Record Reviews
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  | BECK, BOGERT & APPICE ~ BECK, BOGERT & APPICE
REPERTOIRE 2330 (Barcode: 4009910233023) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2005
1st and only album by the Anglo-American super-group Beck, Bogert & AppiceFind albums by this artist, comprising of British guitar hero Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist and American rhythm section giants, bassist Tim BogertFind albums by this artist and drummer Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist. This threesome suffered from bad karma even before it was actually formed: following the demise of the great American group Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist, founding members Bogart and Appice suggested to Beck, who just disbanded his own British band at the time, to join them in forming a next band together. Although Beck agreed, a nasty car crash took him out of circulation for a while and Bogart and Appice formed the splendid CactusFind albums by this artist instead. In 1972, when Cactus broke up as did The Jeff Beck Group, finally the missed earlier opportunity arose again, this time to be consummated.
Potentially the trio had everything one might hope for: a virtuoso guitar genius, superb bass player and one of the best Rock drummers, but all the talent didn´t prevent the band from falling victim to personality clashes between the trio members, leading to a breakdown before the band reached its second anniversary. They did manage however to record one album, which shows their potential in full (a second album was attempted, but never finalized).
Great guitar licks, tasty bass and driving drumming are the basic elements behind this recording, which also includes support from a bunch of musician friends. The music is mostly written by the trio, with some adaptations of tunes from other sources. The only drawback of the album is the absence of a strong lead vocalist, but it is nevertheless a true Classic Rock memento. Warmly recommended!
| | Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | BECK, BOGERT & APPICE ~ LIVE IN JAPAN 1973 / LIVE IN LONDON 1974
RHINO 603497833252 (Barcode: 603497833252) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2023
This Box Set presents two live concerts by the British / American Rock supergroup / power trio Beck, Bogert & AppiceFind albums by this artist, comprising of British guitarist Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist and American rhythm section comprising of bassist Tim BogertFind albums by this artist and drummer Carmine AppiceFind albums by this artist, both members of the legendary groups Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist and CactusFind albums by this artist. The Box Set includes two 2CD sets, the first with the previously Japan only release of a live recording in Japan in 1973, and the second with the previously unreleased live concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London in 1974. The Box set is lavishly packaged and includes a hardcover book, tour book and a poster. The sound quality is absolutely sensational.
The short-lived trio recorded only one eponymous studio album and disbanded before the second album was completed. The material recorded for the second album remains unreleased. The trio was a classic example of the Rock supergroup phenomenon, which started with CreamFind albums by this artist and dominated the scene in the early 1970s. All three musicians where absolute masters of their trade and superb virtuosi, who continued to develop the Rock Improvisation idiom started by Cream. They co-wrote most of their original material, but included also new interpretations of songs originating from the outside of the group.
Despite their immense talents as instrumentalists, they lacked a lead singer of the scale of their instrumental powers and a composer, who would provide them with material, which would reflect their class, like Jack BruceFind albums by this artist, who filled both these functions in Cream. Nevertheless, they still remain as one of the most magnificent examples of Rock’s power trios and the material here is absolutely worth being revisited.
Overall, this is an essential piece of the Classic Rock puzzle, a sublime document of the Rock Improvisation idiom and obviously a great tribute to the legacy of these sublime musicians, two of which are sadly no longer with us. An absolutely essential part of any serious Classic Rock collection!
| | Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: 11/11/2023 | CD 4 Digibook Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | VANILLA FUDGE ~ MYSTERY
MUSIC ON CD 14277 (Barcode: 8718627235720) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1984 Released: 2023
This is a reissue of the 6th album by the American Rock group Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist, recorded after a fifteen years long gap following the recording of their previous album. It was recorded by the original lineup of the group, which consisted of 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. Two additional guitar players were added: Ron MancusoFind albums by this artist, who plays on most tracks and Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist (under the J. ToadFind albums by this artist moniker), who plays on two tracks. The album presents ten tracks, eight of which are originals by the group members and two are arrangements of Pop songs.
The music world changed dramatically since the release of their previous album and by the time this album was released the music it contained was as out of sync with the then current scene as one can imagine, which meant that despite the fact that the music was first rate Classic Rock, the album had no chance whatsoever to succeed and the album was quickly forgotten.
Overall, in retrospect this is a fine collection of songs splendidly performed by these excellent musicians, and is certainly worthy being cherished by true Rock enthusiasts, who still remember what real music sounds like.
| | Updated: 11/03/2025Posted: 11/03/2025 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | 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 |
  | LESLIE WEST ~ GOT BLOOZE
PROVOGUE 7155 (Barcode: 8712725715528) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005
Legendary guitarist Leslie WestFind albums by this artist is best known as the leader of MountainFind albums by this artist, America’s answer to the UK power trio CreamFind albums by this artist. Mountain recorded a series of excellent albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were loud and powerful (often being quoted as one of the forefathers of Heavy Rock), but also quite sophisticated. West’s unique tone and approach to the guitar, heavily based in the blues tradition, stays to this very day as one of the icons of the formative years of electric guitar. A famous anecdote tells that if one places West in a room with another 99 guitar players, just one note played by him will be immediately recognizable. Since the mid-1970s West recorded sporadically, with none of the albums leaving any significant impact on the scene, but his 2000s output marks a revival of his powers. West returned to what he does best – playing the blues in his unique manner, which has but a few competitors. West formed an excellent group with two formidable blues / rock veterans: Tim BogertFind albums by this artist (Vanilla FudgeFind albums by this artist, CactusFind albums by this artist, Beck, Bogert & AppiceFind albums by this artist) – one of rock’s most respected bass players and Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist (John MayallFind albums by this artist, Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist) – one of blues-rock most respected drummers. Together they storm through a program, which includes many blues standards, but sounds fresh and vital like never before. West also pays tribute to his ex-partner Jack BruceFind albums by this artist by including his superb composition “Politician” on this album. For blues-rock fans this is an absolute must!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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