALL PASS
4. I'M TRULY YOURS
5. I'M CALLING YOU
6. BACK TO PARADISE
7. IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU (IT'S ABOUT ME)
8. IT TAKES TWO
9. WHY NOT ME
10. GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON TO STAY

DISC NINE:
FOREVER WITH YOU

1. FOREVER WITH YOU
2. FUNNY HOW LOVE GOES
3. COME RIGHT OR NOT AT ALL
4. THE STRENGTH OF A WOMAN
5. HURRY UP THIS WAY AGAIN
6. HOW LONG
7. SOMEONE TO LOVE
8. TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO
9. THE KIDS
10. SET A LITTLE TRAP
11. NO ONE BUT YOU
12. SOUVENIRS