RIP Jimmy Ellis of the Trammps 1937-2012
The Trammps – Jimmy Ellis at left
Listen/Download The Trammps – Hold Back the Night
Listen/Download The Trammps – Scruboard (Inst)
Listen/Download The Trammps – Medley – Penguin at the Big Apple/Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
Listen/Download The Trammps -Penguin at the Big Apple (Inst)
Greetings all.
I heard late this week that Trammps lead singer Jimmy Ellis had passed away at the age of 74 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Though known to the general public mainly for their 1977 hit ‘Disco Inferno’ (which had the good fortune to be included on the Saturday Night Fever OST) hardcore soulies and Philly aficianados know that the Trammps legacy was much bigger than that.
It bears mentioning – especially here – that the Trammps had their roots in the Volcanos (of ‘Storm Warning’ fame) and through their multi-decade career included not only the exceptionally soulful voice of Jimmy Ellis, but the backing – instrumentally, songwriting and production – of some of the finest talent in Philadelphia.
The four tunes I bring you today hail from the Trammps 1975 LP ‘The Legendary Zing Album’.
A slightly deceptive bit of packaging – the ‘album’ was actually a compilation of earlier (circa 1972) tracks, remixes, instrumental dubs and new tracks – ‘The Legendary Zing Album’ is nonetheless remarkable.
First and foremost it highlights the Trammps as one of the more soulful acts associated with the disco era, i.e. heavy on actual songs/singing as opposed to injection molded/assembly line dance floor fodder. Though you don’t get a hell of a lot of vocals here, what you do get are outstanding.
Jimmy Ellis had one of those rare, perfect soul voices that combined a remarkable level of control that allowed him to swing effortlessly between moderation and soaring gospel-inflected shouts.
‘Hold Back the Night’ which was the Trammps’ first R&B Top 10 hit (also making into the Pop Top 40 and the Top 5 in the UK). Written by Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Earl Young and Allen Felder, ‘Hold Back the Night’ combines smooth, yet danceable soul with pop hooks. It has a certain pre-disco feel to it, and managed to get a fair amount of play on Northern Soul dance floors when it hit in the UK.
‘Scruboard’ (or ‘Scrub-Board’ as it was titled on its 1972 45 release) is actually the instrumental track that would later be used for ‘Hold Back the Night’. It first appeared as the B-side of the group’s version of ‘Sixty Minute Man’.
Though the Trammps had their first hit with their version of the old standard ‘Zing Went the Strings of My Heart’ in 1972, the medley of that song and its instrumental dub ‘Penguin at the Big Apple’ was a “new” assemblage created for the ‘Legendary Zing Album’ by none other than mix-meister Tom Moulton. It has a much more disco-friendly mix – approaching the five-minute mark – and you get to hear more of that fantastic rhythm guitar.
The Trammps run of hits came to a close in 1978, though they continued to perform (with and without Ellis) for many years.
I hope you dig the tracks, and that you raise a glass (or more appropriately, cut a rug) in memory of Jimmy Ellis.
Peace
Larry
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Cover Songs, Disco/Not Disco, Funky16Corners, LP tracks, Obituary, Philly Soul, Soul
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Funky16Corners, Northern Soul, Soul
Themocracy
The Trammps were often referred to as the disco equivalent of the Temptations — they brought a muscular, male R&B inflection to a genre dominated by female voices. (If you buy that analogy, you could say Ellis was the Trammps’ David Ruffin.) He was a very underrated singer, IMHO. Love their pre-Atlantic Gamble/Huff period — see “Where Do We Go From Here”, which could easily have been sung by the 3 Degrees.
Thanks Larry.R.I.P Jimmy.
Hi Larry:
I’m glad you decided to spotlight :Hold Back the Night” this week. As someone who lives in South Carolina, and as a result, is somewhat familiar with the phenomenon that is beach music, I’m familiar with this song via its popularity on that scene. I would also like to say that as a resident of Rock Hill South Carolina since I was a year old, I’m glad to know that Ellis was Rock Hill born and raised as well. 🙂