Vanilla Fudge was a psychedelic jam band largely known as a one-hit wonder thanks to their version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On," which peaked at #6 in 1968. The year before, it stalled at #67. "You Keep Me Hangin' On" has gotten a lot of chart mileage. Originally taken to the top spot by The Supremes in 1966, the song also cracked the Top 100 when covered by Wilson Pickett in 1969 and Jackie DeShannon in 1970 (as a medley). But it would be Kim Wilde who delivered it back to #1 in 1987. Some members of Vanilla Fudge were also in the backing bands of artists like Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. The only other Top 40 entry the band scored was "Take Me For A Little While," which underperformed at #38 in 1968. The band's final chart appearance would come the next year when "Shotgun" reached #68.
One of the great voices of soul, Wilson aka "Wicked" Pickett sang his way into the Top 10 with "Land Of 1000 Dances" in 1966. Landing at #6, the song would remain his best performer, with "Funky Broadway" being a close second at #8. In addition to his renditions of many other songs written by others, Pickett wrote or co-wrote several of his tunes. "If You Need Me" was one of them, and also bears the distinction of being his first chart appearance. The song peaked at #64 in 1963 and showed the world that Pickett was destined for greatness. He was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1991. Pickett passed away in 2006 following a heart attack at the age of 64.
