As the remnants of Vanilla Fudge traipse from one seedy nightclub to another,
the memory of the original foursome hovers like a long, lost psychedelic ghost.
Their initial run from 1966 through 1970 wrought five albums built around staggering
levels of intensity and musicianship that assured the band’s profound
impact on the future of heavy music. In 1984, keyboardist Mark Stein,
drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Tim Bogert and guitarist Vince Martell regrouped,
recording the ill-fated, ostentatiously contemporary Mystery
album. It had its moments, but supposedly left a bad after-taste in the mouths
of some of the group’s more ardent followers. In 1987, the Fudge pressed
on with a short tour, but without Martell (who would eventually return and leave
again). In a seemingly co-opt effort to capture the vibe of the original quartet,
recordings from the ’87 tour have been enhanced with Martell’s guitar
overdubs and collectively unveiled as The Real Deal. Recorded
in Chicago during the Back To The Future Tour, the CD features a rich
selection of Fudge favorites including “She’s Not There,”
“Take Me For A Little While,” “People Get Ready” and
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” slotted in with newer tunes like
“Golden Age Dreams” and “Don’t Stop Now.” Despite the
80s timeframe and guitar make-over, the undeniable vocal talents and instrumental
chemistry that define Vanilla Fudge is given an infectious shot in the arm.
~ Shawn Perry
