Iconic Illusions
Iconic year; iconic band. Formed in 66, Vanilla Fudge as a
band has credible first-hand experience of that time, and their experimentation as well
as heavy psychedelia makes them key exponents of its musical influence ever
since. This album pays homage to songs released in 1967, and in many respects
the covers are quite conventional, their delivery relying on signature power
rather than interpretation. A gaggle of
voices murmur ‘I heard it…’ at the beginning of the first track, with an
additional mock-announcement about the premise of the record [not really
necessary guys: we may all be older but not totally
I-just-about-remember-the-sixties-senile, yet], and it is a soul start with
Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through The
Grapevine. It is then heavy rock, organ-driven romps through that memorable
‘67 playlist: Box Tops The Letter,
The Who I Can See For Miles, The
Doors Break On Through, Smokey
Robinson The Tracks Of My Tears, The
Monkees I’m A Believer, Spencer Davis
Group Gimme Some Lovin’, Buffalo
Springfield For What It’s Worth,
Rolling Stones Ruby Tuesday, Procol
Harum Whiter Shade of Pale, and
finishing on Mark Stein’s Let’s Pray For
Peace.
I’d say this is more fun than phenomenal. There is a layer
of rock pomp at times, and it is probably the thread of pop music that lessens
any overall sense of pulsing power – not that I don’t like those pinches of The
Monkees as well as other more balladic rock numbers. The danger is it is more a
weekend at Butlins nostalgia than a truly meaningful contribution to the
history of music. Perhaps it is that closer which prompts my reservations: I am
all for celebrating the energy, hope and faroutness of the late 60s, but
imagining that any kind of praying here in the 21st century can be
as original and optimistic is harking back to at least two proven illusions.
No comments:
Post a Comment