Which group recorded the 1977 disco classic 'Disco Inferno'?

The Trammps recorded the 1977 disco classic 'Disco Inferno.'

The Trammps were an American soul and disco group associated with Philadelphia’s influential dance-music scene. The group recorded “Disco Inferno” in 1976, and Atlantic Records released it as a single in December of that year. Its dramatic theme was inspired by the 1974 disaster film 'The Towering Inferno', which depicted a fire threatening a luxury skyscraper.

The original single had limited pop success, reaching only No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed much better on dance radio, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart. The recording’s nearly 11-minute album version was especially suited to clubs, where extended tracks allowed dancers and DJs to sustain the atmosphere.

The song gained a much larger audience after its inclusion on the 1977 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. A 1978 re-release then climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the Trammps’ best-known recording. This later success is why the song is sometimes mistakenly associated with the Bee Gees, who also dominated that soundtrack.

Lead vocalist Jimmy Ellis delivered the famous performance, backed by the group’s Philadelphia soul rhythm section.