Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record GuideB+
Pitchfork9.2/10
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul

Step II is the fourth studio album by American singer Sylvester, released in 1978 on the Fantasy label.

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 7 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 28 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Dance (Disco Heat)", which peaked at No. 4 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", which charted at No. 20 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both songs reached No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on February 13, 1979.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"Sylvester, James "Tip" Wirrick6:39
2."Dance (Disco Heat)"Eric Robinson, Victor Orsborn5:50
3."You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Epilogue"Sylvester, James "Tip" Wirrick3:19
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Grateful"Sylvester, Michael Finden3:27
5."I Took My Strength from You"Burt Bacharach, Hal David7:16
6."Was It Something That I Said"Sylvester, Harvey Fuqua4:15
7."Just You and Me Forever"Eric Robinson, Victor Orsborn4:31

Personnel

  • Sylvester – lead vocals and backing vocals, acoustic piano
  • Patrick Cowley – string, Electro-comp 101 and 200 models synthesizers and Oberheim DS-2 sequencer, special effects
  • Michael Finden – electric piano, organ and clavinet
  • James "Tip" Wirrick – electric guitar
  • Eric Robinson – acoustic piano (track 7)
  • Bob Kingson – bass (tracks 1–6)
  • James Jamerson, Jr. – bass (track 7)
  • Randy Merritt – drums (tracks 1–6)
  • James Gadson – drums (track 7)
  • David Frazier – percussion
  • George Bohanon – horns
  • Charles Veal Jr. – strings, concertmaster
  • Izora Rhodes, Martha Wash – backing vocals
  • Leslie Drayton – string and horn arrangements

Technical

  • Nancy C. Pitts – associate producer
  • Eddie Bill Harris – remix
  • Phil Bray – photography

Charts

Album

Chart (1978)Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)74
US Billboard Top LPs28
US Billboard Top Soul LPs7

Singles

YearTitlePeaks
USUS R&BUS Dan
1978"Dance (Disco Heat)"1941
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"3620

External links