Vinegar Joe was a powerful (but sadly short-lived) R&B-based unit, formed in 1971 in London at the suggestion of Island Records CEO Chris Blackwell.
They evolved from the remnants of Dada, an ambitious 12-piece jazz rock outfit formed by Elkie Brooks (vocals), Robert Palmer (vocals) and Peter Gage (guitar/piano/pedal steel). The new band Vinegar Joe would be built around these three individuals as well, with a number of supporting players.
They were already seasoned musicians, having enjoyed some success in the 1960s – Brooks as a solo act, Palmer from singing with Alan Brown, while Cage was a former member of the Zephyrs and later with the Ram Jam Band.
A fun fact about the formation of Vinegar Joe is that Phil Collins auditioned to be their drummer and failed to get the position.
They released three albums on Island Records: Vinegar Joe (1972), Rock’n Roll Gypsies (1972), and Six Star General (1973). They were however best known for their energetic and euphoric live shows, and it was always universally thought that the band never quite managed to capture the energy of their shows on record.
The band did not have a long career. They broke up in 1974, and Brooks and Palmer went on to enjoy success as solo musicians.
You will often see people claim that Vinegar Joe’s true legacy is being a launching pad for the solo career for these singers, and true enough – the careers of them both highly surpass the success of Vinegar Joe. There are however many who think Vinegar Joe had the potential to become much bigger than they were in their active years if they hadn’t ended when they did.
Robert Palmer in particular enjoyed a period of worldwide hits, with his best known (but certainly not best) song being Addicted To Love. This was also one of the most iconic music videos of the 1980s.
Elkie Brooks gained her biggest success in the late 1970s and 1980s – primarily in the UK, where she has been nominated twice for the Brit Awards. She is known for her powerful husky voice with a Janis-like flair, and hit singles such as Pearl’s A Singer (another Janis reference), Lilac Wine, and Don’t Cry Out Loud. She has often been referred to as the “British Queen of Blues.”
By April 2012, Brooks had released more albums that had reached the top 75 of the UK album chart than any other British female artist, although this has since been equalled by Kate Bush.
My favourite music that any of these people were involved with remains Vinegar Joe. They were a tremendous and fun band with a lot of energy, and for a while, they were a force to be reckoned with. I still think it is a shame they couldn’t find sufficient success to keep them going, but their legacy lives on.
A great introduction to them is this energizing and joyful performance of Proud To Be A Honky Woman from 1972, and if you like that, there is a small but delighful batch of albums to explore.
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