Take Care of Illusion (Live 1971 / Wildcard Remaster)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the psychedelic vibes of Frumpy's "Take Care of Illusion (Live 1971 / Wildcard Remaster)" for all the Zoo Freaks out there, and this track is a gem from the German prog-rock scene. Recorded live in Bielefeld, Germany, on December 11, 1971, the song captures the raw energy of Frumpy’s performance, with Inga Rumpf’s powerhouse vocals soaring over Jean-Jacques Kravetz’s swirling organ riffs. A cool tidbit from a 2023 Reddit post on r/progrockmusic highlights how fans still rave about the song’s hypnotic groove, with one user calling it “a time machine to the early ‘70s krautrock vibe.” The Wildcard Remaster, though not widely detailed in interviews, is praised on platforms like YouTube for enhancing the live mix, bringing out the grit of Rainer Baumann’s guitar and Carsten Bohn’s pulsing drums.

Digging into the song’s lore, "Take Care of Illusion" was a staple of Frumpy’s live sets, stretching over eight minutes in its 1971 performance. A Facebook post from Progressive Rock Land, which got over 110,000 views, notes how the track showcased the band’s ability to blend bluesy soul with progressive experimentation. There’s a story floating around fan circles—though not directly quoted from the band—that the song’s lyrics, penned by Rumpf and Kravetz, were inspired by the countercultural dream of breaking free from societal facades, a theme that resonated with the era’s youth. On X, a user recently urged listeners to dive into Frumpy’s catalog, calling this track a perfect entry point for its “mind-bending” organ solos.

Frumpy’s journey kicked off in Hamburg, Germany, in 1970, born from the ashes of the folk-rock outfit The City Preachers. Inga Rumpf, already a standout vocalist in the local scene, teamed up with Jean-Jacques Kravetz, a French keyboardist with a knack for jazzy improvisation, to form the band. According to Last.fm, they quickly gained a cult following for their bold mix of progressive rock, blues, and krautrock elements. Their debut album, All Will Be Changed, dropped in 1970, but it was their second release, Frumpy 2 (1971), featuring "Take Care of Illusion," that cemented their rep as Germany’s prog pioneers. The German press, as noted on ClassicRockHistory.com, hailed Rumpf as the “greatest individual vocal talent” of the era, and the band’s relentless touring built a loyal fanbase before they disbanded in 1972, only to reunite briefly in the ‘90s.

For those wanting to connect with Frumpy’s legacy, their official website is at http://www.frumpy.de/, though it’s more of an archival hub these days. Inga Rumpf maintains an active presence on Facebook, sharing updates about her solo work and occasional Frumpy throwbacks. You can also catch her on Instagram, where she posts about music and life with a soulful vibe. There’s no official Frumpy X account, but fans like @crabb_jim keep the spirit alive with posts about the band. For fan communities, check out the Frumpy Fans group on Facebook, where diehards swap rare live recordings and memories. Another great spot is Progarchives.com, a fan-driven site with detailed Frumpy discographies and reviews.