Customer Reviews

Complete Vips

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I should start by stating that this disc should appeal to (1) diehard fans of that extraordinary 1968-1970 version of Spooky Tooth (most of whom probably have these recordings already), (2) to fans of blue-eyed British soul (like the early Spencer Davis Group), and (3) to those curious about the lesser-knowns of the Sixties British Music Scene.

Although the line-up of the Carlyle-based (Brum region) V.I.P.s or Vips changed with some frequency (including Keith Emerson briefly), the mainstays of the group included gravel-voiced Mike Harrison, bass Greg Ridley, and the somewhat under-rated Mike Hernshaw. This group consistently failed to make a true impact on the British charts despite several solid singles including the Spooky-Tooth like "I Wanna Be Free" (1966).

In fact they found their greatest success in France (where most of these tracks were actually released on a series of now-rare EPs) and Northern Germany, where they played at the Star Club in Hamburg and in a series of military-base clubs for British soliders. Just as their luck seemed to be running out, the line-up of Harrison, Ridley, drummer Mike Kellie, and newcomer Luther Grosvenor found favor with Island Records and producer Guy Stevens and thanks to a quick name change to Art and a beefed up quaisi psychedelic sound, recorded a one-off album that began to attract a bit more local attention. In 1968 Chris Blackwell and producer Jimmy Miller introduced American expatriot Gary Wright to the group and the rest, as they say, is history (= Spooky Tooth).

As to these recordings: the sound quality varies considerably. They were definitely recorded under less-than-optimal conditions, and often, it would seem, in a single take with little or no overlays or dubbing. The playing is at times very ragged, and they only occasionally signal the brilliance that was to become eveident in Spooky Tooth's albums like "It's All About" and "Spooky Two." The truth is, one clearly sees the reason for the lackluster response to this band, and why they remained obscure for so long. Still, after years of only being able to obtain their recordings via suspect re-issues (both vinyl and CD) or via the over-priced original European releases, it is nice that the German Repertoire label has done what it so admirably does now, and re-issue the entire output on a single disc.

Before most in this band became Spooky Tooth, they were the V.I.Ps, a straightline British R&B band.

And straight R&B is what you get with this collection. The playing is great, and Mike Harrison had a growl like few other belters in England. Unlike the Yardbirds, the V.I.Ps did not change as R&B was coopted by psychadelia in hard rock, so the music here does not evolve.

For that, you have to listen to Spooky Tooth, but for what this is, it is great.

Looks to be the obscure R&B / blues rock collective's sole release. I know that until here recently, I've never even remotely heard of this band. A retrospect of the group's entire repertoire in this handy 2-CD / twenty-eight song compilation. The V.I.P.s had initially existed between 1963-71. Like almost every tune (if not every one) like "She's So Good", "That's My Woman", all three edits of the soulful "I Wanna Be Free", both versions of their tribute to Howling Wolf with "Back Into My Life Again" and the jamming "Rosemarie". And of course there's disc two with their moving cover of Ray Charles "No Use Crying" and several of the rare V.I.P.s live songs that show up on this should-have title "Fannie Mae" and "Grapes Of Wrath". Personnel: Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth, Stealers Wheel) - guitar & vocals, Mike Harrison (also of Spooky Tooth)- piano & vocals, Greg Ridley (Humble Pie) - bass and Mike Kellie (third time the charm - also from Spooky Tooth) - drums. Should appeal to fans of Them, Pretty Things, the previously mentioned Spooky Tooth and possibly The Troggs or The Poets. Overall, a good find.