Mike Tramp - Trampthology

After White Lion and Freak of Nature, Mike Tramp, born Michael Trempenau in Denmark, embarked on a solo adventure. In 1997, he released his first album, titled Capricorn. And to properly celebrate his twenty-five career and twelve solo albums, Mike Tramp had the wise idea to release a compilation of his best solo tracks on double CD and double gatefold 180g vinyl. All in twenty titles including four unreleased tracks.

Link to order the album

The twenty titles are not offered in chronological order by the ex-singer of White Lion but he opted for the mixture of eras. So the first track is Give It All You Got, from Nomad, released in 2015. And he did well because it's an excellent track. Melodic and rock'n'roll. There followed If I Live Tomorrow influenced by the Rolling Stones, More to Life, fast and nervous, and the superb The Road, from Second Time Around, the Danish's latest album.

Video of Give It All You Got

Ain't Done Yet is one of the four new tracks on this compilation. A pretty country ballad. We come back to rock with Dead End Ride, a beautiful track from the very good Stray From The Flock, then we continue with the long ballad Maybe Tomorrow. We like the rest, with the melancholy Mr Death and the acoustical and new title Take Me Away which already closes the first CD. And we say to ourselves that the Danish voice hasn't changed during all these years. The choice of titles is judicious.

Video of Take Me Away

Cobblestone Street is acoustic and nostalgic as Mike Tramp talks here about the street and his memories of his childhood. Besides, the whole Cobblestone Street album was a success. I like the following title Trust In Yourself, simple in its composition but devilishly effective. You can listen to this track several times in a row without ever getting bored.

Video of Trust In Yourself

New Day also originates from Cobblestone Street. Bow And Obey is nostalgic, endowed with a beautiful rhythm. Every Time, another new track, is not exceptional. A little too slow in my opinion. I much prefer Coming Home, from Maybe Tomorrow released in 2017. Lay Down My Life For You is a mid tempo, Better Off is a good rock, The Way It Was Before is a mid tempo ballad and a new unreleased, I 'll Never Be Young Again will be the last track on this second CD.

Video of More To Life Than This

So maybe some other titles would have had their place on this Trampthology, others less but the main thing is that this compilation exists and that an excellent production is granted to us here. The artwork is superb and oddly, Mike Tramp's name is not on the cover. But everyone knows who Mike Tramp is. His music has spanned four decades and he has always known how to renew and rise from its ashes, even after the shutdown of his two major groups, White Lion and Freak of Nature.

Video of Dead End Ride

TRACKLISTING (CD)

1. Give It All You Got (from Nomad)
2. If I Live Tomorrow (from Capricorn)
3. More To Life (from More to Life)
4. The Road (from Second Time Around/Rock ‘n’ Roll Circuz)
5. Ain’t Done Yet* (new)
6. Dead End Ride (from Stray From the Flock)
7. Maybe Tomorrow (from Maybe Tomorrow)
8. Mr. Death (from Recovering the Wasted Tears)
9. Mother (from Museum)
10. Take Me Away* (new)
11. Cobblestone Street (from Cobblestone Street)
12. Trust In Yourself (from Museum)
13. New Day (from Cobblestone Street)
14. Bow And Obey (from Nomad)
15. Every time* (new)
16. Coming Home (from Maybe Tomorrow)
17. Lay Down My Life For You (from More to Life)
18. Better Off (from Capricorn)
19. The Way It Was Before (single Christmas 2013)
20. I’ll Never Be Young Again* (new)