The Vanilla Fudge were a heavy psych influenced band which specialised in taking well known songs and totally rearranging them. known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. This version featured Stein’s psychedelic-baroque organ intro and Appice’s energetic drumming. The Fudge version begins with a single organ note that appears to be struggling to hold its pitch against unseen forces. Gradually, the note is joined by other notes as you begin to wonder whether it may be some musical code trying to tell you something – a bit like that sequence in Close Encounters . In what sounds like the noise of a drumstick splintering against a hi-hat jolts your senses, and suddenly you’re engulfed in a clattering musical cacophony that finally erupts into the classic “You Keep Me Hangin On” riff. Except that it’s played at a quarter of the speed and with a fearsome, heavyweight, pile-driving intensity.
The band’s original line–up was vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice. They recorded five albums during the years 1967–69, before disbanding in 1970. The band has been cited as “one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal and as a proto-prog band. Vanilla Fudge’s organ-heavy sound was a large influence on the British band Deep Purple.
We always felt this was one of the greatest cover versions of any Beatles song in history. The band opened up their debut album entitled “Vanilla Fudge”, shocking the world with this glorious version of The Beatles’ song “Ticket To Ride.” Vanilla Fudge would cover many Beatles songs throughout their career making the songs their own with intense original arrangements that rock fans loved.
Vanilla Fudge was managed by Phillip Basile, a reputed Lucchese crime family, who operated several popular clubs in New York. With a suitably surreal cover artwork, Vanilla Fudge’s debut album began a nine-month residency in the US chart in September 1967, peaking at No.6 despite the absence of a hit single. Their first three albums “Vanilla Fudge”, “The Beat Goes On”, and “Renaissance” were produced by Shadow Morton, whom the band met through The Rascals.
“The Sky Cried/When I Was a Boy,” was the opening track on the band’s third album entitled “Renaissance“. This music is just simply stunning. It rocks hard, is melodic, and is played with such brilliant musicianship.
If you’re a fan of the band Emerson Lake & Palmer, you should check out this song because this is exactly what Keith Emerson was listening to in 1968. This track is so stunning, The song was released on the Vanilla Fudge “Renaissance” album as a bonus track. It was initially released as a stand alone single.
“Renaissance”, was rushed out in June 1968, just five months after “The Beat Goes On“, helped to steady things with a bunch of band-written material that was cosmic but controlled, and a version of Donovan’s “Season Of The Witch” left over from the first album.
The song was written by Donovan, who released it on his 1966 album “Sunshine Superman“. The song has been covered by many artists including Al Kooper and Stephen Stills on the “Super Sessions” album. Dr. John also did a great version of the song However, our favourite will always be this killer version recorded by Vanilla Fudge.
Vanilla Fudge’s fourth album, “Near The Beginning”, contained a 23-minute live epic called ‘Break Song’ which featured solos from all four band members.
I had already familiar with the first 4 studio albums Their 5th, “Rock & Roll”, came out in October 1969, but by now the band were in total disarray. The band also went back into the studio to record “Out Through the In Door”, a Led Zeppelin cover album released in 2007 only in Europe.
If you like this band or want to get into them then they have never sounded better than here – The mono versions of the first 2 albums sound the best to me preserving the weight of the music more But The live double album is a treasure to behold, absolutely superb
This is an excellent box by a seminal US band These are the must have “Vanilla Fudge”, their second album, “The Beat Goes On” , It was followed by “Renaissance” one of Vanilla Fudge’s best albums , “Near the Beginning” Around this time the band supported it by touring with Jimi Hendrix, Also opening several dates on Cream’s farewell tour, and later in the year, touring again with the fledgling Led Zeppelin as their opening act.,
The band sounds a little bit like Cream on the introduction to this smoking song. This great track, “Shotgun,” was released by he band in 1968. The song was originally recorded and released as a single by Junior Walker & the All Stars in 1965. It was written by Autry DeWalt. Vanilla Fudge’s killer version was issued on the album “Near the Beginning“
The expansive, symphonic-tinged “Near the Beginning”. After part of the band recorded a radio commercial with guitarist Jeff Beck, an idea was hatched to form a Cream-styled power trio with plenty of individual solo spotlights. Exhausted by the constant touring, the band decided that their late-1969 European tour would be their last.
Following the release of their final album, “Rock & Roll”, Vanilla Fudge played a few U.S. farewell dates and disbanded in early 1970. The band’s legacy will also be fuelled and remembered by their original five albums released between 1967 and 1969.
Bogert and Appice first formed the hard rock group Cactus, then later joined Jeff Beck in the aptly named Beck, Bogert & Appice. Appice went on to become an active session and touring musician, working with a variety of rock and hard rock artists. Vanilla Fudge reunited in 1984 for the poorly received “Mystery” album, and, over the course of the next two decades, Vanilla Fudge would regroup for tours. These reunions often had differing lineups, always anchored by Carmine Appice and usually Tim Bogert.
The Fat Angel Sings 