I Refuse to Be Lonely
Studio album by
Phyllis Hyman
ReleasedNovember 21, 1995
Recorded1994–95
Genre
LabelZoo Entertainment/Philadelphia Int'l and Volcano[1]
ProducerNick Martinelli, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Phyllis Hyman chronology
Prime of My Life
(1991)		 I Refuse to Be Lonely
(1995)		 Forever with You
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cash Box(favorable)[2]
MSN Music Guide[3]

I Refuse to Be Lonely is the ninth studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released posthumously in November 1995, five months after the singer's death on June 30, 1995.[4]

The album reached number 12 on the Billboard R&B albums chart and peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Refuse To Be Lonely"Jud Friedman, Alan Rich, Nick Martinelli, Phyllis HymanNick Martinelli, Jud Friedman4:02
2."Waiting for the Last Tear To Fall"Jon Rosen, Karen Manno, Jeff FranzelNick Martinelli4:13
3."This Too Shall Pass"Lorrain Feather, Joe CurialeNick Martinelli5:29
4."I’m Truly Yours"Kenneth Gamble, James SiglerKenneth Gamble, Steven Ford, Dexter Wansel5:42
5."I’m Calling You"Phyllis Hyman, Kenneth Gamble, Dexter WanselDexter Wansel6:02
6."Back To Paradise"Jon Rosen, Karen Manno, Jim JacobsenNick Martinelli4:52
7."It's Not About You (It's About Me)"Dave Hall, Gordon Chambers, Phyllis HymanDave Hall5:17
8."It Takes Two"Noel Cohen, Daryl Hair, Phyllis HymanNick Martinelli4:15
9."Why Not Me"Barry J. Eastmond, Gordon Chambers, Diane Quander, Phyllis HymanBarry J. Eastmond4:43
10."Give Me One Good Reason To Stay"Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. HuffKenneth Gamble, Dexter Wansel, Steven Ford5:15
Total length:49:20

Charts

Reviews

"Never has an artist produced an entire album that reflects so hauntingly on her life and hints so broadly of her imminent demise as does Phyllis Hyman's "I Refuse To Be Lonely," wrote Jonathan Takiff in the Chicago Tribune. "Begun at the end of 1993 and completed just days before her death by suicide on June 30, 1995, this goose-bump evoking, emotional roller coaster of a soul-pop ballad album comes off thematically as a life and death struggle, and artistically as one heck of a swan song."[9]

"She was passionate about not singing anything superficial," said song collaborator Gordon Chambers. "In retrospect, a lot of what we wrote were her parting words. It's almost chilling to hear `Why Not Me?' because it really is her testimony."[10]

Creatively as well as emotionally, "I Refuse To Be Lonely" serves as an ultimate career capper writes Takiff. "Goaded by producers Nick Martinelli and Kenny Gamble, the set offers this jazz-inflected singer's best-ever vocal performances and strongest creative input, including five songwriting credits and unbilled assists on a lot of others."[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "I Refuse to Be Lonely Phyllis Hyman". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ Robertson IV, Gil L. (November 25, 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ "MSN Entertainment". Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  4. ↑ Mark Anthony Neal, "The Private Struggles of a Genius", The New Black Magazine.
  5. ↑ "I Refuse to Be Lonely: Phyllis Hyman". allmusic. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Phyllis Hyman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ Chicago Tribune. "A DEATH FORETOLD" By Jonathan Takiff and Knight-Ridder/Tribune November 12, 1995.
  10. ↑ Chicago Tribune. "A DEATH FORETOLD" By Jonathan Takiff and Knight-Ridder/Tribune November 12, 1995.
  11. ↑ Chicago Tribune. "A DEATH FORETOLD" By Jonathan Takiff and Knight-Ridder/Tribune November 12, 1995.
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