вЂњWe would deconstruct tunes like вЂSome Velvet MorningвЂ™ and вЂShotgun,вЂ™ piece them back together, and bring the monsters to life.вЂќ вЂњLSD and hash also played a role in how we played, thought, and wrote,вЂќ he added. We knew what we wanted the project to be.

We were more experienced in studio production and performing live. вЂњWe were evolving as people and musicians. вЂњItвЂ™s fair to say Near The Beginning is a microcosm of the Vanilla Fudge,вЂќ Martell said. The Beat Goes On was a concept album about world history and included an ambitious medley of BeethovenвЂ™s вЂњFГјr EliseвЂќ and вЂњMoonlight Sonata.вЂќ Renaissance concentrated on original material, and Near The Beginning had two covers, one original, and a side-long tune on which every member was given a solo. вЂњHe was the visionary who tamed our wilder tendencies and channeled them into a powerful, united musical body.вЂќД®ach Fudge album had a degree of cohesiveness the 1967 debut was entirely covers, including a version of the SupremesвЂ™ вЂњYou Keep Me HanginвЂ™ OnвЂќ that peaked at #6 on Billboard. вЂњThe first three albums were basically our arrangements, which Shadow refined with us,вЂќ said Martell. Vanilla Fudge image courtesy of Vince Martell. вЂњBombastic drums locked with a solid bass that ventured onto jazz-like tangents created a solid foundation for the guitar to layer trippy, melodic riffs and phrases to complement the Hammond chords and lines.вЂќД®arly in their career, the band was helped in the studio by renowned producer Shadow Morton. вЂњWe were pioneers navigating uncharted waters,вЂќ Martell recently told Vintage Guitar. The original Fudge lineup of Mark Stein (organ), Vince Martell (guitar), Tim Bogert (bass), and Carmine Appice (drums) recorded five albums in the latter вЂ™60s, each of which influenced Deep Purple, Yes, Uriah Heep, and other acts. Rock fans recall the New York quartet Vanilla Fudge for its dramatic reworkings of pop hits the band melded classical influences with solid musicianship in the first steps toward the offshoot now known as вЂњprogressive rock.вЂќ

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