At the crossroads of silky Philadelphia soul and pulse-pounding disco, you’d likely find The Trammps.  Hailing from the City of Brotherly Love, The Trammps earned their immortality when the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack included their hit “Disco Inferno.”  But that classic track is only one small part of the vocal group’s story, which is now being retold by Demon Music Group’s Music Club Deluxe label on the 2-CD, 34-track The Definitive Collection.  Boasting recordings from Atlantic, Buddah and Golden Fleece/Philadelphia International, the set aims to live up to its lofty title.

Like many of their Philly brethren, The Trammps evolved from other groups, in their case The Volcanos (who later changed their name to The Moods).  Although the group’s line-up has altered over the years, the group’s roster notably included Jimmy Ellis, Stanley Wade, Harold Wade, Robert Upchurch, and Earl Young.  Teamed with Ronnie Baker (bass) and Norman Harris (guitar), drummer Earl Young guided The Trammps to success as producers.  The Baker-Harris-Young triumvirate began as part of Philadelphia International’s MFSB house band before striking out on their own for labels such as Salsoul Records.  Their first work with The Trammps was for the Buddah label, where the group announced itself with a soulful revival of “Zing!  Went the Strings of My Heart,” a song most closely associated with the legendary Judy Garland.  Neil Bogart (future head of Casablanca Records, but then a Buddah executive) picked up "Zing..." and the record went to No. 17 on the R&B chart in Summer 1972.  Buddah later issued an LP, The Legendary Zing Album, from existing single sides, and Tom Moulton handled the remixing.

Before decamping for Salsoul, Baker-Harris-Young first established Golden Fleece under the umbrella of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International.  The Trammps scored three minor hits on Golden Fleece, all of which are heard on The Definitive Collection: the proto-disco "Love Epidemic," (No. 75 R&B, 1973), "Where Do We Go from Here" (No. 44 R&B, 1974), and "Trusting Heart" (No. 72 R&B, 1974). Buddah continued to release material from The Trammps, though, and “Hold Back the Night” (later a hit for Graham Parker) scored on that label late in 1975 after the group had signed with Atlantic Records.  "Hooked for Life," their initial Atlantic single, didn’t fare much better, however, hitting No. 70 R&B in the fall of 1975.

There's more on the Trammps and this new collection after the jump!

Although The Trampps were known for their up-tempo disco floor-fillers, they didn’t shy away from more expected Philly-style ballad fare, and the new anthology also includes songs in that vein.  But The Trammps scored with a disco anthem to end all disco anthems when they recorded Leroy Green and Ron Kersey’s “Disco Inferno.”  Like many of their previous songs, it was mixed by Tom Moulton, considered one of the pioneers of the 12-inch disco mix.  It was not initially a success on the pop charts, though, finding more success on the disco and R&B surveys.  After it was included on the mega-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, however, mainstream audiences were ready to “burn, baby, burn.”  It peaked at No. 11 pop and became The Trammps’ signature song.

In addition to the early Buddah singles, The Definitive Collection features tracks from the group’s albums such as Trammps (1975), Disco Inferno (1976), Where the Happy People Go (1976), Trammps III (1977), The Whole World’s Dancing (1979),and Slipping Out (1980), the latter of which featured production from the then-trendy Mass Production team rather than Baker-Harris-Young.  With the group inextricably linked to disco, The Trammps quietly retired from the studio as the eighties dawned.  Lead singer Jimmy Ellis passed away earlier in 2012, and two competing Trammps factions currently tour the disco nostalgia circuit.  But if you want to see why The Trammps are often considered one of the most soulful acts of the disco age, The Definitive Collection might be a great place to start!  It’s in stores now from Music Club Deluxe.

The Trammps, The Definitive Collection (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX5238, 2012)

1. Disco Inferno (Single Version)
2. Hold Back the Night
3. Dance Contest
4. Can We Come Together
5. Don’t Burn No Bridges
6. I’m So Glad You Came Along
7. Mellow Out
8. Love Epidemic (A Tom Moulton Mix)
9. Love Per Hour
10. The Night The Lights Went Out
11. Starvin’
12. Body Contact Contract
13. More Good Times to Remember
14. Love Magnet
15. You Touch My Hot Line
16. V.I.P.
17. Music Freek

CD 2

1. Trammps Disco Theme (A Tom Moulton Mix)
2. Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
3. Where Do We Go From Here (A Tom Moulton Mix)
4. Soul Bones
5. Hooked for Life
6. Living the Life
7. That’s Where the Happy People Go
8. Love is a Funky Thing
9. Let Me Dance Real Close
10. Seasons for Girls
11. Breathtaking View
12. Sixty Minute Man
13. Soul Searchin’ Time
14. People of the World, Rise
15. Stop and Think (A Tom Moulton Mix)
16. Groove All Mighty
17. Trained Eye

CD 1, Track 1 & CD 2, Track 7 from Atlantic single 3389, 1977
CD 1, Track 2 from Buddah single BDA-507, 1975
CD 1, Tracks 3, 16-17 & CD 2, Track 9, from Mixin’ It Up, Atlantic LP SD-19267, 1980
CD 1, Track 4 from Atlantic single 3365, 1976
CD 1, Tracks 5, 11-12 & 15 from Disco Inferno, Atlantic LP SD-18211, 1976
CD 1, Tracks 6, 9-10 & CD 2, Tracks 6, 10 & 14 from Trammps III, Atlantic LP SD-19148, 1977
CD 1, Track 7 & CD 2, Tracks 11, 16-17 from Slipping Out, Atlantic LP SD-19290, 1980
CD 1, Track 8 & CD 2, Tracks 1, 3 & 15 from Trammps, Golden Fleece LP KZ-33163, 1975
CD 1, Tracks 13-14 & CD 2, Track 4 from The Whole World’s Dancing, Atlantic LP SD-19210, 1979
CD 2, Track 2 from Buddah single BDA-306, 1972
CD 2, Track 5 from Atlantic single 3286, 1975
CD 2, Tracks 8 & 13 from Atlantic single 3345, 1975
CD 2, Track 12 from Buddah single BDA-321, 1972