Vanilla Fudge is one of those strange conundrums in popular music. They made
a name for themselves by mastering the art of covering other artists’
music and turning it into something completely off the Richter scale. Their
own compositions were just as compelling, yet far and wandering off the beaten
psychedelic path. Altogether, their style was heavy, soulful, multifarious and
incredibly melodic. The Fudge are also noted for opening doors for other influential
groups, namely Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Their initial run was brief and
scattered, but the impact is undeniable. So much so that they deserve any and
all accolades coming their way, including a comprehensive box set. In this case,
Rhino’s Box Of Fudge hits the mark and then some.
Beautifully packaged in a replicated candy-wrapper case, Box Of Fudge
comprises four CDs of some of rock’s most audacious recordings. An informative
essay by seasoned journalist and songwriter Barry Alfonso accompanies pages
of rare photos that accurately capture the essence of the band’s principal
members — organist Mark Stein, bassist Tim Bogert, guitarist Vince Martell,
and drummer Carmine Appice.
Although they have split and regrouped numerous times, the Fudge in this box
predominantly spans 1967-70, an incendiary period when the four young men from
Long Island turned the emerging psychedelic scene on its ear. The set opens
with “All In Your Mind,” a group composition that didn’t see
the light of day until it showed up on a 1993 compilation. From there, however,
we get the nougat of the Fudge’s all-covers self-titled debut —
the two Top 40 singles, “Take Me For A Little While” and “You
Keep Me Hanging On,” along with the Beatles’ “Ticket To Ride,”
Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” and the Zombies’
“She’s Not There.”
From Renaissance and The Beat Goes On, the
second and third albums, there’s Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s
“The Look Of Love,” Donovan’s “Season Of The Witch,”
and Sonny Bono’s “The Beat Goes On.” The out-of-left-field
rearrangements stack up nicely beside the more esoteric excursions penned by
the group’s members. “Sketch” succinctly encapsulates the
keyboard wizardry of Mark Stein. That’s only the half of it. As the band’s
primary singer, Stein’s searing and multi-dimensional vocals not only
graced a majority of the band’s best known tracks; they take flight on
deeper cuts like ‘Come By Day, Come By Night” and “That’s
What Makes A Man.”
But Stein wasn’t the only one who could write, play and sing. Carmine
Appice, who’s held down the beat for everyone from Rod Stewart to Ozzy
Osbourne, takes the reins on “Faceless People,” a powerful piece
that showcases the group’s internal dynamics. As perhaps Vanilla Fudge’s
most high-profile member, the drummer also produced Box Of Fudge.
Meanwhile, Tim Bogert kicks out the jams on “Shotgun,” while the
vastly underrated Vince Martell wields a mean and meandering axe where and whenever
it’s necessary. His calculating fretwork especially shines on “People.”
Over the stretch of their career, Vanilla Fudge continued to put their own
spin on other’s songs. A haunting version of Lee Hazelwood’s “Some
Velvet Morning” draws you in and never lets up. “You Can’t
Do That,” another Beatles’ classic, likely sent shivers up and down
the Fabs’ spines. Michel Legrand’s “The Windmills Of Your
Mind,” featured in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair and
an Academy Award winner for Best Original Song in 1969, is like putty in the
hands of the Fudge. Even Dusty Springfield’s version doesn’t tap the emotional
well as deeply as this one.
It’s a shame the two tracks from Mystery, Vanilla Fudge’s
1984 reunion album, add little value to the set. The production is 80s style
slick and lacks the visceral firepower so evident in the group’s earlier
works. Why “Jealousy” and “My World Is Empty” were included
instead of “Golden Age Dreams” is the real mystery here.
Not to worry though, because Box Of Fudge gets a swift kick
forward from the added live material.
Anyone who was there will tell you (if they can remember) that Vanilla Fudge
was a fearsome and unrivaled force on the concert stage. The previously unreleased
tracks from the group’s 1969 New Years Day appearance at the Fillmore
West undoubtedly enraptured those in attendance. From the burning embers of
“She’s Not There” to the all-encompassing 20-minute instrumental
(for the most part) “Break Song,” right on through to their unique
take on Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” — the Fudge
seize the moment and make mincemeat out of the competition.
Box Of Fudge finishes up with “Love Jam,” “Movin’
On” and “VF Studio Jam,” all previously unreleased tracks
recorded at New York’s Atlantic Recording Studio a few months before Stein,
Bogert, Martell, and Appice called it a day. If you have a sweet tooth for in-your-face
jams, one-of-a-kind covers, splendorous vocals and harmonies, and psychedelic
swirls forever cast and splayed for your exploding imagination, Box
Of Fudge will give you the kind of sugar rush you’ll continually
crave and never want to end.
~ Shawn Perry
