Name: The Tramp Years
Brand: Ace (Label)
SKU: 160670
Price: 11.66 USD
Availability: InStock

The Tramp Years

Rating

Album: The Tramp Years
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Tramp
2)	I'm Sinking
3)	No Hard Feelings
4)	Get Your Game Up Tight
5)	Goin' Home
6)	Two Way Wishing
7)	Back Door Key
8)	Make a Little Love
9)	I Wanna Spend Christmas With You, Pt. 1
10)	I Wanna Spend Christmas With You, Pt. 2
11)	Thing, The
12)	Everything That I Took Away - (previously unreleased)
13)	Lost Lover - (previously unreleased)
14)	It Takes Money - (previously unreleased)
15)	Don't Bother Me - (previously unreleased)
16)	Little Girl - (previously unreleased)
17)	Hobo Meetin' (Tramp Meetin')
18)	Blues Pain
19)	What the Heck
20)	Sweetest Thing, The
21)	Lovin' Touch
22)	Price for Love
23)	Blues Soul - (previously unreleased)
24)	Pico

Album: The Tramp Years
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Tramp
2)	I'm Sinking
3)	No Hard Feelings
4)	Get Your Game Up Tight
5)	Goin' Home
6)	Two Way Wishing
7)	Back Door Key
8)	Make a Little Love
9)	I Wanna Spend Christmas With You, Pt. 1
10)	I Wanna Spend Christmas With You, Pt. 2
11)	Thing, The
12)	Everything That I Took Away - (previously unreleased)
13)	Lost Lover - (previously unreleased)
14)	It Takes Money - (previously unreleased)
15)	Don't Bother Me - (previously unreleased)
16)	Little Girl - (previously unreleased)
17)	Hobo Meetin' (Tramp Meetin')
18)	Blues Pain
19)	What the Heck
20)	Sweetest Thing, The
21)	Lovin' Touch
22)	Price for Love
23)	Blues Soul - (previously unreleased)
24)	Pico

Performer Notes

The first of a planned series of three compilations devoted to Fulson's '60s Kent sides, this focuses on the chronological middle (and commercial peak) of his Kent output. "Tramp" itself, possibly Fulson's most well-known song (certainly to the pop and soul audience), leads off the disc, whose 24 tracks span 1966 to 1969. Much of the material shows Fulson to be one of the masters of blues-soul crossover (and one of the first to explore that sub-genre), his work the equal of somewhat more renowned artists working the field, like B.B. King, Albert King, and Little Milton. There's a loose and lean feel that sets this off -- in a good way -- from the beefier, more disciplined blues-soul outings recorded by Stax and some other labels. Possibly because this series is so thorough in its coverage, the material is not always top of the line; some of the outings are routine, going through the blues motions in songwriting if not performance. Still, more often than not this is a pleasure, both for Fulson's relaxed vocals and his contrasting stinging, fluid guitar licks. Half of the dozen of the tracks are previously unissued, including "It Takes Money," a song recorded right after "Tramp"; Fulson expressed annoyance in interviews that Kent withheld this from release. As another bonus for the committed collector, four songs ("I'm Sinking," "Blues Pain," "What the Heck," and "Price for Love") are presented in extended versions from their original issue. ~ Richie Unterberger

Professional Reviews

Q (9/00, p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A Hall Of Fame bluesman who enjoyed a lengthy careers...prolonged by the success of 'Tramp', his 1967 crossover hit..."