Sylvester - Sell My Soul (1980)

Although the singularly named Sylvester reached his apex with 1978's disco anthem "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," Sell My Soul, released in 1980, is packed with a wonderful assortment of easy, breezy dance classics which readily tipped the whole package into the pop Top 50 that fall. Driven by strings and pulsing, synth-edged disco beats, the songs on Sell My Soul are brought to life thanks to Sylvester's mighty, mighty voice. Sweet and sexy, it rumbles as often as it breaks into his soaring trademark falsetto. Either way, it lends a shine to the set that couldn't be reproduced by anyone else. Both "I Need You" and "I'll Dance to That" are up-tempo, feel-good groovers. The title track, meanwhile, is a heavier affair -- still upbeat, but more textured, adding a nice looping bass and outstanding backing vocals from Delores and Carl Hall. In fact, that's the formula that winds its way across the set, although an impassioned reiteration of the magnificent "Cry Me a River" is a quick-stepping, gospel-inflected romp that stands outside the pack, thanks in part to the fierce brass which trails the vocals, while "My Life Is Loving You" is a tender, emotive, end-of-the-night ballad. Ultimately, although it runs the risk of becoming just another clutch of lite pop, Sell My Soul is another stunner from one of dance music's most underrated artists. Consigned to the one-hit wonder bin by most, Sylvester gave more chops to what became de rigueur in the late-'80s/early-'90s acid house dance set than most give him credit for. And this oft-overlooked album is the proof in the pudding. © Amy Hanson