Mark Stein (musician)

Last updated
Mark Stein
Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge.jpg
Stein performing at the Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts on March 26, 2011
Background information
Born (1947-03-11) March 11, 1947 (age 77)
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres Rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • organ
  • accordion
  • guitar
Years active1966–present
Member of Vanilla Fudge
Website Mark Stein's official website

Mark Stein (born March 11, 1947) is an American keyboardist, composer and arranger, who is a member of the Psychedelic rock group Vanilla Fudge. Stein also worked in the Tommy Bolin band and Alice Cooper's band during 1978 and 1979.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Stein was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey. He began playing piano at age four and later attempted the accordion. Upon being exposed to rock and roll in the 1950s, Stein settled on the guitar. He worked his way through various bands in his high school. While performing with one of these early groups, he spied an "old beat-up organ on the stage and started jamming on it."[ citation needed ]

Vanilla Fudge

Stein and Tim Bogert had played in a local band called Rick Martin & The Showmen. The pair were so impressed by the swinging, organ-heavy sound of The Rascals they decided to form their own band in 1965. Originally calling themselves The Electric Pigeons, they soon shortened the name to The Pigeons. Eventually, Carmine Appice and Vince Martell joined the band and they changed their name to Vanilla Fudge when they signed to Atlantic Records. The name change came because Atlantic didn't like the name The Pigeons. The origin of the name Vanilla Fudge came from a woman called Dee Dee, who worked at the Page 2 Club in Long Island, who stated her grandfather nicknamed her Vanilla Fudge. The bands debut was released in August 1967 and is a Gold Record. [1] Their cover of The Supremes' You Keep Me Hangin' On is their most well known track. Vanilla Fudge are known for performing slow and heavier covers of fast and upbeat songs. Later hits include a cover of Junior Walker & The All Stars’ 1965 single Shotgun.

The band has been cited as; "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal." [2]

As of March 2023, Stein, Appice and Martell still continue to tour as Vanilla Fudge.

Solo

Mark was in the Tommy Cooper band from 1978 to 1979.

Mark published the autobiography, You Keep Me Hangin’ On in 2011. [3] Stein released the solo album There's A Light was on November 26 2021. [4] During the pandemic of 2020, Mark wrote, recorded and released the single “We Are One”, a reflection on the Black Lives Matter movement. [5]

Influences

Stein himself influenced organist Jon Lord (1941-2012) of the band Deep Purple. Lord, in a 1989 interview said; "[he] used to listen to Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge in the late sixties. He was a useful source of tricks on the Hammond." [6] [7]

Discography

Vanilla Fudge

Studio albums

YearAlbum US Top 200 AUS [8] Canada Certification
1967 Vanilla Fudge 6–12US: Gold [9]
1968 The Beat Goes On 17––
1968 Renaissance 2032–
1969 Near the Beginning 16–10
1969 Rock & Roll 34–24
1984Mystery–––
2002The Return–––
2007 Out Through the In Door –––
2015Spirit of '67–––
2016You Keep Me Hangin' On–––

Collections and live albums

  • Vanilla Fudge – The Fantastic Vanilla (1969)
  • Best of Vanilla Fudge (1982)
  • The Best of Vanilla Fudge – Live (1991)
  • Psychedelic Sundae – The Best of Vanilla Fudge (1993)
  • The Return – Live in Germany Part 1 (2003)
  • The Real Deal – Vanilla Fudge Live (2003)
  • Rocks the Universe – Live in Germany Part 2 (2003)
  • Good Good Rockin' – Live at Rockpalast (2007)
  • Orchestral Fudge (live) (2008)
  • When Two Worlds Collide (live) (2008)
  • Box of Fudge – Rhino Handmade (2010)
  • The Complete Atco Singles (2014)
  • Live at Sweden Rock 2016: The 50th Anniversary (live) (2017)

Singles

YearSingle

Both sides from same LP except where indicated

Chart PositionsAlbum
US Can AU UK
1967"You Keep Me Hangin' On"

b/w "Take Me for a Little While"

 - —818Vanilla Fudge
"Eleanor Rigby Part 1" (UK-only release)

b/w "Eleanor Rigby Part 2"

 - - —53 [upper-alpha 1]
1968"Season of the Witch, Pt. 1"

b/w "Season of the Witch, Pt. 2"

6552 — —Renaissance
"Where Is My Mind"

b/w "The Look of Love" (Non-album track)

73 — — —The Best of Vanilla Fudge
"You Keep Me Hangin' On"

b/w "Come by Day, Come by Night" (Non-album track)

62 — —Vanilla Fudge
"Shotgun"

b/w "Good Good Lovin'" (Non-album track)

6859 — —Near the Beginning
"Take Me for a Little While"

b/w "Thoughts" (from Renaissance)

3845 — —Vanilla Fudge
1969"Some Velvet Morning"

b/w "People" (Non-album track)

10369 — —Near the Beginning
"Need Love"

b/w "I Can't Make It Alone"

111 — — —Rock & Roll
1970"Lord in the Country"

b/w "The Windmills of Your Mind"

 — — — —
1984"Mystery"

b/w "The Stranger" [10]

 — — — —Mystery

Solo

Albums

  • There’s A Light (2021)

Singles

  • We Are One (2020)

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ↑ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanilla Fudge</span> American rock band

Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".

<i>Blow by Blow</i> 1975 studio album by Jeff Beck

Blow by Blow is Jeff Beck's second album credited to him as a solo artist. It was recorded in October 1974 and released via Epic Records in 1975. An instrumental album, it peaked at No. 4 on the American Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Murder (band)</span> English rock band

Blue Murder were an English rock band led by guitarist-vocalist John Sykes. The group was formed in 1987 following Sykes's dismissal from Whitesnake. The initial line-up was rounded out by bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice. In its nascent stage, vocalist Ray Gillen and drummer Cozy Powell were attached to the project. In 1989, Blue Murder released their self-titled debut album, which cracked the Billboard 200 chart and spawned a minor hit with "Jelly Roll". By the early 1990s, however, Blue Murder's music had fallen out of fashion with the popularity of grunge. Franklin and Appice left the band, while Sykes put together a new line-up and released Nothin' But Trouble in 1993. After a live album the following year, Blue Murder were dropped by their record label and broke-up. Since then there have been numerous attempts to reunite the band to no avail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmine Appice</span> American drummer (born 1946)

Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge; Cactus; the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice; Rod Stewart; King Kobra; and Blue Murder. He is also Vinny Appice's older brother. Appice was inducted into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also a more than capable (fretless-) bass player, as can be heard on the "Guitar Zeus" albums, for example.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Bogert</span> American musician (1944–2021)

John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III was an American musician. As a bass guitarist and vocalist he was best known for his powerful vocal ability and his fast runs, fluid agility and ground-breaking sound on his Fender Precision Bass. He was one of the pioneers of using distortion with his bass to help it cut through the mix with the low-powered amps of his time which also imparted a very sharp-edged sound to it. He was a frequent collaborator with drummer Carmine Appice; the duo performed in such bands as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Martell</span> Musical artist

Vince Martell is an American guitarist best known as the lead guitarist for Vanilla Fudge. Martell was born in the Bronx to parents who played the guitar and encouraged him to play as well. While in his teens, Martell joined the Navy, where he discovered his skills as a guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Keep Me Hangin' On</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. American rock band Vanilla Fudge released a cover version in June the following year, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Wilson Pickett recorded it in 1969. English singer Kim Wilde covered "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in 1986, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1987. In the first 32 years of the Billboard Hot 100 rock era, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" became one of the six songs to reach number one by two different musical acts. In 1996, American country singer Reba McEntire's version reached number two on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The BBC ranked the Supremes' original song at number 78 on The Top 100 Digital Motown Chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<i>Vanilla Fudge</i> (album) 1967 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge is the debut studio album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. Released in summer 1967 as Atco 33-224/mono, SD 33-224/stereo, it consists entirely of half-speed covers and three short original instrumental compositions.

<i>Renaissance</i> (Vanilla Fudge album) 1968 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Renaissance is the third album by rock band Vanilla Fudge, released in June 1968. It was their first album to feature mostly original material, with five of its seven tracks penned by band members.

George Francis "Shadow" Morton was an American record producer and songwriter best known for his influential work in the 1960s. In particular, he was noted for writing and producing "Remember ", "Leader of the Pack", and other hits for girl group the Shangri-Las.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beck, Bogert & Appice</span> Hard rock supergroup

Beck, Bogert & Appice was a rock supergroup and power trio formed by English guitarist Jeff Beck, evolving from the Jeff Beck Group. It included bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, Americans who had played together in Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cactus (American band)</span> American rock band

Cactus is an American rock band formed in 1969. It is currently comprising Jimmy Kunes as lead singer, guitarist Paul Warren, drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Jimmy Caputo and Randy Pratt on harmonica.

<i>The Beat Goes On</i> (Vanilla Fudge album) 1968 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

The Beat Goes On is the second album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge, released in early 1968. The album doesn't contain any actual "songs", but rather a sound collage featuring many different elements: the voices of world leaders past and present, the band reciting pre-written mantras and reflections, and excerpts of songs by The Beatles and Sonny Bono.

<i>Near the Beginning</i> 1969 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Near the Beginning is the fourth album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. It was released early 1969 and featured a cover of the Jr. Walker & the All Stars song "Shotgun".

<i>Rock & Roll</i> (Vanilla Fudge album) 1969 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Rock & Roll is the fifth album by American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge, released in September 1969. It peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard album charts in October of that year. The album was the band's last studio album prior to their initial break-up in the spring of 1970.

<i>Psychedelic Sundae – The Best of Vanilla Fudge</i> 1993 greatest hits album by Vanilla Fudge

Psychedelic Sundae – The Best of Vanilla Fudge is a best-of album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. It was released by Rhino Records in 1993 and featured songs from their first five albums. It also featured various singles and non-album tracks.

<i>Out Through the In Door</i> 2007 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Out Through the In Door is the eighth album by Vanilla Fudge, released in June 2007, with the US finally following in August 2009. According to the band's official webpage, it originally was to be released in February 2007. The album title is a play on words of the 1979 Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door.

<i>The Age of Atlantic</i> 1970 compilation album by various artists

The Age of Atlantic is the second in a series of rock music samplers released by the Atlantic label in the UK. The compilation is credited to Janet Martin. Issued at a budget price of UK £0.99, the album was for many an inexpensive introduction to new rock acts, and was one of the earliest samplers of "progressive" or "underground" music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Hanson (guitarist)</span>

Paul Hanson is an American guitarist. He started playing guitar at the age of 8. He formed bands in his hometown of Seattle, Washington, most notably Krakatoa, Silverload and Max. He is best known for his instructional series of books, CDs and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Bremy</span> American rock bass player

Pete Bremy is an American rock bass player. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.

References

  1. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  2. ↑ "Vanilla Fudge Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  3. ↑ Zimmerman, Lee (12 May 2022). "Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein stays true to himself with solo album". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  4. ↑ MetalTalk (2021-10-14). "Vanilla Fudge / Mark Stein to release first solo album; Watch There's A Light | MetalTalk". MetalTalk | We are MetalTalk and we publish Rock 'n Roll. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  5. ↑ "Mark Stein". NAMM.org. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  6. ↑ Lalaina, Joe; Transcribed by David Yea (January 1989). "Jon Lord Interviews". The Highway Star. Modern Keyboard Magazine. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ritchie Blackmore, Interviews". www.thehighwaystar.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 319. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  10. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 1030. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.