Vanilla Fudge “Vanilla Fudge”

 

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#678 in the Series) is the debut from Vanilla Fudge.

This was another one of those albums that was in my older sister’s record collection as a kid. In fact, one of my sisters saw Vanilla Fudge when they were still playing little bars when they would come thru Chicago.  That must have been pretty darn cool.

However, if you saw them touring for this album, you really didn’t know what they would become. This was their debut, and it was all cover tunes. As we’re well aware, releasing an album of complete covers is en vogue now, but it wasn’t at the time. It was even more surprising considering the completely turned inside-out and flipped upside-down retakes that these songs were given.

One song however, stood above the rest and became a huge hit for Vanilla Fudge. That of course is their retake on Holland, Dozier and Holland’s (via  The Supremes) “You Keep Me Hanging On”.

Seven songs in total complete this effort.  Two of the tracks were Beatles’ tunes. Please keep in mind that these tunes were still somewhat fresh releases at that time. Here they chose to not only cover, but as mentioned, they completely reworked the Lennon and McCartney’s classics “Ticket to Ride” and “Eleanor Rigby”.

Other tracks getting the Vanilla Fudge treatment are Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” Rod Argent’s (via the Zombies) “She’s Not There,” and even Sono Bono’s (via Sonny and Cher) “Bang Bang”.

Vanilla Fudge was also known as a launching pad for some great rock and roll careers. Known as one of the original double-bass drummers, Carmen Appice went on to a great career. He’d play with the likes of Beck, Bogert and Appice, Mike Bloomfield, Ted Nugent, Rod Stewart, Cactus, Ozzy Osbourne, Stanley Clarke, Ric Grech, Rick Derringer and even Michael Schenker.  He actually co-wrote “Do You Think I’m Sexy” with Stewart, for what it’s worth.

Bassist Tim Bogert was also in Beck, Bogert and Appice and Cactus.  He’d also spend some time as part of Jeff Beck’s group.

Vince Martell was the lead guitarist and Neil Stein was on keys and vocals. Neil would also spend a part of his career with Alice Cooper.

So what have these four gentleman been doing lately you ask? Well a few years ago they all reunited as Vanilla Fudge. They released a couple albums (In Through the Out Door and When Two Worlds Collide.)  They appeared on The Jimmy Fallon show and performed “You Keep Me Hanging On”.  Check it out below. Enjoy

— Larry Carta

Track listing

Side one

1. “Ticket to Ride” (Lennon–McCartney) – 5:40
2. “People Get Ready” (Curtis Mayfield) – 6:30
3. “She’s Not There” (Rod Argent) – 4:55
4. “Bang Bang” (Sonny Bono) – 5:20

Side two

1. “STRA (Illusions Of My Childhood – Part One)” – 0:20
2. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland) – 7:20
3. “WBER (Illusions Of My Childhood – Part Two)” – 0:23
4. “Take Me For A Little While” (Trade Martin) – 3:27
5. “RYFI (Illusions Of My Childhood — Part Three)” – 0:23
6. “Eleanor Rigby” (Lennon–McCartney) – 7:40
7. “ELDS” – 0:31

Personnel

• Carmine Appice – drums, vocals
• Tim Bogert – bass, vocals
• Vince Martell – guitar, vocals
• Mark Stein – lead vocals, keyboards

Links

Give it a listen below

Vanilla Fudge on The Jimmy Fallon show.

Here’s more 60s goodies to check out.

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