Song:Can't We Fall In Love Again
Album:Ultimate Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman was a great singer whose personal problems led to drug addiction and her 1995 suicide. This 1981 bedroom classic duet with Michael Henderson Can't We Fall In Love Again was one of her most memorable songs and one of her three top ten R & B singles. She also had success on Broadway. She was born July 6, 1949 in Philadelphia and grew up in Pittsburgh. She signed with Desert Moon Records in 1975 but never recorded for them. Phyllis moved to New York and Norman Connors featured her on the 1977 hit Betcha By Golly Wow. This led to a contract with Buddah Records. Connors continued to produce her albums. When Arista Records bought Buddah in 1978, Phyllis moved to Arista. She finally had success when You Know How To Love Me reached #12 on the R & B Singles chart in 1979 and also did well on the dance chart. She did even better when Can't We Fall In Love Again reached #9 on the R & B Singles chart in 1981. Today the song is considered a bedroom classic. Michael Henderson played bass for Miles Davis in the early 70s but turned to crooning in the late 70s. He had some hits and then retired in 1986. The song was written by Peter Ivers and John Lewis Parker. Ivers was leader of the 60s psychedelic band Beacon Street Union and turned to jazz in the 70s. He was murdered in 1984. He knew Parker from the New York studio scene. James Ingram and The Jones Girls provide background vocals and David T. Walker played the guitar solo. One of the things I like about this song is the vocals in the last half of the song appear to be improvised. That adds so much to the record. At the time, Phyllis was also performing in the Broadway show Sophisticated Ladies. She was nominated for a Tony and remained in the show for two years. She turned to cocaine after having problems in her marriage. She also had problems with Arista and she went to Philadelphia International in 1985. She even had her only number one R & B hit with Don't Wanna Change The World in 1991. But the cocaine won and Phyllis Hyman committed suicide with a drug overdose on June 30, 1995 at age 45. She left a suicide note. You can get all of her hits on this budget CD. Here's a video for Can't We Fall In Love Again by Phyllis Hyman featuring Michael Henderson.
No comments:
Post a Comment