I Hate To Be Lonely

“I Hate To Be Lonely” is one of the strongest arguments Inner Child makes for Shanice as more than a vocal prodigy — she co-wrote the track herself alongside producer Narada Michael Walden and Louis Biancaniello, the same team behind “I Love Your Smile.” Walden produced and arranged the record and played and programmed the drums himself, Biancaniello adds keyboards and additional arrangement, and Vernon “Ice” Black contributes rhythm guitar and a jazzy guitar solo.

Shanice’s lead sits inside a dense, seven-voice backing choir (herself among them) rather than out in front of it for long stretches, letting the arrangement’s warmth carry the hook. The track was recorded and mixed at Walden’s Tarpan Studios and mastered by Bob Ludwig, the same premium production chain used across the album — though, unlike “I Love Your Smile” and “I’m Cryin’,” Motown never issued it as a single, leaving it one of Inner Child’s most rewarding deep cuts.