Decades after his death, Sylvester, described as an androgynous, openly gay, drag-loving, African American, falsetto-singing, unapologetically flaming man-diva, has experienced a continuous surge in popularity. His latest posthumous release, ‘Live At The Opera House (The Complete Recordings/Live At The War Memorial Opera House)’ (recorded March 11, 1979 ), gives new listeners over two hours of confirmation that this trend is continuing. 

The fourteen-track album, available now from Craft Recordings in a 3- LP colored vinyl set, two CD, digital, and high-definition formats, contains liner notes by “The Fabulous Sylvester” author Joshua Gamson and never-before-seen photos from the multi-night run of shows. 

The set also gives listeners more than an hour of never-released music to enchant Sylvester fans and reach out to new ones. 

While the audio recordings can’t capture the visual glamour and fabulousness of the evening or the backstage drama that involved Sylvester’s preshow drug use, which was triggered by the large number of “A” listers in the audience, the album reinforces how Sylvester was a force to be reckoned with on stage. 

There is no phoning in of the performance, no backing tapes, and no lip-syncing. What there is in the set are thirteen remastered tracks, with the artist backed by a twenty-six-piece orchestra and a powerful backing band. Sylvester also added two new backing songs, ‘Two Tons O’ Fun’ ( Martha Walsh and Izora Rhodes), who stood toe to toe with the singer, matching his vocal prowess. 

The hits are here, with “Dance ( Disco Heat)” and “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” appearing in extended versions and part of an orchestral medley. He also digs into deep cuts and covers. “Blackbird” by the Beatles is rendered in a funky big band rev-up style with a level of funky not envisioned by Lennon and McCartney. “Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?),” popularized by Billie Holiday, is a slow-burning torch song, and Sylvester gives a uniquely powerful delivery. The singer employed his vast vocal range while displaying his versatility with jazz and soul music. 

The only downside to this elegantly packaged collection is that these shows have no accompanying video. Though Sylvester left us in 1988, the bold release confirms his long-lasting legacy.