Released 40 years ago
Living All Alone
Phyllis Hyman · 1986
40 min · 9 tracks · jazz
Soulful melodies intertwine with poignant lyrics, showcasing Phyllis Hyman's powerful voice and emotional depth throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Living All Alone — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of solitude and emotional introspection, featuring a haunting melody that highlights Hyman's expressive vocal delivery.
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First Time Together — This track showcases a more upbeat tempo while maintaining lyrical sincerity, allowing Hyman's versatility as an artist to shine through.
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What You Won’t Do for Love — A cover of Bobby Caldwell's classic, Hyman’s rendition adds a soulful twist that emphasizes her vocal prowess and emotional connection to the material.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances with rich arrangements, though it remains somewhat conventional in its approach.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of lush string arrangements that complement Hyman's vocal lines across multiple tracks.
- Each song typically follows a verse-chorus structure, allowing for emotional build-up and release in the lyrics.
- Several tracks include instrumental bridges that showcase the musicianship of the accompanying band, adding depth to the overall sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- soulful melodies for emotional connection
- intimate vibes for late-night listening
- powerful vocals that evoke feelings
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced tracks
- prefer upbeat party anthems
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1986, Living All Alone marked Phyllis Hyman's third studio album, coming after her successful sophomore effort, Closer Than Ever. At this point in her career, she was solidifying her place in the music industry, blending elements of jazz, soul, and pop to create a signature sound that resonated with fans.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Angela Bofill· Lalah Hathaway· Chaka Khan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Living All Alone 5:12
- 2 First Time Together 4:06
- 3 If You Want Me 4:23
- 4 Slow Dancin’ 4:37
- 5 Old Friend 4:55
- 6 You Just Don’t Know 4:18
- 7 Ain’t You Had Enough Love 4:16
- 8 Screaming at the Moon 4:13
- 9 What You Won’t Do for Love 4:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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