Hold On [Running] (Trapeze, 1979)

Trapeze was a great band, but unfortunate its legacy rests in being a living organ donor to other bands. Hold On (also released as Running with family-unfriendly album artwork) was the final studio release before the patient finally expired on the operating table.

Trapeze was a five-piece prog rock band turned power trio, turned jam band. For some reason they were always a big draw in Texas. At the risk of sounding like I'm stealing a Chuck Norris joke, they were so big in Texas in the early 1970's that ZZ Top opened for them. However, as stated before, the legacy of Trapeze rests in the exploits of its members in other bands. By the time of Hold On, Glenn Hughes was long gone, in and out of Deep Purple. Following the demise of Purple, Trapeze attempted to reunite its classic lineup, which didn't work out and alienated second guitarist Rob Kendrick who established a rival Trapeze to take advantage of the insatiable Texas scene. Resolving to move away from the "jam band" image of the past couple albums and polish up the vocals, remaining members Mel Galley and Dave Holland brought aboard singer Pete Goalby and restored Pete Wright as bass player (who apparently was good-natured enough not to mind that he had been temporarily ousted by Glenn's brief return). The new emphasis would be on songwriting instead of jamming.

There's plenty of jamming to go around on Hold On, but Goalby clearly brought more discipline to a band that had lost a bit of focus in the previous two albums. Also, Goalby brought back a more compelling vocal range. Galley had been managing the vocals since Glenn's departure, but he was far more of a guitarist than a singer, so he was probably relieved to share the spotlight. It looked like Trapeze was ready for another new era.

However, the new era was cut short with the sudden departure of Dave Holland to Judas Priest, where he handled the drums for the next ten years, during their most lucrative era. Following the live album Dead Armadillos, Goalby was next to go, claimed by Uriah Heep. By around 1982, "Trapeze" was just Mel Galley and a handful of unknowns. Mel followed suit in the mid-1980's and joined Whitesnake, more content to work in the shadow of David Coverdale's increasingly successful band than be the captain of his own sinking ship. Alas, his stint in Whitesnake was cut short by a senseless injury that all but destroyed his career. Interestingly, his brother Tom Galley was the mastermind of the 1980's turbo-charged Phenomena projects.

These days getting the various Trapeze albums is easier than ever thanks to being in the domain of mp3-friendly labels. However many of the albums, even the classics like Medusa, have been in label limbo for far too long. I think I picked this album up in the UK before it got a proper US release many years later. For the curious, I recommend sticking to the first three albums before venturing further.