Label: FRW Music Records (???), FDDL0036
Style: Hard Rock
Country: Long Island, New York, U.S.
Time: 62:10
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 423 Mb
What
an exciting moment it was in the year 2007 when I read that Vanilla
Fudge, one of my favourite bands, had released an album that is
dedicated to Led Zeppelin, another favourite of mine! The connection
between these two pivotal rock bands started in 1968 when Led Zeppelin
did their first USA tour, as a support act of USA four piece formation
Vanilla Fudge. In those days this band was highly praised and got
worldwide recognition one year later, due to their international chart
topping single You Keep Me Hangin' On. Between 1967 and 1969 Vanilla
Fudge produced five interesting studio-albums, before they called it a
day in 1970. Their captivating and often compelling sound is a blend of
rock, blues, jazz, soul and psychedelia with the focus on compelling
floods of Hammond organ, harder-edged guitar work, inspired vocals and
vocal harmonies. Keep in mind that members of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple
and Yes pointed at Vanilla Fudge as their main source of inspiration.
Later Vanilla Fudge reunited a few times and even released a new studio
album in 1984 named Mystery, a pretty disappointing effort, far from
their exciting Sixties sound. Early this year I witnessed a mind blowing
gig by Vanilla Fudge (featuring three original members) at the
Cultuurpodium De Boerderij in Zoetermeer (see review). More recently I
took a look at my pictures of that concert and then decided to write
this review. Because in my opinion Vanilla Fudge is an often overlooked
progressive formation, time to tell more about Vanilla Fudge and their
excellent tribute to Led Zeppelin.
Vanilla Fudge have succeeded to
incorporate their distinctive sound into the covers without doing harm
to the mighty Led Zeppelin sound. I notice lots of inventive ideas: a
short and surprising keyboard intro on the propulsive Immigrant Song,
wonderful keyboard arrangements (on the Korg Triton synthesizer) and
fiery electric guitar leads on the dynamic Dazed And Confused and a
funky clavinet sound, wah-wah guitar and swirling Hammond organ on the
swinging Trampled Under Foot. The typical, omnipresent Vanilla Fudge
Hammond B3 organ sound can be traced gloriously on Fool In The Rain,
Dancing Days, Moby Dick (excellent job by drummer Carmine Appice who
later worked with Jeff Beck) and Rock And Roll (less thunderous drums
but strong vocals and biting electric guitar). It gives the songs a very
special flavour. The most Vanilla Fudge inspired Led Zeppelin cover is
the final song Your Time Is Gonna Come: it starts with churchy Hammond
organ, then a thrilling blend of blues and psychedelia featuring
inspired, pretty melancholic vocals. My conclusion is that this album is
an excellent piece of work by Vanilla Fudge but you have to be up to
their distinctive sound. In that case the Vanilla Fudge music will turn
into a very pleasant discovery because, in my opinion, Vanilla Fudge
delivers genuine progressive rock: adventurous, innovative and creative,
worth to be checked out!
(https://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/CDreviews/VanillaFudgeOutThroughTheIndoor.html)
**** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Astrid de Ronde)
01. Immigrant Song (03:20)
02. Ramble On (04:29)
03. Trampled Underfoot (04:49)
04. Dazed And Confused (05:58)
05. Black Mountain Side (03:30)
06. Fool In The Rain (05:36)
07. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (07:05)
08. Dancing Days (04:49)
09. Moby Dick (06:07)
10. All Of My Love (06:16)
11. Rock And Roll (04:21)
12. Your Time Is Gonna Come (05:45)
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