Fabulous Friday Celebrating the 2023 Birthdays of Vinnie Martel of Vanilla Fudge, Jon Batiste, and Survivor Guitarist Jim Peterik

by Robert Wilkinson

Our "late show" feature one of the founders of metal music, another is one of the coolest N’Awlins keyboard wizards ever to play a note, and the third founded the band Survivor after writing one of the monster hits of all time in 1970!

Our first set begins with the music of Vince Martel (born Vincent James Martellucci November 11, 1945), screaming metal guitarist for Vanilla Fudge and many other bands for over 50 years. Vince, along with Carmine Appice (December 15, 1946), Mark Stein (March 11, 1947), and Tim Bogert (August 27, 1944) created Vanilla Fudge. I saw them in 1967, and they were most def different than any other band going back then! From Wikipedia, “The band has been cited as "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal." Vanilla Fudge also is known to have influenced other major bands such as The Nice, Deep Purple, Yes, Styx, and Led Zeppelin.”

We’ll kick things off with their signature tune that got the world’s attention! Welcome to Vince’s screaming guitar in their original live 4 minute 35 performance (I believe on The Ed Sullivan Show) in 1967 of their breakthrough classic, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” Here’s the original 6:49 studio version of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”

From the next year, a great live video shot in sepia tones from The Ray Anthony Show in 1968 of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” while this is from the Beat Club in 1968, a shorter live performance of the 2:44 radio version of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” Their live performance at that same Beat Club gig also had “Eleanor Rigby,” “ELDS,” and the Sonny and Cher hit also from their first album, “Bang Bang” but they’ve disappeared. So instead, here’s the studio version of “Bang Bang”

This is a VERY strange video from 1968 on the French tv show Bouton Rouge in 1968 set to the studio version of “Eleanor Rigby.”

I found this 8 minute and 20 audio clip of them live doing “Eleanor Rigby” and “ELDS.”

Live in 1969 on The Ed Sullivan Show, cranking out their version of the Junior Walker classic! “Shotgun”

Back at the Beat Club in 1969, here’s a great live b/w video of VF giving us “Some Velvet Morning”

From their first album, the studio version of “Take Me For A Little While” and “Ticket To Ride”

We now take you to a multi-piece "operetta" which was one side of their second album! For your enjoyment, The Beat Goes On

Also from their second album, one of my favorites! This would have gotten the composer’s attention, since I’m sure he would have “rolled over and told Tchaikovsky the news….” “Moonlight Sonata/Fur Elise”

From their third album, Renaissance, (produced by the legendary Shadow Morton), four amazing tunes! First, the opener, the building swirling pounding “The Sky Cried/When I Was A Boy” which we’ll follow with the haunting “That’s What Makes A Man.” We now groove with their version of a Donovan tune they took into some very strange zones! “Season of the Witch” and we’ll close with another from that album, the very Led Zeppelin-esque “Where is My Mind.”

From January 1, 1969, The Vanilla Fudge live at the Fillmore West cranking out their version of “Like A Rolling Stone”

From their newest album, Spirit of ’67, their unique way of giving us the Who standard “I Can See For Miles”

From the same album, the same treatment to some classics! First, Stevie Winwood’s wailing organ masterpiece “Gimmie Some Lovin’” which we’ll follow with the Stones’ classic “Ruby Tuesday” and finish with their take on the Procol Harem signature tune, “Whiter Shade of Pale”

At 2010 at BB King’s in NYC doing a benefit for Little Kids Rock, Vince, Mark, and Carmine cranking out “Take Me For A Little While.” From the same gig, “Season of the Witch” and “Eleanor Rigby”

From 2011, a live performance of the Zombies’ classic “She’s Not There”

Our closer features a live performance from March 2011 at BB King's of the reconstituted Vanilla Fudge with Vince, Mark, and Carmine giving us their version of the beautiful Curtis Mayfield classic “People Get Ready”

Last year’s encore was their entire one hour set at the September 2016 Ottawa City Folk Festival, but it’s disappeared. Instead, I found two from that show! Here’s Vince, Mark, and Carmine performing ”Shotgun” and ”People Get Ready.”

Our second encore features two from their show Live at Sweden Rock in 2016! First, their signature tune ”You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” followed by the Donovan classic ”Season of the Witch”

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For our second birthday celebration, we now turn to the music of Jonathan Batiste (November 11, 1986), the multi-instrumentalist, educator, comedian, and former bandleader of Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. From Wikipedia, “Born in Kenner, Louisiana, into a family of musicians, Batiste has collaborated with many acclaimed musicians in various genres of music, released recordings of his own, performed in over 40 countries, and has appeared as an actor in film and television. Most recently, he was appointed as the associate artistic director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Batiste regularly tours with his band, Stay Human,[2] which since September 8, 2015 has been the house band of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[3] In 2012, he was listed on ARTINFO as among the "30 under 30" most influential people in the art world.[4] He received a master's degree from the Juilliard School.”

His talent is awesome, and he can be really funny at times. For your enjoyment, Jon Batiste!

We begin with a classic! From 2013 at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café, “St. James Infirmary”

From June 2015, an utterly cool live performance literally on the street by Jon and Stay Human of the Roberta Flack classic, “Killing Me Softly”

From 2014 in Napa Valley at Jam in the Van, a great live performance of “Young Lady” and “Life is Gold”

From February 2016, Jon in an exquisite performance on LSSC of the Beatles’ “Blackbird”

Two plus minutes of fun as Jon is joined by Ziggy Marley and Chance the Rapper in a great Late Show video of “Arthur Theme”

A great music video by Jon Batiste and Stay Human of a very funky tune that gets down! “Express Yourself (Say Yes)”

Also from their new album, a live performance of “Let God Lead”

As bandleader, he’s played with the best of the best. Last year I had Trombone Shorty with Jon Batiste and Stay Human playing “On Your Way Down” but this year it’s disappeared. So has the clip from the LSSC of Shiela E., Jon, and Stay Human groovin’ on “Come Together”

As it says, “What happens when two titans of music meet on the battlefield?” It’s dueling keyboards! Weird Al faces off with Jon Batiste

Last year I had the clip of an amazing performance with Joe Walsh of “Life’s Been Good To Me So Far” with a fantastic jam that begins about 3 minutes in. This year it’s nowhere to be found.

The LSSC interviewed “Big Bang” actor Simon Helberg on the show, and it seems he plays piano! In this clip he joins Jon about 5 minutes in for an awesome duet on the same keyboard performing Mozart’s “Queen of the Night”

We have jazz! From July 2013, 76 minutes of great music!

Jon Batiste and Stay Human at the XVI Festival Internacional Jazz San Javier Pt. 1

Jon Batiste and Stay Human at the XVI Festival Internacional Jazz San Javier Pt. 2

Jon Batiste and Stay Human at the XVI Festival Internacional Jazz San Javier Pt. 3

Here’s 9 minutes from September 2016 of Jon and #Stay Wednesday jammin’ on the one! Jon Batiste and Stay Wednesday Livestream

The great 5 minute clip shot in SF of the story of how Stay Human came together at Julliard, and the early days in NYC crashing subways, followed by a live “unplugged” performance of “It’s All Right (Why You Gotta)” – the South Park Sessions is gone.

A funny 4 minute clip from the LSSC where Jon teaches us How To Play Piano in 9 Easy Steps

An equally funny clip 3+ minute clip from the LSSC Jon Batiste Teaches Jazz In 8 Easy Steps

Here’s an intimate and funny 8 minute clip from LSSC of Jon and Stephen talking about how Jon came to be the bandleader of the show. He had one requirement: Stephen had to go to N’Awlins to see his parents. A good clip. Stephen Colbert’s trip to New Orleans hosted by Jon Batiste

Last year we closed with a medley from December 2016 with special guests Lee England Jr. and Judith Hill doing “A Christmas Medley with Jon Batiste and Stay Human, but this year it’s gone. So instead, in the spirit of Christmas, here’s A Christmas Medley of Batman Christmas Carols with Jon Batiste and Stay Human. It’s a singalong!

For our encore, live at the 50th Montreux Jazz Fest, Jon giving us an elegant performance of the Louie Armstrong classic “Wonderful World”

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For our third set, we celebrate the birthday of Jim Peterik (November 11, 1950), songwriter and musician who wrote a MONSTER hit before founding the band Survivor. He's also written quite a few big ones for other groups. Due to the time, I can't do a full tribute, though I'm sure you'll enjoy these!

First, his monster hit with the Ides of March that went to #2 in 1970! It is said to be the fastest selling single in Warner Brothers history! In light of the current political sex scandals, I'm half tempted to call this song "Politician's Fantasy." Here's a lip synched video of the Ides cranking out "Vehicle." In a strange "space age" period piece video, here's yet another take on "Vehicle." From 2010, he still has it! "Vehicle"

Here's the Ides' first hit from way back in 1966. Sounds like they took the riff from "Tired of Waiting" and put it to a generic sound to come up with "You Wouldn't Listen to Me."

From 2009, the Ides in a live performance of "L.A. Goodbye"

Here's his next most famous song, done by Survivor! When I first heard this, I was sure it was Marty Balin and Starship. For your enjoyment, the original music video for the tune that spent 6 weeks at #1 and won a Grammy! "Eye of the Tiger"

More hits!

Here's the music video of "High on You" (# 8)

The official music video of "The Search Is Over" (# 4)

Live in Japan in 1985, Survivor performing "I Can't Hold Back" (# 13)

From 1987, the official music video for "Burning Heart" (# 2)

It was followed by their #9 hit, "Is This Love."

We'll close this brief tribute and the dance with another live performance in Japan in 1985 of "Eye of the Tiger"

© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson

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