The Trammps
Disco's most soulful vocal group began in the '60s as the Volcanos, and were also called the Moods. Gene Faith was the original lead vocalist, with Earl Young, Jimmy Ellis, guitarist Dennis Harris, keyboardist Ron Kersey, organist John Hart, bassist Stanley Wade, and drummer Michael Thomas. But by the time they'd gone through various identities and emerged as the Trammps in the mid-'70s, the lineup featured lead vocalist Ellis, Norman Harris, and Stanley Wade, Robert Upchurch and Young. A snappy revival of Judy Garland's '40s tune "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" was their first chart single, reaching number 17 on the R&B list in 1972. Despite their well-deserved reputation and boisterous, jubilant harmonies and sound, the Trammps were never a huge commercial success even during disco's heyday. Indeed, they had only three R&B Top Ten hits from 1972 through 1978, and such wonderful records as "Soul Bones," "Ninety-Nine and a Half," and "I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On the Dark Side of the Moon)" stiffed on the charts though they were beloved by club audiences and R&B fans alike. Their only huge hit was "Disco Inferno" in 1977, which was a number nine R&B single in 1977 and was also featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Yet it missed the pop Top Ten, peaking at number 11. But 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.
© Ron Wynn /TiVo
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Rhino Hi-Five: The Trammps
Pop - Released by Rhino on Sep. 20, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Disco Inferno (Remixes)
House - Released by Rmptkm on Apr. 27, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Disco Kings (Rerecording)
R&B - Released by Music Manager on Jun. 15, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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On Holiday with The Trammps
R&B - Released by Music Manager on Jun. 17, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jingle Bell Rock
Christmas Music - Released by Vanilla OMP on Dec. 7, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Tramp Around Christmas - [The Dave Cash Collection]
Christmas Music - Released by The Dave Cash Collection - OMP on May 9, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
This Christmas
Christmas Music - Released by Goldenlane Records on Nov. 21, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Night the Lights Went Out (Mike Maurro Summer of 77 Remix)
Miscellaneous - Released by Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group on Jan. 24, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with The Trammps
Christmas Music - Released by Platinum Collection on Nov. 9, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Because of You (feat. Earl Young)
Pop - Released by The Trammps Featuring Earl Young on Jan. 22, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Hold Back the Night (feat. Earl Young)
Pop - Released by Treasury Collection on May 15, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let Me Love You Tonight
R&B - Released by Virtuoso Music & Distribution on Jun. 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let Me Love You Tonight
The Trammps, Earl Young, Darryl Grant
Miscellaneous - Released by The Trammps Featuring Earl Young with Darryl Grant on Apr. 5, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Trammps Christmas
Christmas Music - Released by Music Company OMP on Feb. 16, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Trammps Go Disco, Funky Town
Disco - Released by Dance Plant Records Inc on Apr. 16, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo