Step II [Disco Ball LP]

by Sylvester

Overview

By the time of 1979's Step II, Sylvester had already been through a career's worth of musical changes. On his previous self-titled LP from 1977, he had dipped a toe into the world of disco; on Step II he jumped in headfirst. With the help of electronics and synthesizer whiz kid Patrick Cowley and the dynamic vocal duo of Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, Sylvester came up with an almost-perfect expression of the unbridled joy and unstoppable soul of disco at its best. Kicking off with two classic songs -- "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and "Dance (Disco Heat)" -- propelled by sequencers, Wash and Armstead's mighty vocals, and a very tight studio band, then taken to the heavens by Sylvester's skyscraping falsetto, it could have stopped right there and been groundbreaking. It keeps going, though, and while it can't possibly keep up that insane pace, there are great moments that follow. The slow gospel redo of "Mighty Real" adds some serious soul, the rollicking "Grateful" is a swell slice of string-laden Love Boat disco, "Was It Something I Said" is a slow-walking funk delight, and "I Took My Strength from You" is a spacey, smooth, and peacefully sad ballad that unspools over seven glorious minutes. Step II cemented Sylvester's place as a disco icon and an inspiration; there was also a fine soul album hiding in among the classic dance tracks. It also launched Wash's and Armstead's careers as they soon began releasing records under the name Two Tons o' Fun, as well as establishing Cowley as an underground legend. For all these reasons, the album is a rock-solid cornerstone of the era and required listening for anyone who loves disco or soul music of the '70s. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	10/10/2025
Label:	Craft Recordings
UPC:	0888072700208

Tracks

1. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) [Remastered 2025]
2. Dance (Disco Heat) [Remastered 2025]
3. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) [Epilogue/Remastered 2025]
4. Grateful [Remastered 2025]
5. I Took My Strength From You [Remastered 2025]
6. Was It Something I Said [Remastered 2025]
7. Just You And Me Forever [Remastered 2025]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sylvester   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Michael Finden   Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Clavinet,Piano,Organ
Eric Robinson   Piano
Izora Rhodes   Vocals (Background)
Bob Kingson   Bass
Tip Wirrick   Guitar
James Wirrick   Guitar
Randy Merrill   Drums
Randy Merritt   Drums
Patrick Cowley   Synthesizer,Sound Effects
James Gadson   Drums
Martha Wash   Vocals (Background)
David Frazier   Percussion
James Jamerson, Jr.   Bass

Technical Credits

Michael Finden   Composer,Arranger
Buddy Brundo   Recording
Phil Carroll   Art Direction
Eric Robinson   Arranger,Composer
Dennis Gassner   Design
Charles Veal   String Contractor
Tip Wirrick   Arranger,Composer
Phil Bray   Photography
Eric Jay Robinson   Composer
Nancy C. Pitts   Producer,Associate Producer
Ryan Smith   Engineer
Buddy Bruno   Engineer
Sylvester James   Composer
George Horn   Mastering Engineer
Wally Buck   Assistant Engineer
Patrick Cowley   Effects,Sequencers
George Bohanon   Music Contractor
Victor Orsborn   Composer
Leslie Drayton   Arranger
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Harvey Fuqua   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Sylvester   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Hal David   Composer
Eddie Bill Harris   Engineer,Recording,Remix Engineer