That's right folks, Vanilla Fudge have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with a strong appearance at the 2016 Sweden Rock Festival, captured here on CD & DVD from the fine folks at MIG Music GmBH. To be honest, 50 years is a bit misleading, as Vanilla Fudge were originally only together from 1967-1970 before disappearing for many years. Various brief appearances and line-ups in the '80's and '90's led to another lengthy dry patch before the band reunited once again in the 2000's and have been playing live shows sporadically ever since, even releasing a few new studio albums in the last two decades. Currently, Vanilla Fudge consists of original members Mark Stein (keyboards, vocals), Carmine Appice (drums, vocals), and Vince Martell (guitar, vocals), along with bassist Pete Bremy, who joined after founding member Tim Bogert officially retired back in 2010.
Back in the '60s, Vanilla Fudge came up with a cool concept, which was totally reworking contemporary rock/pop/R&B songs and giving them extended instrumental passages & arrangements, in many cases their versions sounding completely different and giving these songs a whole new personality. Though they recorded many original songs, it was always the 'cover' songs that garnered them the most attention, and it's the formula they chose to replicate here at this celebratory show at Sweden Rock. The problem is, this concept isn't as cool today as it was back in the late '60s. Here, the band attempt some new takes on old classics, and while fun, it just doesn't have the same impact it had 50 years ago. Neil Diamond's "I'm a Believer", also a huge hit for The Monkees, is kind of fun but sort of stumbles, as does The Doors staple "Break on Through", though give credit to Fudge for really giving this song a totally different feel. Rod Argent's classic "She's Not There" fares better, and seems ready made for the Vanilla Fudge wheelhouse, as does "Gimme Some Lovin' " from the Spencer Davis Group. Fudge favorites like "Shotgun", "Season of the Witch", and of course "You Keep Me Hangin' On" fire the crowd up, and it's songs like these that helped carry the band to stardom 50 years ago, and they are still fun to hear the band play to this day. A lengthy take on Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" is a fun surprise, Stein & Martell lending some fiery organ & guitar solos, while their original piece "Good Good Livin' " is a very solid hard rock number. The instrumental prowess of the band is still intact, Appice as always a premiere drum god, and the rest of the guys show they haven't lost a step and can still rock with the best of them.
Sound and video quality is top notch throughout this set, and you can tell both the band and the fans were enjoying themselves quite a bit. Though the Vanilla Fudge concept might be a tad dated here in 2018, there's no denying what a cool slice of nostalgia the band is, and this live set proves it.
Track Listing
1) I'm a Believer
2) Break on Through
3) She's Not There
4) Let's Pray for Peace
5) Good Good Livin'
6) Take Me For a Little While
7) Gimme Some Lovin'
8) Shotgun
9) Season of the Witch
10) Dazed and Confused
11) You Keep Me Hangin' On
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