Sylvester - Call Me (1983)

Call Me is one of the last albums by the late, great Sylvester James, Queen of all Drag Queens. This is not really the material he is remembered for - Call Me was recorded too late to be full of either his iconic Disco anthems, or his more cutting edge proto-House electronic music. But that's not to say that there's nothing special about this album. Call Me is the perfect example of a great Dollar Bin record - it could easily be scoffed at as something unimportant or forgettable, but when you listen a bit closer, there are countless moments of bizarre magic.

First item worth noting is the very eye-catching Grace Jones-esque cover art, with its solid colors and bold geometric shapes. Before that moment of name recognition even hit me, this was the first thing to make me grab this record. The music itself has a strange quality to it - I can't really picture most of it catching on in a dance club or on the radio, but there is one place these songs would work perfectly - an 80's movie soundtrack. You will understand once you hear it, but first I will provide a track-by-track description of the 80's movie scenes that each song should correspond with.

Trouble In Paradise: this one is definitely 80's montage material. That means someone is either going to be working out, training for a fight, practicing dance choreography, or taking an emotional drive on a lonely highway.

Call Me: this one feels like another montage, but more of a rocking montage. Whatever the character is doing, they are doing it at a time when they have to push themselves harder than ever to hold onto their dream. Following the lyrics, this could be a montage of someone refusing to give up after many failed attempts to woo a potential love interest. Wicked guitar solo.

Good Feelin': this track is just awesome. Definitely the most funky dance floor-ready tune on here. In my fictional 80's movie, all I can imagine is either a dance-off of some sort, or struttin'. The title says it all.

He'll Understand: this is a sort of slow Gospel jam - very inspirational. In the movie, this would be reserved for a quiet moment - a walk in the park perhaps.

One Night Only: this one picks up right where the last one ends, but then some slow, sexy drum and bass slaps come in. Definitely a tender Highlander-style steamy sex scene here.

Too Late: this one has a synth line that sounds humorously like the Ghostbusters theme. This would be the part where they are fixing up the firehouse and taking calls around the city. 

Power of Love: here are some lyrics: "Short Circuit! You blew my fuse! I'm overloaded and confused!" I think that says it all. This is a song about the loving heart of Johnny 5. There is a breakdown in the end that sounds like a major influence on Dan Deacon's frantic sound.

Band of Gold: this is a bit more of a classic Sylvester Disco track. Has a real feel-good quality to it. This song is definitely reserved for the closing credits of a romantic family film in the 80's. Warm fuzzy feelings as you walk out of the theater.

There you have it. This album is awesome.

HERE.