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Name:
VARGAS BLUES BAND
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4,208
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Age:
29
Joined:
Feb 23, 2010
Latest Activity:
5 months ago
Subscribers:
232
About Me:
Vargas, Bogert and Appice featuring Paul Shortino
VBA. Take note of these letters. What they stand for is pure, unadulterated rock 'n' roll, the inicials of three names that epitomize rock and rhythm and blues. With successful music careers already behind them, this trio have come together to record an album built on vast experience, professionalism, and a healthy respect for rock music and its history.
The seed for the album was planted during the Vargas Blues Band's "Live Wire" tour in 2010. It was manager Tony Tillota who suggested to Javier Vargas the possibility of getting together with one of the best rhythm sections around - bass player Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice. Working out of his office in Hamburg, Tony had organized tours for Vanilla Fudge in Europe. Vargas knew their work well, and admired them both.
Tim Bogert (New York, 1944) crossed paths with Carmine Appice (New York, 1946) in 1966, when psychedelic rockers Vanilla Fudge burst onto the music scene. They continued playing together in Cactus from 1970 to 1972, and the following year, they got together with Jeff Beck and formed the trio Beck, Bogert and Appice. Appice went on to work with Rod Stewart and also collaborated with Pink Floyd and Ozzy Osbourne, while Bogert worked with Bob Weir (ex Grateful Dead) and Rick Derringer, and then again with Appice in a temporarily reunited Vanilla Fudge.
Javier Vargas (Madrid, 1958) has recorded sixteen studio albums with the Vargas Blues Band, three live albums, and several compilation albums commemorating his twenty years with the group. His guitar has graced stages and studios with the likes of Carlos Santana, Miguel Ríos, Glenn Hughes, Raimundo Amador, Prince, Andrés Calamaro, Devon Allman, Jack Bruce and Elliot Murphy, among others.
Vargas got in contact with Appice who suggested recording at Hit Track Studios in Las Vegas. Sound engineer and studio owner Tom Parham told them about singer Paul Shortino (ex Rough Cut and Quiet Riot), resident of Las Vegas and the perfect choice for lead vocalist. To complete the line-up, Javier spoke with Tim Bogert, who was more than happy to jump on board and play with his old companion again. Still to be decided was the repertoire. They thought about writing new material, but Javier, who for years had wanted to record a covers album, talked them around. They are the perfect group, with a powerful sound to bring back some of the classics of rock and rhythm and blues.
There are ten songs on the album. "Lady" by Beck, Bogert y Appice opens things strongly. This is followed by the Cheap Trick anthem "Surrender", an upbeat and singable tune, catchy like the orginal. "Right On" by Ray Barreto is full of warmth and colour, and shows another side of this multifaceted album. "Parisienne Walkways", a song from 1978 by the recently departed Gary Moore, is made to sound dreamy and melancholic by the virtuoso guitar work of Javier Vargas. The classic Holland-Dozier-Holland composition "You Keep me Hangin´ On" was originally a hit for the Supremes, and became even more well known after Vanilla Fudge recorded a psychedelic version in 1967. "Soul of Love" is a song by Paul Rodgers, the frontman of Free, who was once considered as a replacement for Jim Morrison in The Doors. "Black Night" is a 1970 hard rock song by Deep Purple, which reached number two on the UK charts. "It´s a Long Way to the Top" by AC/DC was released in 1976 and became their signature song to open the big shows. "Tonight´s the Night", also from 1976, is a sophisticated love song by Rod Stewart, and closing out the album is "Over My Shoulder", the super hit written by Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack, which took Mike & The Mechanics to the heights of popularity.
Recording began on February 1, 2011. Without any prior rehearsals, and with some arrangements by Javier Vargas who acted as producer, the supergroup had the ten songs down in just eight days. Far removed from accepted orthodoxies or contemporary updates, the material has been recorded in the style of the late 60s, with each session captured on high-definition video by Mario Ruíz, the intention being to document the recording process and make two music videos.
This is old school rock at its best. Guitar, bass, and drums, with occasional keyboards and wind instruments, to which is added the rich voice and measured phrasing of Paul Shortino, who is a perfect fit for the group. All solo artists in their own right, together they are formidable. A supreme and lasting pleasure for lovers of Rock with a capital R. Nothing more and nothing less.
Record Label:
Warner Music Spain
Label Type:
Major Label
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Channel Comments
Un abrazo desde Cádiz........
Jesús Vargas ;)
ALL THE BEST!!!!
Yo estaba tan sorprendido por ellos.
usted es mejor que material original, pero la guitarra no es tan técnica como increíble,
Nos escucha ya he cansado de jugar acróbata.
la música no es sólo playng así, hay jugadores sólo thechnician tantos más que tú.
Vargas nos enseñan a tono simplemente hermoso,
que hizo una actuación, puede ser con alma española!