| The Trammps | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, United States |
| Genres | Disco, soul |
| Years active | 1972–1980 |
| Labels | Golden Fleece Records Atlantic Records Buddah Records Philadelphia International Records |
| Website | Official website |
| Past members | |
| 1960's
Jimmy Ellis 1970's Jimmy Ellis 1980's Jimmy Ellis 2000's Dave Dixon |
|
The Trammps were an American disco band, who were based in Philadelphia and were 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". The first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973. However, they are best known for their Grammy winning song, "Disco Inferno", originally released in 1976 becoming a UK pop hit and US R&B hit, then re-released in 1978 and becoming a US pop hit. The music journalist Ron Wynn noted "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."[1]
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The seeds of the Trammps grew from the 1960s outfit, the Volcanos, who later became the Moods.[1] With a number of line-up changes by the mid 1970s the band membership included Jimmy Ellis, Norman Harris and Earl Young, with Stanley Wade plus Robert Upchurch joining later on. Their debut chart entry came via their upbeat cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", a Top 20 US R&B chart hit in 1972.[1]
Their single "Disco Inferno" (1976), which was included on the Grammy Award winning Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977,[2] reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.[3]
Other major hits included "Hold Back the Night" (1975) (UK #5[4]) 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 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 Panther EP" in 1977, and reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart,[5] and Top 60 in the US.
On September 19, 2005, the groups' signature record "Disco Inferno" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York. During the ceremony, the original band members performed together for the first time in twenty five years.
Two versions of the group, with differing line-ups, currently tour the nostalgia circuit.[6]
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard 200[7] | US R&B[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Legendary Zing Album | Buddah Records | - | - |
| 1975 | Trammps | Golden Fleece Records | #159 | #30 |
| 1976 | Where the Happy People Go | Atlantic Records | #50 | #13 |
| 1976 | Disco Inferno | Atlantic Records | #46 | #16 |
| 1977 | The Trammps III | Atlantic Records | #85 | #27 |
| 1979 | The Whole World's Dancing | Atlantic Records | #184 | - |
| 1980 | Mixin' It Up | Atlantic Records | - | - |
| 1980 | Slipping Out | Atlantic Records | - | - |
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard 200[7] | US R&B[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Best of the Trammps | Atlantic Records | #139 | #57 |
| Year | Title | US Billboard Hot 100[3] | US R&B[3] | UK Singles Chart[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" | #64 | #17 | #29 |
| 1972 | "Sixty Minute Man" | - | - | #40 |
| 1973 | "Pray All You Sinners" | - | #34 | - |
| 1973 | "Love Epidemic" | - | #75 | - |
| 1974 | "Where Do We Go From Here" | - | #44 | - |
| 1974 | "Trusting Heart" | - | #72 | - |
| 1975 | "Hooked for Life" | - | #70 | - |
| 1975 | "Rubber Band" | - | - | - |
| 1976 | "Hold Back The Night" | #35 | #10 | #5 |
| 1976 | "That's Where the Happy People Go" | #27 | #12 | #35 |
| 1976 | "Soul Searchin' Time" | - | #67 | #42 |
| 1976 | "Disco Inferno" | #53 | #9 | #16 |
| 1977 | ""I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)" | - | #52 | - |
| 1977 | "The Night The Lights Went Out" | - | #80 | - |
| 1978 | "Disco Inferno" (re-release) | #11 | - | #47 |
| 1978 | "Seasons for Girls" | - | #50 | - |
| 1978 | "Soul Bones" | - | #91 | - |
| 1983 | "Up On The Hill" | - | - | - |
| 1992 | "Hold Back The Night" - (KWS features guest vocals from the Trammps) | - | - | #30 |
Stan Wade & Robert Upchurch Trammps
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