The Trammps - Trammps - LP (1975) Golden Fleece - CD + Bonus Tracks (2002) Epic Legacy - Rare Soul (FLAC)

This is the album that got them on their way and what a debut it is! The Trammps legends to all soul fans and popular in all black music clubs down the years.  They were formed by Earl Young and Jimmy Ellis in 1972 in Philadelphia, two former members of the Volcanos (and were also called The Cardells in the late 1950,s, who had some local success with their singles, 'Storm Warning' b/w 'Baby', 'Make Your Move' b/w 'Baby', and 'You're Number One' b/w 'Make Your Move'.  The group recorded for the Arctic, Harthon and Virtue labels. They became known as the Body Motions for a while, with the line-up comprising Gene Jones, Steve Kelly, John Hart, Stanley Wade, Harold Wade and Earl Young. The group were later joined by Dennis Harris (guitar), Ron Kersey (keyboards), John Hart (organ), Stanley Wade (bass) and Michael Thompson (drums), taking their name from a tease that 'all (they would) ever be were tramps!... They gained a reputation covering old standards, of which 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart' b/w 'Penguin At The Big Apple' (in 1972 on Buddah Records) was a minor hit, but all the uptempo aformentioned records were picked up bu the UK northern soul scene. The song was a remake of a tune originally recorded by Judy Garland in 1943. They released the album of the same name, which featured a follow up single, 'Sixty Minute Man'. The ensemble then set up their own lebel, Golden Fleece, and had a major U.K. hit, in 1975, with the song 'Hold Back The Night', which reached number 40 on the pop charts and 10 on the R&B charts after demo copies were palyed on the northern scene.
Another hit 'Where Do We Go From Here', reached number 44 on the R & B charts in 1974. By 1976, the group had relocated to the Atlantic label where, 'Where the Happy People Go' was to become their biggest pop hit to date, reaching 27 in the charts. Further hits on Atlantic included, 'Disco Party', 'Body Contact', 'I Fell Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)', 'The Night The Lights Went Out', and 'Soul Bones' (which featured a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder).In 1978 , their song 'Disco Inferno', was featured in the film 'Saturday Night Fever', a tune which became one of the major hits of the Disco era. The song went on to be one the industries biggest selling albums to date, resulting in the group winning a Grammy Award in 1979 and world wide fame. By this time, the Trammps had added to their numbers, with Earl Young and Jimmy Ellis, remaining at the helm, alongside brothers Stan and Harold 'Doc' Wade and baritone Robert Upchurch. Following the Disco boom, the bust which followed took it's toll on the group's success. The group remained a unit until 1980 at which time they disbanded and embarked on solo careers. In the new millennium the Trammps continued to tour, at times in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America.Now in semi retirement the new line up comes out now and again for small gigs. They recorded 10 studio albums and 80+ singles. Who doesnt like something recorded by the Trammps or Volcanos ?

AMM

Sixties line-up:

James Thomas Ellis II (vocals)
Gene Faith a.k.a. Gene Jones (original lead vocalist)
Steve Kelly (vocals)
Earl Young (vocals / drums)
Dennis Harris (guitarist)
Ron Kersey b. Tyrone G. Kersey, 7th April 1945 d. 25th January 2005 (keyboardist)
John Hart (organist)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
Michael Thomas (drums)

Seventies line-up:

James Thomas Ellis II (lead vocalist)
Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
Robert Upchurch (vocals)
Earl Young (vocals / drums)

Eighties line-up:

James Thomas Ellis II (lead vocalist) (b. 15th November 1937, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 8th March 2012, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A.)
Robert Upchurch (vocals)
Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
Earl Young (vocals / drums)

Current line-up Till 2020:

Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
Dave Dixon (vocals)

                                                                       The Tasters!