Trapeze – Don’t Stop The Music – Complete Recordings Vol 1 1970 -1992
Trapeze – Don’t Stop The Music – Complete Recordings Vol 1 1970 -1992
Cherry Red Records
Release Date: 24/02/23
Running Time:
Trapeze: 40:11
Medusa: 40:15
You Are the Music … We’re Just the Band: 37:52
Live In Dallas – Part 1: 47:00
Live In Dallas – Part 2: 37:00
Welcome to the Real World: 59:05
Review by Paul Hutchings
8/10
I’m ashamed to admit that despite my huge admiration for Glenn Hughes, my knowledge of his music is patchy at best. I’m fully on board with his work with Deep Purple and The Dead Daisies, love his collaboration with Tony Iommi on 2005’s “Dopamine”, and have dipped in and out of his solo work. But there’s a whole world of work that he recorded 50 years ago with Trapeze that’d I’d never really touched upon.
That’s been put right with this comprehensive collection from Cherry Red Records which features the first three albums from Trapeze released from 1970-72 and recorded for the Threshold label. It’s complimented by two live shows, a 1973 set in Dallas and an intimate Borderline show in London in 1992.
Originally formed from two bands in the Midlands, Finders Keepers and The Montanas, the band’s first album was the self-titled “Trapeze”. It’s by far the most experimental of the collection, with plenty of psychedelic rock and progressive pop than the other records. In fact, at times, it’s hard to distinguish it as a rock album. The sound is more sixties than seventies, with Hughes taking lead vocals, bass, and trombone! Dave Holland is the other well-known name in the band, the man who later go on to spend nearly a decade in Judas Priest. The line-up also features Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. It’s an interesting release, with plenty of vocal harmonies and Hughes bass lines dominant.
A mere six months later the band’s second album, Medusa was released. It’s a harder edged record, with more of the blues, funk and soulful rock that the band would establish as their sound. Medusa saw the band down to a power trio, with John Jones and Terry Rowley having left after the release of Trapeze. The songs are longer, with opener ‘Black Cloud’ ticking along at 6:14 and second track ‘Jury’ over eight minutes in length. The latter is a definite early seventies sprawling rock fest, with plenty of tempo changes and extended musical workouts. Galley’s playing is exceptional. You can hear similar styles in the early Judas Priest albums, which is suggestive of the styles around at the time.
Their third album “You Are the Music … We’re Just the Band” saw Trapeze include some special guests and really move into the funk-induced groove that Hughes has always carried. There are several guests on the album, including B. J. Cole on steel guitar, plus Rod Argent on electric piano. It’s the best album of the three, with tracks like ‘Keepin’ Time’, ‘Feelin’ So Much Better Now’ and the dance fest that is ‘You Are the Music’ all grabbing the attention.
The two live albums showcase Trapeze at different stages of their career but both show that Hughes’ powerful and distinctive vocals were a major highlight of the band. The “Live in Dallas 1973” comes in two parts but both see Trapeze go full expansion with tracks drawn predominantly from the last two studio albums. There are several lengthy live workouts which see Trapeze in full flow. ‘Jury’, ‘Your Love is Alright’ and ‘Medusa’ all roll in at over ten-minutes in length, with a couple also clocking over nine-minutes.
Of course, Hughes departed Trapeze to join Deep Purple in 1973, and the band continued without him. It’s the final release here, the 1992 Borderline show that sees Hughes back with the classic line-up recording “Welcome to the Real World”. It’s a demonstration of the power that this trio could truly bring, and whilst Trapeze never really gained the heights they should have, this collection is an ideal introduction to one of the most innovative and essential outfits of the time.
TRACKLISTING:
Trapeze
01. It’s Only a Dream
02. The Giant’s Dead Hoorah!
03. Over
04. Nancy Gray
05. Medley: Fairytale/Verily Verily/Fairytale
06. It’s My Life
07. Am I
08. Suicide
09. Wings
10. Another Day
11. Send Me No More Letters
12. It’s Only a Dream
Medusa
01. Black Cloud
02. Jury
03. Your Love Is Alright
04. Touch My Life
05. Seafull
06. Makes You Wanna Cry
07. Medusa
You Are the Music… We’re Just the Band
01. Keepin’ Time
02. Coast To Coast
03. What Is a Woman’s Role
04. Way Back to The Bone
05. Feelin’ So Much Better Now
06. Will Our Love End
07. Loser
08. You Are The Music
Live In Dallas – Part 1 Recorded live at the Majestic Theatre, Dallas, Texas, USA, 27th April 1973
1 Way Back To The Bone
2 You Are The Music
3 Jury
4 Seafull
5 Your Love Is Alright
Live In Dallas – Part 2 (1973)
Recorded live at the Majestic Theatre, Dallas, Texas, USA, 27th April 1973
1 Medusa
2 Black Cloud
3 Keepin’ Time
4 Touch My Life
Welcome To the Real World – Live
Recorded live at The Borderline, London, 16th May 1992
1 You Are The Music
2 Way Back To The Bone
3 Welcome To The Real World
4 Coast To Coast
5 Midnight Flyer
6 Homeland
7 Touch My Life
8 Your Love Is Alright
9 Black Cloud
LINE-UP:
Trapeze:
Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass, trombone
Mel Galley – guitar, vocals
Dave Holland – drums
Terry Rowley – organ, piano, flute
John Jones – vocals, trumpet
Medusa / You Are the Music… We’re Just the Band / Live In Dallas:
Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass
Mel Galley – guitar, vocals
Dave Holland – drums
Welcome To the Real World – Live:
Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass
Mel Galley – guitar, vocals
Dave Holland – drums
Colin Downes – keyboards
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
