The Trammps
The Trammps are an American soul music group, known for being based in Phil… Read Full Bio ↴The Trammps are an American soul music group, known for being based in Philadelphia and being one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was with their 1972 cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart". However, they are best known for their Grammy winning song "Disco Inferno", which was originally released in 1976 and became a U.K. pop hit and U.S. R&B hit. Re-released in 1978 and also included in the 1977 soundtrack to 'Saturday Night Fever', it then became a big U.S. pop hit.
The music journalist Ron Wynn has noted that "the Trammps' prowess can't be measured by chart popularity; Ellis' booming, joyous vocals brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that made disco both loved and hated among music fans." The first disco-related track they released was "Love Epidemic" back in 1973. That made them trailblazers of its pop and soul fueled sound.
The history of the Trammps grew from a 60s-era group, called "The Volcanos", which later became "The Moods". With a number of line-up changes by the early 1970s, the band membership included gospel-influenced lead singer, Jimmy Ellis, drummer and bass singer, Earl Young, with brothers, Stanley and Harold 'Doc' Wade. Members of the Philadelphia recording band, MFSB played with the group on records and on tour in the 70s with singer, Robert Upchurch joining later. The group was produced by the Philadelphia team of Ronnie Baker, Norman Harris and Young, all MFSB mainstays who played on the recording sessions and contributed songs.
Their debut chart entry came via an upbeat cover version of the standard, "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", which became a Top 20 US R&B chart hit in 1972.
Their first few recordings were released on Buddah Records, including "Hold Back The Night" which was a hit in the UK and on the Billboard R&B chart in 1973, before a re-release saw it climb the U.S. Hot 100 two years later. Several R&B hits followed during a stay with Philadelphia International subsidiary, Golden Fleece (run by Baker-Harris-Young) before they signed to Atlantic Records.
Their single "Disco Inferno" (1976), which was included on the Grammy Award winning Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977,[3] reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.[4]
Other major hits included "Hold Back the Night" (1975) (UK #5) and "That's Where the Happy People Go" (1976). In late 1977, the Trammps released the song "The Night the Lights Went Out" to commemorate the electrical blackout that affected New York City on July 13, 1977.
Their signature song, "Disco Inferno", has been covered by Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper. In addition, Graham Parker covered "Hold Back The Night" on the "The Pink Parker EP" in 1977, and reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart, and Top 60 in the US.
On September 19, 2005, the group's "Disco Inferno" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York. The song was part-written by Ron Kersey, a producer-arranger and a member of MFSB, who also played with Trammps in the 1970s for a time. During the ceremony, the original band members performed together for the first time in 25 years.
Two versions of the group, with differing line-ups, currently tour the nostalgia circuit. On March 8, 2012, lead singer Jimmy Ellis died at a nursing home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, at the age of 74. The cause of death was not immediately known but he suffered from Alzheimers' disease.
Earl Young's Trammps still continue to record and as at August 2014 have recently released "Get your lovin while you can" written by the Steals brothers renowned for their Philly hits such as 'Could it be I'm falling in love' for The Detroit Spinners.
Website: http://thetrammps.net/
The music journalist Ron Wynn has noted that "the Trammps' prowess can't be measured by chart popularity; Ellis' booming, joyous vocals brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that made disco both loved and hated among music fans." The first disco-related track they released was "Love Epidemic" back in 1973. That made them trailblazers of its pop and soul fueled sound.
The history of the Trammps grew from a 60s-era group, called "The Volcanos", which later became "The Moods". With a number of line-up changes by the early 1970s, the band membership included gospel-influenced lead singer, Jimmy Ellis, drummer and bass singer, Earl Young, with brothers, Stanley and Harold 'Doc' Wade. Members of the Philadelphia recording band, MFSB played with the group on records and on tour in the 70s with singer, Robert Upchurch joining later. The group was produced by the Philadelphia team of Ronnie Baker, Norman Harris and Young, all MFSB mainstays who played on the recording sessions and contributed songs.
Their debut chart entry came via an upbeat cover version of the standard, "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", which became a Top 20 US R&B chart hit in 1972.
Their first few recordings were released on Buddah Records, including "Hold Back The Night" which was a hit in the UK and on the Billboard R&B chart in 1973, before a re-release saw it climb the U.S. Hot 100 two years later. Several R&B hits followed during a stay with Philadelphia International subsidiary, Golden Fleece (run by Baker-Harris-Young) before they signed to Atlantic Records.
Their single "Disco Inferno" (1976), which was included on the Grammy Award winning Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977,[3] reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.[4]
Other major hits included "Hold Back the Night" (1975) (UK #5) and "That's Where the Happy People Go" (1976). In late 1977, the Trammps released the song "The Night the Lights Went Out" to commemorate the electrical blackout that affected New York City on July 13, 1977.
Their signature song, "Disco Inferno", has been covered by Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper. In addition, Graham Parker covered "Hold Back The Night" on the "The Pink Parker EP" in 1977, and reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart, and Top 60 in the US.
On September 19, 2005, the group's "Disco Inferno" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York. The song was part-written by Ron Kersey, a producer-arranger and a member of MFSB, who also played with Trammps in the 1970s for a time. During the ceremony, the original band members performed together for the first time in 25 years.
Two versions of the group, with differing line-ups, currently tour the nostalgia circuit. On March 8, 2012, lead singer Jimmy Ellis died at a nursing home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, at the age of 74. The cause of death was not immediately known but he suffered from Alzheimers' disease.
Earl Young's Trammps still continue to record and as at August 2014 have recently released "Get your lovin while you can" written by the Steals brothers renowned for their Philly hits such as 'Could it be I'm falling in love' for The Detroit Spinners.
Website: http://thetrammps.net/
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The Trammps Lyrics
Body Contact Contract Body contact contract Sign it On the dotted line. Body cont…
Break Up to Make Up Tell me what's wrong with you now , tell me…
Burn Baby Burn I'm through with illusions just delusions for now I've took …
Didn't I I gave my heart and soul to you, girl Didn't I…
Disco Inferno (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn bab…
Disco Inferno (12" Version) Burn, baby, burn Burn, baby, burn Burn, baby, burn Burn, bab…
Disco Inferno (Re-Recorded) (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) To my su…
Disco Inferno (Single Edit) Burn, baby, burn Burn, baby, burn Burn, baby, burn Burn, bab…
Disco Inferno - LP/12" Version (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) To my su…
Disco Party Disco party dance people dance Let the good times roll Let t…
DiscoInferno (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn baby burn) (Burn …
Don't Burn No Bridges I'm through with illusions just delusions for now I've took …
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peac…
Hold Back The Night Hold back the night, turn on the lights Don't wanna dream…
Hooked for Life Since the day, you gave your love to me Oh, I…
I Feel Like I've Been Living (On The Dark Side Of The Moon) Each night I go to sleep With nothing but your memory Sweet…
I'll Be Home for Christmas I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love Even more then…
If You Don't Know Me By Now If you don't know me by now You will never never…
If You Don’T Know Me By Now (If you don't know me by now) You will never, never,…
Joy to the World Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth…
Just Say The Word I'm holdin' on To pictures on my telephone And I know that…
La La La Many guys have come to you With a line that wasn't…
Love Epidemic Say we're gonna spread the love epidemic All around the worl…
Motown Philly Boyz II Men, Boyz II Men, Boyz II Men, Boyz II…
Ninety-Nine and a Half I got to have all your love, night and day. Not…
Rubber band You stretch me out like a rubber band, you got…
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I…
Santa Clause Is Coming To Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
Shout Shout Shout Let it all out These are the things I can do…
Sixty Minute Man Look-ee here girls I'm telling you now They call me Lovin'…
Stop And Think Stop And Think A While Before You Leave And Say…
That's Where the Happy People Go I used to spend most of my time Just being alone,…
The First Noel The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor…
The First Noël The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor…
The Night The Lights Went Out Where were you when the lights went out In New York…
The Night The Lights Went Out In NYC Where were you when the lights went out In New York…
Trusting Heart Darling, I will never break your trusting heart again This t…
Where Do We Go From Here Hello baby, how've you been You sure look good You know it's…
You Are Everything You're my everything The sun that shines above you Makes the…
You Make Me Feel Brand New My love I'll never find the words, my love To tell you…
You Touch My Hot Line I was a cold, cold man Well, well, then you came…
Zing Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…