Record Reviews

VANILLA FUDGE ~ WHERE IS MY MIND? (THE ATCO RECORDINGS 1967-1969) ESOTERIC 2882 (Barcode: 5013929488243) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2024 This brilliant 9CD Box Set compiles all the recordings by the American Rock group Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist released on the AtcoFind albums on this label label. It includes the newly remastered five albums, a live performance and a plethora of bonus material. It also includes an interesting booklet with background material, historical overview and photographs of the group. The original lineup of Vanilla Fudge included lead vocalist / organist Mark SteinFind albums by this artist, guitarist Vince MartellFind albums by this artist, bassist Tim BogertFind albums by this artist and drummer Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist. CD1 presents the mono version of the debut eponymous album “Vanilla FudgeFind albums with this title” and three bonus tracks taken from singles. CD2 presents the stereo version of the debut album two bonus tracks, also taken from singles. CD3 presents the mono version of the 2nd album “The Beat Goes OnFind albums with this title” and two bonus tracks taken from a single. CD4 presents the stereo version of the 2nd album and two bonus tracks taken from album outtakes and a single. CD5 presents the 3rd album “RenaissanceFind albums with this title” and four bonus tracks taken from singles and album outtakes. CD6 and CD7 present a live concert recorded at the Fillmore West, San Francisco on January 1st 1969. CD8 presents the 4th album “Near The BeginningFind albums with this title” and seven bonus tracks taken from singles and studio outtakes. CD9 presents the 5th album “Rock & RollFind albums with this title” and six bonus tracks taken from singles and studio outtakes. Some of the bonus material as well as the live concert recordings in this Box Set were previously released in 2010 as the “Box Of FudgeFind albums with this title” 4CD Box Set on Rhino HandmadeFind albums on this label, which is now a collectors’ item. The original lineup (with guest musicians) released only one more album “MysteryFind albums with this title” in 1984, but that is another story. Vanilla Fudge shocked the Rock World with their revolutionary / visionary eponymous album, which offered a new approach to Rock, based on novel arrangements of Pop songs, which were expanded into mammoth pieces stretching several minutes, completely unheard of at the time, inventing Psychedelic and Hard Rock on their way. I vividly remember hearing their music for the first time during the Summer of Love (in 1967 for the oblivious) and I was completely baffled and amazed, by the sheer audacity of these guys, who were doing to Rock almost the same John ColtraneFind albums by this artist was doing to Jazz. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the young listeners went along and the Vanilla Fudge became extremely popular for a while. The effect of surprise weakened in time, as the group repeated the same formula time and again and later started to record their original material, and the charm was lost, but they have definitely made a most significant mark of the Rock idiom. They surely invented the concept of a cover sounding infinitely more interesting than an original song. Overall, this is an essential piece of Rock History and having all this material in one box is extremely handy. So if you don’t have these albums individually in your collection, or you miss the a.m. “Box Of Fudge” Box Set, this Box Set is an absolute must have. If you have forgotten how this music sounds, you will thank me for getting back to it I’m sure. There were definitely better days for music!

Updated: 07/03/2025Posted: 20/02/2025

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS ~ ON TOUR WITH ERIC CLAPTON (EXPANDED EDITION) RHINO HANDMADE 603497949885 (Barcode: 603497949885) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2010 This is a reissue of the third album by American singer / songwriter couple Delaney BramlettFind albums by this artist and Bonnie BramlettFind albums by this artist, known as Delaney & BonnieFind albums by this artist and later on as Delaney & Bonnie & FriendsFind albums by this artist. This album, their only live recording and their first release on AtcoFind albums on this label Records, was recorded during the band´s UK tour in December 1969 and released in 1970 as a single LP. This reissue considerably expands the scope of the album offering entire 4 CDs full of music, presenting four entire concerts. The album was recorded by a dream team of top American and British musicians, which included Delaney Bramlett on guitar and vocals. Bonnie Bramlett on vocals, Rita CoolidgeFind albums by this artist on vocals, Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist on lead guitar and vocals, Dave MasonFind albums by this artist on guitar, George HarrisonFind albums by this artist on guitar, bassist Carl RadleFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Bobby WhitlockFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Bobby KeysFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jim PriceFind albums by this artist, drummer Jim GordonFind albums by this artist and percussionist Tex JohnsonFind albums by this artist. The album presents original songs, which were penned by the Bramletts, as well as classic Rock And Roll numbers. This album brought Delaney & Bonnie to the center of attention of many listeners, who missed their two earlier albums entirely, most probably due to the fact that if featured Clapton, who of course was a superstar. But the music of Delaney & Bonnie was stylistically very different to what earlier Clapton recordings offered of course and presented an unprecedented mixture of Rhythm And Blues, Soul, Blues and Gospel with Rock and Pop, creating an entire new musical universe. This album turned out to be a huge commercial success, but in retrospect failed to establish Delaney & Bonnie as major artists and their career disintegrated after their divorce in 1973, after they managed to record three more excellent albums. This album belongs to the small and exclusive "club" of the best live Rock albums, which also includes Joe CockerFind albums by this artist´s "Mad Dogs & Englishmen: The Complete Fillmore East ConcertsFind albums with this title", Humble PieFind albums by this artist´s "Performance Rockin` The Fillmore: The Complete RecordingsFind albums with this title", Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist´s "The 1971 Fillmore East RecordingsFind albums with this title" and a few others. Luckily for the music connoisseurs all these essential albums have also been released in expanded multi-CD versions, which allow the listener to witness the entire performances from which the original albums were assembled upon their original release. This limited edition lavishly packed Box Set, which is a mock of a road case, includes some of the most vital music Rock And Roll produced at its peak, and is a must have in every comprehensive Rock record collection and an essential piece of music history. The same set in a "fat boy" CD case was reissued by RhinoFind albums on this label Records in 2017, which makes it much affordable than the original, now out of print, release. Essential stuff!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 01/06/2018

CD 4 Digipak Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend