Phyllis Hyman

Although Hyman was a premier vocalist, she was often given songs hat betrayed her impressive gifts, and this effort too often proves the point. Leading this 1981 set is "You Look So Good to Me," reminiscent of the Pointer Sisters' hit "He's So Shy." As talented as she was, girl-group sweetness wasn't her forte. The meandering dance workout "I Ain't Asking" is short on lyrics and Hyman has to riff over half of the song. The title track brought her back to a sense of normalcy; featuring duet partner Michael Henderson, the then-labelmates steam it up and exchange screams. With his booming voice, Henderson was one of the few male singers who had both the vocal range and persona to match her. The most pleasant surprise here is Hyman reuniting with Norman Connors on "The Love Too Good to Last," which was arranged by Paul Riser and written by Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, and Peter Allen. Hyman's take was warm, polished and sexy; she didn't give an inch on her phrasing to tackle the abrupt cadences of the lyrics. "The Sunshine of My Life," with a smooth sax solo from Gary Bartz, sounds like it came from one of Connors' own classic late-'70s or early-'80s albums. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide