They have had a number of hit singles, their biggest hit being "You Keep Me Hangin' On", a slowed-down, trippy, hard-rock cover of a song originally recorded by The Supremes, which particularly featured Appice's energetic drumming. One follow-up to this hit, "Take Me for a Little While", was an original composition with a very similar sound both in musical themes and treatment, but it said something quite different from its forerunner. While it did not do nearly as well commercially, it did attract some airplay, making it a rare instance of a band successfully parodying their own work.
The members of Vanilla Fudge were great admirers of The Beatles, and covered several of their songs including "Ticket to Ride", of their version of which The Beatles were quite fond.
Vinnie Martel was invited to play with Jimi Hendrix, but Hendrix died a month later.
Bogert & Appice also played with jazz/rock guitarist Jeff Beck on their self-titled album in 1973. (Beck replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds in the late 1960s.)
Stein and Appice revived the band in 1984, with very minor success. The band has not recorded, but has played some concerts since. A live concert recorded in Chicago in 1987 has been released recently.
You Keep Me Hangin' On
Vanilla Fudge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
You really don't want me, you just keep me hanging on
You really don't need me, you just keep me hanging on
Why do you keep coming around, playing with my heart?
Why don't you get out of my life
When seeing you just breaks my heart again
You know I need love
Set me free, why don't you babe?
Talkin' 'bout love
Get out my life, why don't now?
You really don't want me, you just keep me hanging on
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
Vanilla Fudge's song "You Keep Me Hangin' On" is about a love affair that has gone sour. The singer pleads with his lover to set him free and get out of his life because they do not truly want or need him, they just keep him hanging on. The lyrics convey a sense of heartbreak and frustration as the singer cannot seem to break free from the hold that his lover has over him. The line, "Why do you keep coming around, playing with my heart?" shows the singer's confusion and sadness as he cannot understand why his lover would continue to string him along.
The repetitive nature of the lyrics, with the phrases "Set me free, why don't you babe?" and "Get out my life, why don't you babe?" being repeated multiple times throughout the song, add to the sense of desperation and longing that the singer feels. The plaintive tone of the vocals, accompanied by the slow and mournful instrumentation, further emphasizes the emotional turmoil that the singer is going through.
Overall, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a poignant and powerful song that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and longing. The lyrics and music work together to convey a deep sense of sadness and frustration that anyone who has been in a difficult romantic situation can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Set me free, why don't you babe?
Why won't you let me go and move on?
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
Please leave me alone and stop playing with me.
You really don't want me, you just keep me hanging on
You don't actually want to be with me, you just like stringing me along.
You really don't need me, you just keep me hanging on
You don't actually need me, you just enjoy having me around as an option.
Why do you keep coming around, playing with my heart?
Why do you keep showing up and toying with my emotions?
When seeing you just breaks my heart again
It hurts me when I see you because you keep leading me on.
There ain't nothing I can do about it
I feel helpless and unable to change the situation.
You know I need love
You are aware that I want to be loved.
Talkin' 'bout love
I'm expressing my desire for love and affection.
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
Once again, please leave me alone and let me move on.
Get out my life, why don't you babe?
I'm pleading with you to finally let me go and stop giving me false hope.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ww7ec2ot4n
Lyrics:
Set me free, why don’t you babe
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
You really don’t want me
You just keep me hangin’ on
You really don’t need me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Why do you keep coming around
Playing with my heart
Why don’t you get out of my life
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
And there ain’t nothing I can do about it
You know I really love
(Set me free, why don’t you babe)
Talkin’ ‘bout love
(Get out’my life, why don’t you babe)
You really don’t want me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
@davidhugaert8006
I love this 1967 Vanilla Fudge hit, which peaked @ #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart!!!
Bravo, Carmine Appice & Co.!!! This is THE best version of this song, IMHO (the LP version)!!!
@Naminski1a
What about Kim Wilde's cover version of this song?
@davidhugaert8006
Sorry, but Kim Wilde's new-wave-ish cover version just doesn't hold a candle to Vanilla Fudge's kick-ass psychedelic rock cover version of The Supremes' original version!!!@@Naminski1a
Bravo, Vanilla Fudge!!! 🙂 <3
@user-ww7ec2ot4n
Lyrics:
Set me free, why don’t you babe
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
You really don’t want me
You just keep me hangin’ on
You really don’t need me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Why do you keep coming around
Playing with my heart
Why don’t you get out of my life
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
And there ain’t nothing I can do about it
You know I really love
(Set me free, why don’t you babe)
Talkin’ ‘bout love
(Get out’my life, why don’t you babe)
You really don’t want me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
Get out’my life, why don’t you babe
@MisterSuitcase2004
A KILLER JAM IMO
@erichuffstutler9734
Another big 1968 hit that had a very long album version edited for 45 release was "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly... also on Atco records.
@sexymama1966
another great edit!
@paulfrindle7144
Epic track from my youth.
@wellsy1954
For once, Atlantic Records did a good editing job. The album version is still superior.
@wmbrown6
The 1967 single was issued on Atco 6495. Its B side was "Take Me For A Little While" - which, as Atco 6616, would be the follow-up release to this ish.