The Trammps

by Bill Pollak

Originally published in MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide, Gary Graff, Josh Freedom du Lac, and Jim McFarlin (eds.); Visible Ink Press (Detroit, MI): 1998.

Formed 1972 in Philadelphia, PA

Members:John Hart (lead vocal, 1972), Jimmy Ellis (lead vocal), Harold Wade (first tenor), Stanley Wade (second tenor), Robert Upchurch (lead & baritone), and Earl Young (bass)

Cult favorites of the early disco underground, the Trammps were an exciting and innovative vocal group whose exuberant dance records helped ignite the disco explosion of the 1970s. Building respectfully on the models of the past, the Trammps added a Philadelphia dance beat to 1950s doo-wop to create some of the strongest vocal-group records of the 1970s. The key elements of the Trammps unique sound were the hard-edged soul shouting of lead singer Jimmy Ellis and the deep, pumping bass singing of Earl Young, who doubled as the drummer for TSOP (the sound of Philadelphia), the extraordinary rhythm section behind the great Gamble & Huff-produced Philadelphia sound of the 70s.

The Trammps are best remembered for their biggest hit, "Disco Inferno," which appeared in the soundtrack for the film "Saturday Night Fever." But their more obscure material--remakes of "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," "Ninety-Nine and a Half," "Shout," and "Sixty Minute Man" as well as fetching early disco songs such as "Trusting Heart" and "Where Do We Go From Here"--are a better representation of this highly underrated group's skills.

Buy first: [This Is Where the Happy People Go: The Best of the Trammps] (Rhino, 1994, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (4 1/2 bones) has just about everything you need.

Buy next: [The Legendary Zing Album, Featuring the Fabulous Trammps] (Buddah, 1975 / Kent (UK), 1995, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (4 1/2 bones) was a collection of their first singles; this set includes "Sixty Minute Man," which isn't on the Rhino set, and "Hold Back the Night," later covered by Graham Parker, among others. Also released as [Golden Classics] (Collectables, 1992, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young)

Avoid: None

The rest:

• [Trammps] (Golden Fleece/Philadelphia International, 1975/1977, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (5 bones)
• [Where the Happy People Go] (Atlantic, 1976, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (4 bones)
• [Disco Inferno] (Atlantic, 1977, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (4 bones)
• [The Trammps III] (Atlantic, 1977, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (3 1/2 bones)
• [The Whole World's Dancing] (Atlantic, 1979, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (3 1/2 bones)
• [Best of the Trammps (Atlantic, 1978, prod. Baker, Harris, & Young) (4 1/2 bones)

Worth searching for: None

Influenced by: Billy Ward & His Dominoes, the Drifters, the Dells, the Five Royales, the Isley Brothers, the Coasters, Wilson Pickett

Influenced: Boyz II Men, the Bee Gees, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O'Jays

Read more soul articles by Bill Pollak

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Last update: 12/15/2004