Trapeze - Medusa (UK 1970)

allmusic.com:

"Wolverhampton, England hard rock outfit Trapeze formed in 1968, teaming lead vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (both ex-members of the Montanas, famed for the hit "You've Got to Be Loved") with singer/guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. Signing to the Moody Blues' Threshold Records imprint, Trapeze issued its self-titled debut album in 1970; Jones and Rowley returned to the Montanas soon after, and in 1970 the remaining trio resurfaced with Medusa. The group toured extensively both at home and abroad, and although their fusion of rock and funk was cited as a prime influence on bands like ZZ Top, their commercial success was minimal. In the wake of the third Trapeze album, 1972's You Are the Music...We're Just the Band, Hughes replaced Roger Glover in Deep Purple. Guitarist Rob Kendrick and bassist Pete Wright signed on for Trapeze's 1974 effort Hot Wire, followed a year later by a self-titled LP; in 1976, the core trio of Galley, Hughes, and Holland reunited, although no new recordings were forthcoming. Hughes again exited prior to 1978's Hold On, which featured Wright in addition to new guitarist Pete Goalby; Trapeze then disbanded, with Galley joining Whitesnake (and, later, Black Sabbath), while Holland tenured with Judas Priest. Galley, Hughes, and Holland reformed once more in 1991, with a May 1992 London gig yielding the Welcome to the Real World live album."
RockDectector.com:

"A highly respected trio of elite players that, although held in high esteem by their musical contemporaries, would never reap the just rewards their undoubted talent deserved. Instead, Trapeze would found a loyal sales base in the Southern States of America and after their break up go on to influence the platinum hued careers of acts of such status as Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Whitesnake.

Trapeze was formed around the nucleus of former Pinkertons Assorted Colours drummer Dave Holland, ex Red Caps guitarist Mel Galley and bassist / vocalist Glenn Hughes. The trio originally came together to form Finders Keeprs with guitarist Alan Clees and vocalist Ian 'Sludge' Lees. The latter individual later found success out of the Rock n' Roll field as a comedian.

Hughes, Holland and Galley split to form Trapeze with ex-Montanas vocalist Johnny Jones and keyboard player Terry Rowley. With this line up the band appeared on the TV show 'Colour Me Pop', scoring interest from Threshold Records. This was a new label set up by Moody Blues bassist John Lodge. Terry Rowley took over production duties in order to record the debut 'Trapeze' album in 1971. The album was a noted success, with Radio One actually playing the album in its entirety from start to finish! Despite this straight out of the box success all was not well within the band as Jones and Rowley quit. Coincidentally, when Trapeze slimmed down to the more familiar trio Jones followed Ian Lees into a comedy career.

Trapeze's second album, 'Medusa', was another success and the single 'Black Cloud' gained the band valuable American airplay. Trapeze by now specialised in hard Funk Rock workouts and achieved remarkable success in Texas, so much so that the band relocated to the US state. This would lead to Trapeze touring America six times in three years.

Needless to say, the band played infrequently in their home country due to concentrating on America. When the band did undertake the occasional club gig it was known that Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham would often jam with them for encores if they were playing in the Midlands.

Trapeze only really came to public attention in their home country when Hughes left to join Deep Purple following the 'You Are The Music, We're Just The Band' album. Hughes, after a creative if turbulent spell in Deep Purple, was also to turn up later in various shades of distinction with Hughes/Thrall, Black Sabbath and Gary Moore." (buy it)

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Trapeze - Makes You Want to Cry