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/
I'll Be Home for Christmas
The Trammps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams
The Trammps's song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a beautiful tribute to the longing for home during the holiday season. The opening lines suggest a deep yearning for a place the singer loves, more than they usually do. Despite the knowing nature of the long journey back, they promise to be home for Christmas.
The lyrics "Christmas Eve will find me, where the love light beams," capture the essence of the holiday season, where love and warmth are key themes. The singer longs to be surrounded by the familiar traditions of the season, snow and mistletoe, and presents under the tree. The final lines of the song, "I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams," convey the idea that even if they cannot physically be home, the thoughts and love for those they long to be with are ever present.
Overall, The Trammps's rendition of "I'll be home for Christmas" is a heartwarming reminder of the importance of being surrounded by loved ones during the holiday season, and the emotional effect that it can have on us.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
I am imagining tonight a place that I adore
Even more then I usually do
I love this place even more than I normally do
And although I know it's a long road back
Even though it's a lengthy journey to get there
I promise you
I vow to you
I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be present at home for Christmas
You can count on me
You can rely on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope there is snow and mistletoe for you
And presents under the tree
I hope there are presents under the tree for you
Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, I will be
Where the love light beams
At a place where love is evident
I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be present at home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if it is just in my imagination
Lyrics © GANNON & KENT MUSIC CO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buck Ram, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind