Original Hits (CD)

Not surprisingly, the only available biography of transvestite disco superstar Sylvester (born Sylvester James) is entitled THE FABULOUS SYLVESTER, as no other word captures this unique figure better. With a flamboyant sense of style and sexuality, and a breathtaking singing voice, the California native and veteran of San Francisco's legendary drag-queen performance troupe the Cockettes became underground disco's first homegrown superstar. His uplifting collaborations with producer Patrick Cowley revolutionized dance music and paved the way for its transformation into a predominantly electronic, synth-driven genre. Sadly, Sylvester succumbed to complications from AIDS (as did Cowley) in the 1980s, yet he remains an icon and an inspiration in the black gay community.

• Category:  Music  »  R&B  »  Disco
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: February 21, 1989
• Label: Fantasy Records (USA)
• UPC: 025218771023
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106648353
• Average Customer Review: There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #6678 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #306 in R&B (See Top 100 R&B Bestsellers)
• #8 in Disco (See Top 100 Disco Bestsellers)

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Personnel includes: Sylvester (vocals, piano); Tip Wirrick, George Victory, John Tropea (guitar); Eric Robinson (piano, keyboards, sythesizer); Louis Small (piano, electric piano, synthesizer); Michael Finden (electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Patrick Cowley (synthesizer, special effects); Bob Kingson, John Dunstan, Norman Durham (bass); Randy Merritt, Woody Cunningham, Kelvin Dixon (drums); David Frazier (percussion); Hodges, James & Smith; Ella Mitchell, Cookie Holt, Jeanie Tracy (background vocals).

Two Tons O' Fun: Izora Rhodes, Martha Wash (vocals).

Includes liner notes from Gene Santoro.

The paradox of being a disco star is that while the role requires a certain kind of glitzy flamboyance, the rigors of the style itself demand that the artist also give up a large measure of his or her personality. No one exemplified this dilemma better than Sylvester, the San Francisco dance artist who broke out with two nation-wide hits, "Dance (Disco Heat)" and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," and who also introduced the Two Tons 'O Fun powerhouse singers, Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes (a.k.a. The Weather Girls.) Indeed, while Sylvester possessed a fine falsetto gospel voice that he could employ to great effect, it is near impossible to pick him out of the Two Tons vocal mix on a track like "Dance (Disco Heat)." He could be as anonymous as they come.

Still the gospel strain is perhaps the most important. For all the drag queen aspect of this singer's persona, he was his greatest as the most prominent member of a shouting, praising community. Extended, beat-driven tracks like "Stars" and "Body Strong" only give him (and his singers) ample room to shout and praise to his soul's content.

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