Mighty Real: Greatest Dance Hits

by Sylvester

Overview

In 2013, Sylvester's five studio albums for Fantasy -- 1977's Sylvester through 1981's Too Hot to Sleep -- were released as digital downloads. Around the same time, the label issued this compilation as a download and as a filled-to-capacity compact disc. It leads with a previously unreleased mix of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" from Chicago house pioneer Ralphi Rosario, but after that, there's no deviation, with most of the expected selections present. "Dance (Disco Heat)," "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (the original mix of which closes the set), "I Need Somebody to Love Tonight" (possibly the sleaziest electronic groove recorded), "I Need You," and most of the other selections are essential. Serious fans can spot the unfortunate omissions -- "Down, Down, Down," "I (Who Have Nothing)," and "In My Fantasy," for instance -- but there simply isn't enough room to fit everything into one easy-to-digest anthology. The lone unrepresented album is Too Hot to Sleep, quite possibly because it was a significant stylistic departure into relaxed contemporary R&B -- though its "Give It Up" wouldn't have been out of place here. This is a fine introduction that showcases the grit and the gloss, as well as the aches and the pleasures, of a versatile dance music original. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	06/25/2013
Label:	Fantasy
UPC:	0888072344983
Rank:	47936

Tracks

Disc 1

1. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) [Ralphi¿¿¿s Mighty Dub Mix]
2. Dance (Disco Heat)
3. Stars
4. Can't Stop Dancing
5. Changes

Disc 2

6. Over and Over
7. I Need Somebody to Love Tonight
8. I Need You
9. Sell My Soul
10. Body Strong
11. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sylvester   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Alfredo de la Fe   Strings
Patrick Cowley   Synthesizer,Special Effects
Jessica Smith   Vocals (Background)
Pat Hodges   Vocals (Background)
Carl Hall   Vocals (Background)
Wayne Wallace   Trombone
Delores Hall   Vocals (Background)
Martha Wash   Vocals (Background)
Mel Martin   Sax (Baritone)
Norman Durham   Bass
John Gatchell   Horn
David Frazier   Percussion
Woody Cunningham   Drums
Mauricio Smith   Horn,Soloist,Sax (Alto)
Jeanie Tracy   Vocals (Background)
Julian Priester   Trombone
Randy Merritt   Drums
Michael Finden   Organ,Clavinet,Piano (Electric)
Louis Small   Piano,Rhythm,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric)
George Victory   Guitar
Eric Robinson   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Denita James   Vocals (Background)
John Echert   Horn
Greg Crockett   Bass
Danny Chan   Horn
Izora Rhodes   Vocals (Background)
Bob Kingson   Bass
Kelvin Dixon   Drums
Louis Barbarin   Horn
Allen Smith   Trumpet
Ralph Wash   Guitar
Ella Mitchell   Vocals (Background)
Eluriel Tinker Barfield   Bass
Tip Wirrick   Guitar
Sandy Reiner   Drums
John Dunstan   Bass
David Sprunk   French Horn
Kenny Warden   Horn,Soloist,Flugelhorn
Dan Reich   Keyboards
Fred Berry   Trumpet
Cookie Holt   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Patrick Cowley   Composer,Sequencers
Bill Belmont   Project Assistant
Chris Clough   Compilation Producer
Victor Orsborn   Composer
Leslie Drayton   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Ralphi Rosario   Remixing
Nick Phillips   Project Assistant
Allen Wentz   Synthesizer Programming
Tom Cartwright   Compilation Producer
Harvey Fuqua   Producer
Paul Blakemore   Mastering
Sylvester   Composer,Producer
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Rick Singer   Project Assistant
Sylvester James   Composer
Michael Finden   Composer
Louis Small   Arranger,Horn Arrangements
Eric Robinson   Arranger,Composer,Rhythm Arrangements,Composer
Denita James   Composer
James Sylvester   Composer
Jeffrey Spector   Project Assistant
Abbey Anna   Art Direction
Tip Wirrick   Composer
James Wirrick   Composer
Rikka Arnold   Project Assistant
Phil Bray   Cover Photo
Lionel Azulay   Composer
Mike Gillespie   Project Assistant
Andrew Pham   Art Direction,Package Design
Eric Jay Robinson   Composer
Darnell Gamble   Project Assistant
Dino Balzano   Project Assistant
Jill Weindorf   Project Assistant
Rick Nuhn   Project Assistant
Courtney Ridgway   Project Assistant
Golda McCormick   Project Assistant
Jeannie O'Cello   Project Assistant
Jeremy Gruber   Project Assistant
Joshua Gamson   Liner Notes
Lionel Azlay   Composer
Rebecca Deshpande   Project Assistant
Yen Le   Project Assistant
Michele Smith   Project Assistant