This US rock group
were formed in December 1966 and comprised Mark Stein (b. 11
March 1947, New Jersey, USA; organ), Vince Martell (b. 11
November 1945, New York City, New York, USA; guitar), Tim
Bogert (b. 27 August 1944, Richfield, New Jersey, USA; bass)
and Joey Brennan (drums). All were previously members of the
Pigeons, a New York-based group modelled on the Young
Rascals. Brennan was latterly replaced by Carmine Appice (b.
15 December 1946, New York, USA), and having established a
style in which contemporary songs were imaginatively
rearranged, the unit was introduced to producer Shadow
Morton, who had a reputation for melodramatic pop with the
Shangri-Las. Dubbed Vanilla Fudge by their record label, the
quartet scored an immediate success with an atmospheric
revival of the Supremes' hit, "You Keep Me Hanging
On." The slowed tempo, studious playing and mock-gospel
harmonies set a precedent for the group's debut album which
featured similarly operatic versions of the Impressions'
"People Get Ready," Sonny & Cher's "Bang
Bang" and the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" and
"Ticket To Ride." The audacity of this first
selection was impossible to repeat.
A flawed concept album, The Beat Goes On, proved overambitious, while further selections showed a group unable to create original material of the calibre of the first album. Subsequent records relied on simpler, hard-edged rock. When Vanilla Fudge split in 1970, the bassist and drummer remained together in Cactus before abandoning their creation in favour of Beck, Bogert & Appice. Stein worked with Tommy Bolin and Alice Cooper before forging a new career composing advertising jingles, while Martell later appeared in the Good Rats, a popular Long Island bar-band.
The group briefly reformed in 1983, releasing Mystery which failed to make any impact.
(source: Microsoft Music Central)
