CD REVIEW: Mark Stein: "White Magik"
4½ out of 5 Gold CDs

Part of the late 60s music revolution, Mark Stein is the original lead singer and keyboardist for Vanilla Fudge, a band renowned for covering classic soul, R& B and contemporary pop songs in an unconventional, symphonic and psychedelic style. The group, which also included guitarist Vinnie Martell, bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, traversed the world with such support acts as Three Dog Night, Canned Heat, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin before calling it a day in the early 70s. From there, between attempts at a solo career, Stein became a noted sideman with Tommy Bolin, Alice Cooper and Dave Mason. Sporadic reunions with the Fudge in the 80s never quite gained the momentum to take it any further. Through it all, Stein's talents as a singer and instrumentalist have yet to fade. After years of silence, White Magik, the long-awaited Mark Stein solo debut, is solid confirmation of that. Supported by an A-list of players including Bobby Rondinelli on drums, Jimmy Haslip on bass, John McCurry on guitar, and Jim Campagnola on saxophone, Stein rips through seven new original songs and three exquisite covers that discerningly capitalize on the man's unequivocal capabilities. The CD sustains a running thread that intertwines a sense of national pride with cynicism and inquisition on cuts like "American Dream," "Shame On Humanity," "Prime Time Soldier" and the hopeful "Let's Pray For Peace." On a lighter note, "A Natural High" and "After All" are majestic ballads that soar in melodic splendor. And who could resist the mesmerizing renditions of Otis Redding's "I've Been Lovin' You Too Long" and Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" that underscore Stein's unabated range as a singer and stylist. Exclusively available from the Mark Stein Web Site, White Magik is a soulful and spirited musical celebration from one of the most unique and powerful voices of the last 50 years.

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