Disco Heat: The Fantas... - Sylvester - Audio CD (Arrives in 20 days)

When the self-described “disco
queen” known as Sylvester
stepped on a New York stage
opening for Chaka Khan, the
local press was entranced. One
newspaper approvingly noted that
he made “David Bowie look like
Lawrence Welk.” Nothing was
too outrageous for Sylvester.
But at his core, he was serious
about music and about breaking
down the walls of identity. In
appearance and demeanor, the
unapologetically gay San Francisco star challenged the gender
binary long before such discussions were in the mainstream, going
far beyond androgyny to create a striking persona all his own. Now,
Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records celebrate the late
trailblazer with the release of the first comprehensive anthology of his
seminal recordings for Fantasy Records. Disco Heat: The Fantasy
Years 1977-1981 features 25 tracks on two CDs drawn from all six of
his albums for the label, as well as the rare 12-inch Disco Versions
that kept the dancefloors burning. In addition to versions of every hit
Sylvester scored for Fantasy featuring crossover smashes like “You
Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Dance (Disco Heat),” the collection
offers an array of remarkable covers including his moving live version
of Patti LaBelle’s “You Are My Friend,” a smoldering medley of Barry
Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” and Leon Russell’s “A Song for You,”
Leiber and Stoller’s dramatic “I (Who Have Nothing),” Ashford and
Simpson’s “Over and Over,” the Peggy Lee standard “Fever,” and
Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “I Took My Strength from You.”
Featuring the vocals of Izora Rhodes and Martha Wash, later known
as The Weather Girls, Disco Heat traces Sylvester’s Fantasy career
with an emphasis on the bold dance music he made, underscoring
the significance of black and gay artists to the creation of disco itself.
Joe Marchese of The Second Disc provides detailed new liner notes
placing Sylvester’s music into the context of the era, while the audio
has been newly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. Disco
Heat, released in time for Pride Month 2023, is a striking tribute to the
enduring and ahead-of-his-time diva. “Sometimes folks make us feel
strange,” Sylvester told a New York audience in 1978, “but we’re not
strange. And those folks – they’ll just have to catch up.” The world
has finally caught up with The Fabulous Sylvester.

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. Over and Over (12" Disco Version)
2. Down Down Down (12" Disco Version)
3. I Been Down
4. Tipsong
5. Loving Grows Up Slow
6. Never Too Late
7. Dance (Disco Heat) (12" Disco Version)
8. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (12" Disco Version)
9. Was It Something That I Said
10. I Took My Strength From You
11. I Who Have Nothing (12" Short Disco Version)
12. Body Strong (12" Disco Version)
13. I Need Somebody To Love Tonight

Disc 2

1. Stars (12" Disco Version)
2. Can't Stop Dancing(12" Disco Version)
3. In My Fantasy (I Want You, I Need You) (12" Disco Version)
4. You Are My Friend (Single Version)
5. Medley: Could It Be Magic/A Song For You
6. I Need You
7. Sell My Soul (12" Disco Version)
8. Fever
9. Change Up
10. Here is My Love
11. Give It Up (Don't Make Me Wait) (12" Disco Version)
12. Thinking Right
13. I Can't Believe I'm In Love

Label: Real Gone Music | Origin: Holland

📌 .. Years 1977-1981