Every compilation series has an end. After 10 outstanding issues, we are saying goodbye to the Praise Poems series, which is highly appreciated by collectors and music lovers, with this 11th installment. With this final installment, we are deliberately venturing into a genre that we have only included in exceptional cases to date: Power Pop of the late 1970s and early 80s.

We start with "Real Proof", an unreleased song by the band The Nails, originally from Boulder, Colorado, who were even signed to a major label a few years later. Although the Fingerprints recorded an entire album, it took over 45 years before it was finally released in 2022. "Wasted On You" comes from one of the three singles released between 1978 and 1980. In contrast to the Fingerprints, the original singles by Naked Rush are extremely rare. This is probably one of the reasons why none of their songs can be found on a compilation to date. It's great that we are now changing this. Incidentally, this applies to the majority of the songs on this album and to all our compilation albums in general. Fritz, Blue Rain and Holidaye are no exception.

We would like to mention two songs in particular. Firstly, "Don't Quit" by The Scam, which was produced by William Garrett. Garrett was responsible for the launch of Spotify Singles as Senior Music Producer at Spotify from 2016 to 2023 and has worked with artists such as Elton John, Ed Sheeran, John Legend and many more during this time. Secondly, there's a great story about Animal Logic. In 1989, the band found out that Stuart Copeland from The Police was forming a new band. The name? Animal Logic! After pleas not to use the name were ignored, the Animal Logic guys were forced to take the matter to court and eventually sold the name to Copeland. There are many more exciting stories about the bands in the booklet accompanying the CD and the LP insert.

With "A journey into raw, energetic power pop from the 1980s", we now conclude our 10-year journey of discovery through music history under the "Praise Poems" umbrella. We very much hope that you have enjoyed our meticulous work. When one door closes, another opens. It will be the same here. There is still so much to discover and we are already looking forward to many more releases!

TRACK LISTING

1. The Nails - Real Proof
2. Fingerprints - Wasted On You
3. Naked Rush - Top 40
4. Spektr'm - What Do I Do (What Do I Say)
5. Fritz - Number Nine
6. Blue Rain - New Morning
7. Merrell Fankhauser - Calling From A Star
8. Nick Coluccio - Awaken (feat. Dream Illusions)
9. The Scam - Don't Quit
10. Angry Young Bees - Tell Me TV
11. Ted Paugh - Headin' Down The Highway
12. Animal Logic - The Meaning Of Life
13. Holidaye - Times
14. Hangnail Phillips - Let Me In
15. Sly Dog - Cryin' For Love

Watch out! You are holding the 125th (one-hundred-and-twenty fifth!) album on Tramp Records in your hands! We are honored to celebrate this impressive anniversary with the tenth volume in the Praise Poems series. This time, too, we go on a journey to discover previously unheard regions of jazz, folk and AOR from the 1970s and 80s.


Praise Poems Vol.10 presents sixteen (almost) forgotten rare groove gems, all released between the years 1970 and 1984. One of the many highlights is the opening track: "Fields of Laughter" by Color Me Blu - originally released on an acetate only of which two copies exist worldwide. But there is much, much more to discover. This brandnew volume features a wide range of genres, from AOR (Whiz Kids, Ross Miller, and another previously unreleased track by Harve & Charee) to Latin-Rock a'la Santana (Color Me Blue, Tribal Sinfonia, and Apple) to Soul-Jazz (Ernie Lewis Trio, Joe Bozzi Quintet or Dutch saxophonist Frits Kaatee). Right at the end, one track in particular stands out: the wonderful "It's Good Not To Forget" by George Melvin and his quintet - a fabulously dreamy, thoughtful instrumental piece in the style of Ramsey Lewis with catchy tune potential.


Not many compilation series make it to a tenth edition. And if they do, then you often notice that the quality of the songs goes in the opposite direction to the increasing number of series: namely decreasing. Not so with Praise Poems Vol. 10, which the creators prove in an impressive new way. They have found tracks that were originally either a) pressed by the musicians themselves in very small editions or b) released by small, regional labels. It is understandable that neither the musicians nor these small labels had the necessary knowledge or budget to market their albums or singles professionally. The majority of the bands therefore did not manage to reach a large audience - although they certainly had the potential for the big stage

TRACK LISTING

1. Color Me Blu - Fields Of Laughter
2. Apple - Love Melody In E Minor
3. Tribal Sinfonia - Do You Want Me
4. Harve And Charee - New Me
5. Kwartet Frits Kaatee - Easy Evil
6. Ernie Scott Trio - Souled Out
7. Bunker Hill - Dionysis
8. San Diego - Sands Of Malibu (Pt.1 & 2)
9. Synod - Sheryl Song Is Gonna Do My Dancing
10. Whiz Kids - Long Time Gone
11. Ross Miller - I Can Love Her Anyway
12. Thunderbolt The Wondercolt - Ragged Edge
13. Eyrle Oliver - Lovely Lady
14. Lisa Richards - A Day In The Life Of A Fool
15. Joe Bozzi Quintet - Masquerade
16. George Melvin Quintet - It's Good Not To Forget

"This landmark compilation continues the unfoldment of diabolically obscure yet culturally and artistically essential recordings that have been hidden and precariously balanced on the precipice of obsolescence."

For German musicians the mid-70s to mid-80s were an extremely fertile and fruitful time. Though The Peace Chant series is focused mainly on amateur bands, private pressings, and long lost acetates, many of the artists included here nevertheless made their mark upon the German and world music scene and even played with many of the giants of the movement.

As the 60s were coming to a close, many German musicians began experimenting with fusing jazz, rock, pop, electronic, and world music with a harder, more aggressive sound. The resulting movement, originally called "kosmische music" or "cosmic music" would give way to the kaleidoscope of sounds now known as Krautrock.

Many labels and compilations, not to mention reissues have been focused on this moment and in many ways, today, there could be said to be a global revival in the art form by younger, modern bands. But this is where Tramp Records, always peeking behind the curtain, has decided to take "the road less traveled" as we trust them to do. This edition of the Peace Chant series explores the artists that, instead of going full steam ahead in the rock and world music direction, decided to play the role of 'spiritual advisor' to the movement and continue building a legacy of jazz and pop infusions to their more rock-oriented counterparts. Of course, there may not have been much commercial appeal of these recordings and many of them fell into obscurity. But it is thanks to the tireless efforts of Tramp Records that we are able to catch a glimpse of what undoubtedly the Giants of the genre at the time were already well aware of and likely being influenced by. As you will see, many of the artists in this compilation went on to become music teachers and mentors in their own right and surely influenced the course of music history in Germany. Now their stories are finally being told. And though the music is amazing on its own, it is truly astounding when cast in its historical context. This landmark compilation continues the unfoldment of diabolically obscure yet culturally and artistically essential recordings that have been hidden and precariously balanced on the precipice of obsolescence.

For the first time ever, Tramp Records is proud to present an "all German" artists version of the Peace Chant series, including liner notes printed in German exclusively with an English translation downloadable.

TRACK LISTING

1. Vier - Count-A-Round
2. Secret Tip Corner Band - Scarabäus
3. Jaro - Song For My Father
4. Baobab - Keine Nummer
5. Sounds - Sound Spirit
6. Big Band Der Otto-Hahn-Schule Hamburg - Regenwetter
7. Jazz Oder Nie Big Band - Work Song
8. Big Band Blechschaden - Limestone Knave
9. Stuttgarter Jazz Workshop - A Night In Stuttgart
10. Seelow & Mayer Formation - Soul-In
11. Bernd Reichow Jazz Formation - Bolero In Jazz

** A true deep funk classic - now officially re-issued with the blessing of the band! **

"Break It Loose" has been a Rare Groove classic for decades. No wonder, as it is a stunning composition with fantastic arrangements.

As comped on "Movements Vol.12" (TRCD/LP-9122)

Limited press run, so you'd better be quick.

TRACK LISTING

1. Break It Loose (Pt.1)
2. Break It Loose (Pt.2)

Fans and supporters of our label already know that almost any of our compilation series are focused on privately produced recordings, whether it is Funk, Jazz, AOR or Yacht Rock. We always try to dig as deep as possible, and sometimes even further. "Sounds" are one of those combos which have been overlooked since the start of the so called Rare-Groove movement in the early 1990s. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Sound Spirit (7)
2. Sweet Emma

Fabulous double-sider combining deep funk and lowrider soul on one 45! Be quick, limited pressing.

TRACK LISTING

1. Hanging In
2. When Is She Coming

Sister funk backed with a wonderful ballad. A real treasure for fans of independently produced soul music from the 1960s. Be quick, limited pressing.

TRACK LISTING

1. Give Me A Little Bit Of Time
2. I'd Like To Know

Phenomenal soul/funk 2-sider which has deserved a repress so badly. "Bi-Centennial - 1976" has been comped on the fourth volume in the "Can You Feel It" compilation series. The flip side, "Love One Another", was featured on "Countdown To... Soul 2". Now available on a good old 45 RPM single re-issue.

TRACK LISTING

1. Bi-Centennial - 1976 (feat. Speckled Rainbow)
2. Love One Another (feat. Speckled Rainbow)

"Steps On A Cloud" was featured on the fourth volume in the "Can You Feel It" compilation series. "Whispering" has not been re-issued so far and is exclusively available on this sweet 45 RPM single.

TRACK LISTING

1. Steps On A Cloud
2. Whispering

Two superrare & heavy funk cuts from Donnie Sanders. "Shing A Ling Baby" can be found on the incredible "Feeling Nice Vol.4" compilation album. "Naptown USA" is completely unknown and waits to be discovered.

TRACK LISTING

1. Shing-a-Ling Baby (feat. Don Juans)
2. Naptown USA (feat. Don Juans)

"Matter of Taste" released their debut album on the small german Flame label in 1979. "Step By Step" is a monstrous Disco track while the flip side ("Haselief") is completely different and certainly surprises the listener. First time on 7"!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Two classics by Matter Of Taste that have been painfully, unavailable on 7" until now.. a no brainer for funk and soul fans.

TRACK LISTING

1. Step By Step
2. Haselief

"Without Your Love" is a wonderful, uplifting modern soul tune which was recently comped on "Praise Poems Vol. 9". The original 45 RPM single is ultra-rare and extremely hard to find, so this reissue is here to please a lot of music lovers.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tramp continue to deliver the goods this week, offering up rare-as-hen's-teeth tracks on tasty 7". An original of this smoochy and fiery double header would set you back a cool two ton.

TRACK LISTING

1. Without Your Love
2. The Real Deal

Representing Seattle Funk. The Oscillators' debut 45 RPM single is deep, raw and energetic. Led by drummer oLLi kLoMp, the line up features members of the polyrhythmics, Rippin' Chicken, the Pulsations, Lucky Brown, the Trueloves, 45th Street Brass, The S.G.'s, and more...

This 45 RPM single is limited to 300 copies and contains two non-album tracks.

TRACK LISTING

1. Cosmonaut
2. Off The Clock