Vanilla Fudge Albums Ranked

Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, most notably “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. The band’s original line–up — vocalist and organist Mark Stein, bassist and vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer and vocalist Carmine Appice — recorded five albums during the years 1967–69, before disbanding in 1970. The band is currently touring with three of the four original members: Stein, Martell, and Appice with Pete Bremy on bass as Bogert retired in 2009. The band has been cited as “one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal.” Vanilla Fudge also is known to have influenced other major bands such as The Nice, Deep Purple, Yes, Styx, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep. Here are all of Vanilla Fudge albums ranked.

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9. The Return (2002)

“Really enjoyed this 2000’s version of the old prog rockers songs – still sounds fresh and the up-front organ sounds great in comparison to the harsher rock sounds of the naughties. The tracks are better structured and less inclined to ‘ramble’ than some of the originals as well!”

8. Mystery (1984)

” This is a very good album. There are no duds on the album. Their are only 2 covers and 8 original Vanilla Fudge songs. My World is Empty is my favorite track (a good sing along) and Walk on By is also a good cover. This album is not as psychedelic as most fudge albums and they don’t have any super long jam tracks. This is more straight forward rock and roll with even a touch of pop sensibility.”

7. Out Through The In Door (2007)

“Led Zeppelin added the synthesizer to their repertoire with this album. It’s certainly different but it still manages to sound like Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant and John Paul Jones have a more prominent role on this one than on previous albums. It provides an interesting glimpse into the direction the band might have gone in had they not broken up the following year following the death of John Bonham.”

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6. Near The Beginning (1969)

“The most noticeable improvement throughout this album was definitely the guitar playing and guitar “sound” of Vinnie Martell. The two previous albums, you hear Martell’s guitar sound getting progressively louder, to where it is no longer overpowered by Mark Stein’s organ. But on this album, not only is Martell’s guitar getting louder–his playing is getting better! Whereas on previous albums, you hear mostly power chords and a few single-note ‘freak-outs’ from Martell, this album finds Martell playing genuine, bluesy, guitar solos”

5. Spirit Of ’67 (2015)

“This album is a welcome return of Vanilla Fudge, with songs from 1967, a very good year in pop/rock music. The band takes the essence of these classics and restates them, using the elements of their well-recognized style. The tracks have the rock arrangements you would expect from the band, including strong Mark Stein vocals, excellent guitar solos and keyboard sections, and heavy drumming.”

4. Rock & Roll (1969)

“With ‘Rock & Roll’ things were more straightforward. Well…kind of. Because despite its title, this album is much more dynamic than one might initially believe. Indeed, while the opener track, ‘Need Love’, suggests a raunchy route, others including such classic compositions as ‘The Windmills of Your Mind’, ‘I Can’t Make It Alone’ and ‘If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody’ totally contradict the rock ‘n’ roll implicitness of the title. But hey, in my books that is what makes this such a great album.”

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3. Renaissance (1968)

“Renaissance has a dense, intense sound that permeates every track. It is an emotional whirlpool. It has a consistency of style throughout from the opening crash to the spooky whistled signature of “the beat goes on” at the end, always intense and often at the point of mental and physical breakdown. Blistering guitar (Vince Martell must surely be the most under-rated guitarist of all time) drenched in Hammond organ pumped through a wall of Leslie speakers backed by one of the best rhythm sections ever, not to mention Mark Stein’s powerful emotional vocal.”

2. The Beat Goes On (1968)

“The Beat Goes On” tried to comprise the music of the last three centuries in one only fascicle, covering eminent names like Mozart, Beethoven, The Beatles, Cole Porter, and some American standards here and there, and that’s only side one.”

1. Vanilla Fudge (1967)

“If you were lucky enough to be around when this music emerged – 1967 – then you know it is only understandable in context, and, when understood in context, is truly wonderful. At times it is wonderful in a so bad it’s good way – Bang Bang – at other times it’s just plain wonderful – You Keep Me Hanging On. Vanilla Fudge brought something very new to the party, probably given to them by Osley, and they had an impact. You could hardly find another album that better embodies what was then called “heavy” – Vanilla Fudge was not a subtle combo – they used multiple sledgehammers to make their point.”