Then & Now

Vanilla Fudge | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 9, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fuel 2000
• ASIN: B00068CVDK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,676 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Then and Now is an entirely newly recorded album on which the 2004 edition of Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, guitarist Vince Martell, drummer Carmine Appice, and organist Bill Pascali (replacing original member Mark Stein) recreates its versions of songs that appeared on its Atco Records albums and singles of the \'60s. (On one track, \"Need Love,\" Martell is replaced by Teddy Rondinelli, as the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra backs the band in a live recording.) The three new songs are the 1979 Rod Stewart hit \"Da Ya Think I\'m Sexy?\" (which Appice co-wrote with Stewart while working as his drummer) and, oddly, versions of two hits by turn-of-the-21st-century boy bands, *NSYNC\'s \"Tearin\' Up My Heart\" and the Backstreet Boys\' \"I Want It That Way.\" The performances are true to the Vanilla Fudge style, with slowed tempos, quotes from classical and traditional themes, and lengthy improvisation (eight of the 12 tracks run over six minutes), and the album certainly demonstrates that, almost 40 years into their career, the bandmembers retain their rock & roll chops admirably. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Vanilla Fudge CD!!, May 2, 2008

By 

C. Loftis (White House, TN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Then & Now (Audio CD)

I didn't have great expectations for this cd, but since I'm a fan I bought it. I was very pleasantly surprised!! They reworked some of my favorite Fudge classics to give them a more modern sound, and they sound great!! There are some new songs on this one as well. If you love Vanilla Fudge, GET THIS CD, you won't be disappointed. "Take Me For A Little While" and "Shotgun" are INCREDIBLE!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OH...MY...GOD!, February 8, 2012

By 

D. Allin (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Then & Now: Expanded Edition (Audio CD)

I have been a Fudgeaholic since I first heard the short version of You Keep Me Hangin' On on an AM radio in 1967. I have all their original albums, including Mystery, plus the Cactus albums, both Beck Bogert Appice albums, and even Tim Bogert's solo album, but I wasn't expecting much from this reunion album. I was so wrong. This is even better than the original recordings. Imagine you have only seen a VHS version of Star Wars on an old 13-inch TV, and then see a blu-ray version on a large HD TV with a home theatre sound system. That's what this album is like. Three of the four original members, playing the songs the same way they were originally recorded, but with better instruments, better recording equipment, and better production. The sound is richer, and the new songs are done in the same style that made the Fudge so phenomenal. Disc 1 is studio recordings, and Disc 2 is a live performance backed up by the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is mostly hard to distinguish, although it adds depth and breadth to the performance. And there is a Tim Bogert solo that has to be heard to be believed. The only criticism of this album, and it is minor, is that Bill Pascali, the organist and vocalist who has replaced Mark Stein, has a deeper and rougher voice than Stein did. Mark Stein's voice was smooth, sweet, and haunting, and Pascali just misses on capturing that effect, although his singing is certainly good. It's just a little different. His organ playing, however, is perfect. So, if you have ever liked the Vanilla Fudge, you will love this album. Guaranteed. And ignore that guy who complained that this version of She's Not There isn't the Zombies version. Of course it isn't. It's better.

0 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This isn't the one !, January 18, 2008

By 

Michael W. Taylor "whineslayer" (Needmore, WV) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Then & Now (Audio CD)

For those of you 60's generation looking for the "She's Not There" track, this is the wrong CD. "She's not there" although the Vanilla Fudge version is on this CD is not the one you're thinking of. The real deal was done by the Zombies. You'll be disappointed if you purchase this for that track. It's Vanilla Fudge trying to ride the wave on the Zombies coattails, and not doing a very good job of it, either.