Throwback Thursday: You Are the Music... We're Just the Band, by Trapeze

 

Before Glenn Hughes was wailing away on songs like Burn with Deep Purple he was in another band that was beginning to gain some notoriety until he left to join Purple. This was a three piece funk rock outfit called Trapeze. Together this early 70's power trio fused funk, hard rock, soul, jazz, blues, and more. The amazing thing about Trapeze is that although you wouldn't think three little white British guys could be a power house of soul but they proved that if you have a fire in your heart then you can be jamming with the best of musicians. Trapeze hit its climax with the release of its 1972 album (the last one with Hughes before he joined Deep Purple) You Are the Music, We're Just the Band.

You Are the Music... We're Just the Band features a variety of nuances of different musical genres but at the core it is a very funk fused rock n' roll album. However, it does have some tender moments with slower ballads; one of which has the smoothest and sexiest saxophone solo I have ever heard in my life. Hughes manages to reach sky scraping octaves vocally that I didn't even think was possible for a human being to reach. Like, wow. Even if this isn't your preference of music, you still have to appreciate and applaud the man for having some God given talent.

The title track You Are the Music... We're Just the Band is what made me fall in love with Trapeze right away. It showcases the talents of everyone in the band: from Hughes's skyrocketing vocals and nimble bass playing, to Mel Galley's fiery guitar chops, to Dave Holland's thundering on his drum kit. It is an upbeat funk rock dance tune and really will get you moving if you have any soul in your body. It does go on a little long, but if you're getting that much into the groove of the song then it isn't really a problem. This is one of my absolute favorite tracks on the whole album because there are no additional studio musicians and no studio magic. It's just three guys having a blast on their instruments.

As for the slower and more tender ballads I was referring to earlier, Will Our Love End? knocks it straight out of the park. Hughes in this song instead of singing loud and proud with his voice hitting astronomical heights he shows just how beautiful and soulful his voice can be when singing softer, lower, and more melodic. His vocal timbre will make your arm hairs stand up. If that doesn't, then the saxophone solo played by Jimmy Hastings in the interlude sure will. I absolutely love the use of vibraphone as the main instrument rather than the guitar; though guitar is still very much present. It really is a musical cocktail you need to try for yourself to truly enjoy. No explanation could do it justice.

You Are the Music... We're Just the Band is the definition of a hidden gem. It's a shame that its music doesn't get played on regular radio. The songs are classics in my opinion. If you're lucky enough to find a copy of it at your local shop or can get it online I HIGHLY recommend you do. There isn't a single bad track on it. Every song is filled with passion, heat, and soul. You can tell that these three guys were young and out in the world proving just what they could do. Though I'm glad Hughes joined Deep Purple I can only imagined what they might have accomplished had that not happened.

You Are the Music... We're Just the Band, by Trapeze receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Keepin' Time
2. Coast to Coast
3. What is a Woman's Role
4. Way Back to the Bone
5. Feelin' So Much Better Now
6. Will Our Love End
7. Loser
8. You Are the Music... We're Just the Band

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/You-Music-Were-Just-Band/dp/B0000AJ5S3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1431665140&sr=8-3&keywords=You+Are+the+Music...+We%27re+Just+the+Band