The Trammps [2023] - The Philadelphia Re-edit Sessions [Simpson Uniquity] (Full Album)

The latest edition of Paul Simpson's Philadelphia Re-Edit sessions consists of 17 tracks from The Trammps.  All tracks come from just two albums "The Legendary Zing Album" (1975) and "Disco Champs" (1977) although several of the tracks on the 1977 "Disco Champs" album were originally released on "Trammps" in 1975.

The Trammps started out as The Volcanos in 1964 on Jimmy Bishop's Arctic label and several of their early Arctic singles have had exposure on Northern Soul dancefloors e.g. "(It's Against) The Laws Of Love"and "Storm Warning" in particular. The Vocanos line-up was  Eugene Jones (Gene Faith) (vocals), Steve Kelly (vocals), Stanley Wade (guitar), Harold 'Doc' Wade (bass), John Hart (keys) and Earl Young (drums). They released six singles on Arctic and then moved to Harthon for two singles. Jones left the group for a solo career renaming himself Gene Faith and recorded around seven singles for Virtue between 1969-75 with an unreleased song on Virtue in 1970.

Early Young had been in a group The Exceptions with Jimmy Ellis. He recruited the Wade brothers from The Volcanos along with Ellis and Robert Upchurch to form The Trammps. The line-up fluctuated and earlier members included Dennis Harris, Ron Baker and Ron Kersey amongst others. They signed to Buddah in 1971 releasing their first single "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" in May 1972 which became their first R&B Top 20 hit (#17), "The Legendary Zing Album" followed in 1975. 

After "Zing" they released several singles which were lowly entries into the R&B charts until "Hold Back The Night" (#10 1975).

They moved to Golden Fleece (part of PIR) and released their second, self-titled, album in 1975. The following year they were snapped up by Atlantic where they released their next six albums up to 1980 and had another two R&B Top 20 hits with "That's Where The Happy People Go" (#12 1976) before their smash hit "Disco Inferno" which featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

1975 - The Legendary Zing Album *

1975 - Trammps **

1977 - Disco Champs ***

01 - Zing went the strings (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

02 - Hold back the night (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

03 - Where do we go from here (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ** / ***

04 - Love epidemic (Paul Simpson Re-edit) * / ***

05 - Just say the word (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ***

06 - Pray all you sinners (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

07 - Rubberband (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

08 - Stop & think (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ** / ***

09 - Save a place (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ** / ***

10 - Shout (Paul Simpson Re-edit) **

11 - Trusting heart (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ** / ***

12 - Promise me (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ***

13 - I know that feeling (Paul Simpson Re-edit) **

14 - Sixty minute man (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

15 - Tom's song (Paul Simpson Re-edit) *

16 - Oh waa hey (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ***

17 - Trammps disco theme (Paul Simpson Re-edit) ** / ***

As with previous releases, no sound files will be posted as you can listen to each track in full on Paul's dedicated website. These will be available for two weeks only (i.e. until 14 Feb 2023).

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Philly Soul / Re-Edits
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Simpson Uniquity
Cat No:	None
Date:	31/01/2023
Price:	$11.99

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Trammps [2021] - Soul Searchin' Time (Mike Maurro Mix) [BrookSide 12” #BRDSKO-01]

Mike Maurro has just released a superb remix of one of The Trammps disco classic from 1976. The only place I can find it is on his YT channel. It just missed out on UK Top 40 (#42) but only reached #67 R&B in US. Their biggest hits (in UK) were "Hold Back The Night" #5 1975 and "Disco Inferno" #16 in 1977. Another group that seems to have fared better in UK chart-wise than US.

The Trammps evolved from The Volcanos who recorded several sides on Arctic in the 60s, many played on the Northern Soul scene. Drummer Earl Young (now 81) is widely credited with creating the four on the floor disco beat. He was a session drummer on Philadelphia International and played on "Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes "The Love I Lost" in 1973. He was a member of PIR house band MFSB (Mothers Fathers Sisters Brothers) and later moved to Salsoul (Salsoul Orchestra).

He was also a member of group named The Landslides with legendary Philly producers Ron Baker and Norman Harris along with Eli Tatarsky (aka Bobby Eli) who only released one single on Huff-Puff, a subsidiary of Gamble which only released three singles, Ruth McFadden (on which they all performed) and The Producers (one side of which was an instrumental of the Dee Dee Sharp's "What Kind Of Lady" released on Gamble the same year 1968). Both sides on The Landslides record were written by Kenny Gamble, (Jerry?) Butler & Thom Bell and produced by Gamble & Huff and arranged by Bobby Martin in 1968. It reads like a who's who of Philly music!

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Philly Disco
Format:	Single
Media:	12"
Label:	BrookSide
Cat No:	BRDSKO-01
Year:	2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£?

NS530 The Trammps [1975] - Hold Back The Night [Buddah 507]

530 The Trammps [1975] - Hold Back The Night [Buddah 507]

b/w:	Tom's Song
Format:	45
Label:	Buddah
Cat No:	507/ BDS 437 (UK)
Year:	1975
Value:	£5

This track should need no introduction as it crossed over onto the pop charts, however it was played as a new release on the Northern scene (probably starting life at the Blackpool Mecca) and 'dutifully' dropped as soon as it became 'popular' with pop audiences.  The Trammps are probably most famous for 'Disco Inferno' which was featured in in the movie Saturday Night Fever and subsequently went on to become a worldwide hit in the summer of 1977.  'Disco Inferno and 'Hold Back The Night' were their biggest hits followed by 'That's Where The Happy People Go' and 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart'.

An instrumental version of Hold Back The Night was titled 'Scrub Board' and was released in the UK  as a 45 on the B side of '60 Minute Man' BDA 321 from 1972.

The Trammps started their career as The Volcanos on Arctic releasing 'Baby' in 1965.  'Storm Warning' (with 'Baby' re-released on the flip) from the same year later became popular on the scene as did '(Its Against )The Laws Of Love'.  They recorded 6 45s on Arctic and 2 on Harthon. They also recorded as The Body Motions.  They changed their name to The Trammps in 1972 releasing 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart'. 

Trammps Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

Volcanos Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

Arctic Discography @ soulfulkindamusic

The Trammps [1975] - Toms Song [Buddah 507]

The flip side 'Tom's Song' is a mellow philly instrumental.

1992 Remake by Ian Levine featuring Jimmy Williams (from Double Exposure) on lead vocals who replaced Jimmy Ellis in 1982 when he retired, along with the remaining original members of the group going back to when they were The Volcanos.

Trammps [1972] - Scrub Board [Buddah BDA 321]

The instrumental version of Hold Back The Night was released several years earlier (1972) as the flip to Sixty Minute Man.