When Step II arrived in 1978, Sylvester had already carved out a reputation as San Francisco’s most electrifying performer, a singer who fused church-born soul with the glitter and liberation of the disco era. Born Sylvester James Jr. in Los Angeles, he learned to sing in a Pentecostal choir before finding his way to the Bay Area’s queer art scene, performing with the drag troupe The Cockettes and later fronting his own funk-rock outfit (Sylvester and his Hot Band). But it was as a solo artist that Sylvester fully came into his own, embracing a sound that blended gospel emotion, electronic textures, and unapologetic self-expression. His second album, Step II, captured all of that energy in one concise, radiant package. Besides a limited edition by Vinyl Me, Please in 2022, Step II hasn’t been available on vinyl since 1979. Craft Recordings’ new vinyl reissue, pressed on Disco Ball Clear Glitter vinyl, restores the long-out-of-print album to its original format and sheen. It’s a fitting tribute to a record that not only defined Sylvester’s career but also expanded the language of disco and queer identity in popular music.
Opening with “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” the record’s best-known anthem remains an astonishing blend of gospel fervor and electronic precision. Patrick Cowley’s synthesizer work turns James Wirrick’s original ballad into a high-voltage rhythm machine, propelled by Cowley’s sequenced pulse and anchored by Sylvester’s fluid falsetto. This contrast between human and machine became the album’s guiding principle. “Dance (Disco Heat)” continues that ecstatic momentum, with Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes delivering powerhouse backing vocals that match Sylvester’s own intensity. The rhythm section, driven by a deep bass groove and crisp percussion, gives the track its lift. It’s easy to hear why this track was played nightly in the disco clubs.
Beyond those hits, Step II shows its depth on tracks like “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Epilogue,” which reimagines the opener as a subdued gospel reprise, returning the song to its spiritual roots. “Was It Something That I Said” highlights the playful rapport between Sylvester and his singers, complete with a teasing spoken-word intro and interlocking harmonies that nod to Motown girl-group precision. “Grateful” moves with a gentler pace, where piano and strings underpin a song of quiet conviction, while “I Took My Strength from You” strips things down to smooth instrumentation, leaving space for Sylvester’s vocal phrasing to shine. Then there’s “Just You and Me Forever,” a warm and soulful closer that blends soft electric piano, understated horns, and tight rhythm guitar. It serves as a reminder that beneath the glitter and pulse, Sylvester was above all a singer.
Nearly fifty years later, Step II remains both a triumph of musical innovation and a document of self-liberation. Step II captures a key turning point in pop music: the fusion of gospel-rooted soul with emerging electronic dance production. This reissue not only revives its shimmering sound but also honors the courage and creativity behind it. With Craft’s Disco Ball Clear Glitter pressing, every synth shimmer and falsetto flourish feels alive again, proof that Sylvester’s vision of freedom through music still moves the body and lifts the spirit.
