Phyllis Hyman, You Know How to Love Me | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 4^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “You Know How to Love Me” by Phyllis Hyman. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 4^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “You Know How to Love Me” performed by Phyllis Hyman.

“Measure for measure / Your love’s so much pleasure / Like a haunting melody / You came inside and captured me.” Phyllis Hyman (1949 – 1995) – what a gifted, talented singer.  Sadly, her life was cut short: struggling with mental health issues, she committed suicide at 45.  Her legacy endures, led by the stellar song, “You Know How to Love Me”. The ‘long version’ is the opener from her 1979 album, You Know How to Love Me; it runs north of seven-and-a-half minutes.  The 7” version appears as the 10^th track on the expanded edition, running under four minutes. The late great James Mtume and Reginald Lucas composed and produced “You Know How to Love Me.” Hyman sadly didn’t impact the pop charts during her career.  She did earn success on the R&B charts where “You Know How to Love Me” peaked respectably at no. 12.

“You’re welcome to my love / Just promise that you’ll stay, yeah,” Hyman sings in the second verse.  She goes on to add, “Don’t you know you’re a dream come true,” and “But each time we’re together / Forever and a day, yeah.” The love is lit, further evidenced by the bridge and especially the chorus, the centerpiece: “You know how to love me (Sure you do) / You know to make it right (So nice) / You know how to love me (There’s no denyin’) / Sweet as the morning light.” “You Know How to Love Me” benefits from lush production work. The backdrop exemplifies Philly soul, funk, and disco sound.  Among the most ear-catching sounds come from the orchestra: strings and winds, including flute.  Also, contributing to the greatness of the song is the harmonic progression, which does not solely rely on ‘tried and true’ chords.  Also, a timely key modulation adds some spice.  Still, the ‘star of the show’ is Hyman.  Her vocals are robust and commanding.  The performance is dynamic, expressive, and nuanced to the nth degree. Hyman gets lifted by background vocals during the chorus section.  Ultimately, “You Know How to Love Me” is an underrated gem from the soul catalog.  This incredible song and Hyman deserve much more recognition.

Phyllis Hyman // You Know How to Love Me // Sony Music Entertainment // 1979

Phyllis Hyman, You Know How to Love Me: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 4 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]