Vanilla Fudge TICKET TO RIDE (“Vanilla Fudge” 1967) (Carmine Appice Drum Improv 1)

Album:Vanilla Fudge Released:Aug '67 Recorded:67 Genre:Psychedelic rock/soul proto-prog Label:Atco(US)Polydor(UK) and Atlantic Producer:Shadow Morton "Vanilla Fudge" American psychedelic rock group from New York originally called "The Electric Pigeons"(later changed to just "The Pigeons").Vanilla Fudge recorded 5 studio albums from '67-'69 and disbanding sometime in '70."The Pigeons" originally consisted of Mark Stein, Tim Bogert, Vince Martell, and drummer Mark Dolfen(later replaced to Joey Brennan).Also referred to as Rick Martin & The Showmen before meeting Carmine Appice to complete the official line up as we all know as "Vanilla Fudge".Carmine Appice originally played in a cover band called "Thursday's Children” before being discovered by Tim Bogert."The Pigeons" got a record label by Atlantic records (same label as Led Zeppelin).According to my research Atlantic records forced the band to change their band name.The story goes that the band got the band name "Vanilla Fudge" from a girl named Dee Dee(nick named "Vanilla Fudge" by her grandfather)who worked in a club where the band would gig at.In '69 Led Zeppelin would open for Vanilla Fudge in the US.Vanilla Fudge known for their psychedelic cover arrangements of hit songs such as "You Keep Me Hanging on" originally recorded by Motown female group "The Supremes".Vanilla Fudge released their debut in the summer of '67 with half speed covers and 3 short instrumental original compositions.The album opens up with a Beatles cover "Ticket to Ride" of course arranged in a very long busy psychedelic Vanilla Fudge twist to it of course."Ticket to Ride" originally written and recorded by The Beatles for their 5th '65 studio album "Help".I recorded 2 takes of this song as it was hard to memorize all of Carmine's licks and fills.Carmine's playing is outstanding on this version and far more complex than Ringo Starr's playing.What a ride!I truly believe that Carmine influenced Bonham.Apparentley to Carmine John Bonham's "Good Times Bad Times" triplet lick idea on Zeppelin 1 came from Carmine Appice.Enough said!According to an interview in Sept '98 Carmine purchased the bass drum at a pawn shop in New York for $5 which was re-wrapped to red sparkle(according to the album credits in Vanilla Fudge's CD reissue of their 3rd 1968 album "Renaissance").My theory is that Carmine used a 24" or 26" Slingerland or Ludwig red sparkle kit with the rack tom on a snare drum stand, 16" or 18" floor tom, chrome snare drum(not sure what brand or model), 2 crash's, 1 ride, hi-hats, (maybe Zildjian cymbals).I had the honor to meet the guitarist Vince Martell who is friends with one of my neighbors.I got to meet Vinnie twice(Sept 11, 2021 and Sept 25, 2021)privately where we jammed thru my neighbors Music Man half stack in the driveway, talk music, guitar gear, and enjoy 2 delicious meals on 2 separate occasions that my mother made(spaghetti and meatballs on 9/11 and Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches on 9/25).Meeting and discussing music with his very nice wife Peg as well.I found myself asking any question that came to my mind like gear, recording sessions, and Carmine's friendship with John Bonham and Carmine getting Bonham to be endorsed by Ludwig Drums and Carmine getting John turned on to the big fat sound of the Ludwig thermo gloss maple kit(Carmine Appice and John Bonham had the same Ludwig kit model with Carmine using two bass drums in later Fudge years while Bonham started to use 2 kicks but later turned it down to 1 kick drum according to Jimmy Page's orders with Zeppelin).Peg told me it was the red sparkle kit used on Fudge's '67 debut.Not sure if it was a Slingerland or a ludwig kit.The red sparkle kit can be seen on the Ed Sullivan Show in '68 and can be seen in multiple photos seen on the internet.Peg also said that Vinnie used his cherry Gibson ES-335 on the debut album and can be seen on the Ed Sullivan Show as well in '68 playing their hit arrangement of "You Keep Me Hanging On".After Vince gave my neighbor and myself some guitar lessons I grabbed my Gibson/Epiphone SG Special(with my John Lennon Vox Python guitar strap)plugged it in and woke the neighbors up to rock \m/.Vince with a very simple pedal board (Boss Chorus, Boss BD-2 Blues Driver), both a ES-339 or ES-335 style guitar in a dark sunburst(one being and Epiphone), and a unfamiliar hollow body natural finish.On the 2nd occasion I used my Gibson/Epiphone Les Paul Custom SG with my Jimi Hendrix/Elvis Presley strap.Ladies Gentlemen VANILLA FUDGE! Vanilla Fudge Carmine Appice—drums vocals Tim Bogert—bass vocals Vince Martell—guitar vocals Mark Stein—vocals keys Gear RolandTDK-4PV-Drums(VanillaFudgeCarmineAppiceCustomSettings) RolandmicoCubeGXAmp(JCClean/ReverbSetting) ZildjianLV80Ride LudwigClassicMapleBlackOysterPearlFloorTomand Snare(RemoSilentStrokes) LudwigSpeedKingKickPedal LudwigCymStand BossBD-2BluesDriver VicFirthSD4Combos VanillaFudge'67DebutT

Added 5 Oct 2026