Trammps

Released

MFSB might have been the session-player backbone of the Philly sound, but their members would regularly find themselves at the center of their own thing — case in point, the band that went on to have a smash with “Disco Inferno,” who counted the pivotal Ronnie Baker/Norman Harris/Earl Young braintrust as important components in their songwriting, arrangement, production, and performing ranks. This self-titled debut boasts emblematic close-harmony vocals and fiery leads using rich orchestration and snap-tite rhythms to the benefit of deep-cut dance classics like “Trusting Heart,” “Love Epidemic,” and especially the Paradise Garage finale “Where Do We Go From Here.” As undistilled and pure as Philly soul and disco get without the names Bell, Gamble or Huff anywhere in the credits.

Nate Patrin