RFD, S/D: The Trammps

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I don't know shit about disco but their best-of slays me every time I play it. "Hooked for Life" is just flawless. Great singing, great band. Why don't people talk about them more? What other records are worth looking into?

sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 14 April 2003 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Their first, The Legendary Zing! Album is one of my all-time favourite records. From it, Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart is one of my favourite songs. Disco Inferno is another classic, as is their cover of Sixty Minute Man (you need the original too, by Billy Ward & the Dominoes). Most of their albums after the first have a good bit of filler, but if you like their groove and Ellis's voice, they're worth having and easily found fairly cheaply. I love them.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 15 April 2003 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

Anyone else can't stand this band? They fall into the generic cheesy disco group to me.

dan138zig (Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr), Wednesday, 17 February 2010 02:11 (fifteen years ago)

this song is amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nZzeQVHcI

jaxon, Wednesday, 17 February 2010 02:38 (fifteen years ago)

this is pretty alright too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viR3BvoXWFk

jaxon, Wednesday, 17 February 2010 02:40 (fifteen years ago)

The '77 take of "Where Do We Go From Here" on Disco Champs is one of the greatest songs ever

ramadaan muhammad asalaamica rasoul allah supana watallah (jk), Wednesday, 17 February 2010 04:01 (fifteen years ago)

six months pass...

"trusting heart" is all time

C:\Users\Bill\Desktop\shirtless.jpg (Matt P), Wednesday, 15 September 2010 22:18 (fifteen years ago)

five years pass...

I've been exploring their singles, out of which I'd say "Trusting Heart" with its nifty bassline stands out, as well as "Hooked for Life" and at least the pretty chorus of "Where Do We Go From Here" - not sure if I'm listening to the '77 take mentioned upthread (it's a Tom Moulton mix at any rate). "That's Where the Happy People Go" is cute, and of course there's "Disco Inferno." Have to laugh at their single about the NYC blackout of '77 - they make it sound like a wonderful time!

The group does have a relentless, breathless feel most of the time, which gets a little wearisome after prolonged listening. They're not gonna replace Chic or Salsoul Orchestra among the disco groups I love the most, but I will admit that several of the early singles sound 2-3 years ahead of their time and really nail a classic disco vibe before the formula was totally in place (assuming I'm not hearing later versions of these).

Josefa, Friday, 4 March 2016 03:47 (nine years ago)

yeah they definitely had some jams. "mellow out" (from 1980) is light and um... mellow compared to much of their other singles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNCpmLTxNkU

lute bro (brimstead), Friday, 4 March 2016 04:32 (nine years ago)

five years pass...

something in the air - seems like a good time to revive this thread. theirs was the first version of "Shout" I ever heard and it changed my life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_k-bv_JMM

Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Thursday, 22 April 2021 19:07 (four years ago)

reposting mellow out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFnseNwlI-8

brimstead, Thursday, 22 April 2021 20:00 (four years ago)

“rubber band” is sweet too

brimstead, Thursday, 22 April 2021 20:00 (four years ago)


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