Deep Purple Week on Maidenfans (October 26 - November 2 2012)
- Thread starter Mosh
- Start date
The Flash
Dennis Wilcock did 9/11
Mark II era always gets the recognition it deserves. In Rock, Fireball and Machine Head are one of the strongest three album runs ever in rock history. Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice also always get the recognition they deserve. But the ones I want to talk about is the others.
I honestly think Mark I era could be the single most underrated era of any band. All three albums from that era are incredibly strong and moving. They may be a lot different than the classic Deep Purple people are used to hear, but I simply love their mix of psychedelic rock and blues rock in their first three records.
And on the other hand, Jon Lord. I've always given the most credit in Deep Purple's success to Jon Lord. His unique keyboard/organ playing was the key to the band's sound. Since Ritchie didn't like playing rhythm guitar, he was responsible for both melodic and rhythmic side of the band. Same goes for Roger Glover, too, but since he's the bassist, it's normal that he's responsible for the connection between melody and rhythm. Mr. Lord was one of the biggest musicians of the 20th century, if you ask me. Check out his classical work if you haven't yet.
In honor of this thread, I'm now listening to April, from Deep Purple III, a true masterpiece, one of my favorites from the band.
I'll probably vote for Dream Theater on the poll, but I really am interested in hearing you guys' opinions on Genesis (even though I probably can't participate), since I plan to listen to their stuff soon. So please let it be DT or Genesis next time.
I honestly think Mark I era could be the single most underrated era of any band. All three albums from that era are incredibly strong and moving. They may be a lot different than the classic Deep Purple people are used to hear, but I simply love their mix of psychedelic rock and blues rock in their first three records.
And on the other hand, Jon Lord. I've always given the most credit in Deep Purple's success to Jon Lord. His unique keyboard/organ playing was the key to the band's sound. Since Ritchie didn't like playing rhythm guitar, he was responsible for both melodic and rhythmic side of the band. Same goes for Roger Glover, too, but since he's the bassist, it's normal that he's responsible for the connection between melody and rhythm. Mr. Lord was one of the biggest musicians of the 20th century, if you ask me. Check out his classical work if you haven't yet.
In honor of this thread, I'm now listening to April, from Deep Purple III, a true masterpiece, one of my favorites from the band.
I'll probably vote for Dream Theater on the poll, but I really am interested in hearing you guys' opinions on Genesis (even though I probably can't participate), since I plan to listen to their stuff soon. So please let it be DT or Genesis next time.
Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
Flash: As someone who seems to like progressive music, I'm a bit surprised you don't know Genesis. You'll probably love it.
As for early Purple, when I was a teenager a found a cheap cassette of The Book of Taliesin and bought it. I HATED it. I was familiar with the Mark II lineup and liked those classics, and obviously expected the same thing. It was very different: kind of an eclectic mess that ranged from psychedelic art-rock to prog to Beatles and Neil Diamond covers that are not nearly as good as the originals. It's all drivel. Their creative decision to become more of a heavy rock band was clearly the right choice, in my view, and if anyone decides (like me) to stick with the Mark II stuff plus Burn, I don't think you're missing out on too much.
As for early Purple, when I was a teenager a found a cheap cassette of The Book of Taliesin and bought it. I HATED it. I was familiar with the Mark II lineup and liked those classics, and obviously expected the same thing. It was very different: kind of an eclectic mess that ranged from psychedelic art-rock to prog to Beatles and Neil Diamond covers that are not nearly as good as the originals. It's all drivel. Their creative decision to become more of a heavy rock band was clearly the right choice, in my view, and if anyone decides (like me) to stick with the Mark II stuff plus Burn, I don't think you're missing out on too much.
I was always a fan of the Mark II reunion - Perfect Strangers and Knocking on Your Back Door are two of their best songs IMO.
I just love the raspy, mature edge to Gillan's voice there.
Unlike Bruce, whose appeal was weakened with the rasp, it just seemed to suit Gillan's more.
(And good call, Flash, on Lord's importance to the band.)
I just love the raspy, mature edge to Gillan's voice there.
Unlike Bruce, whose appeal was weakened with the rasp, it just seemed to suit Gillan's more.
(And good call, Flash, on Lord's importance to the band.)
Agreed completely about Jon Lord. Even as a guitarist, I think of Jon Lord's organ playing when I think of the Deep Purple sound. Definitely one of the 20th Century's finest musicians.
Admittedly, I've never gotten too much into Deep Purple. I know and love all of their well known albums (Perfect Strangers, Burn, Machine Head, etc) but by no means have I looked into the entire discography. Perhaps I should do that, but I've never heard much praise for that stuff, and despite being a massive Steve Morse fan, (I'd probably even take him over Blackmore) Deep Purple without Blackmore seems odd, and frankly not right, and Morse has such a different style of playing, so I've avoided the albums with Morse. For Blackmore stuff, I go to Rainbow, their style suits me more.
To me, Deep Purple is like rock's version of a jazz group. The albums are a solid representation of the band and their tunes, but to really experience the songs the way they should be heard, you need to hear them live. Which is why I think of Deep Purple as one of those few bands where their best album is a live disc, and that is one that I'll write about here.
Made In Japan - A legendary live album. Deep Purple's Live After Death. Once you hear the extended jams on this disc, you won't want to go back to their studio counterparts. This is how these songs were meant to be heard, extended improvised solos that still fit within the context of the song. The energy on this album is also fantastic, you can hear it in everybody, this truly was a special concert. I really have nothing else to say about it, just something that you should listen to right away if you haven't already. One of the best live albums of all time.
Concerto For Group And Orchestra - Now this is something else. A concerto by Jon Lord that serves as the very first combination of rock band and orchestra. I love this album, my 2nd favorite after Made In Japan. The whole rock band with orchestra thing has been done gazillions of times before, but this still remains to be the best. Here, the orchestra gets its own unique sections and parts, and it's music written with orchestra and band combined, unlike most of these things where the band arranges earlier songs for and orchestra accompaniment. The orchestra on this album is huge, and the piece is epic. I love it, classical music at its best. This is something totally different, but I think it is a good way for a rock fan to be introduced to the classical world. Amazing piece.
Admittedly, I've never gotten too much into Deep Purple. I know and love all of their well known albums (Perfect Strangers, Burn, Machine Head, etc) but by no means have I looked into the entire discography. Perhaps I should do that, but I've never heard much praise for that stuff, and despite being a massive Steve Morse fan, (I'd probably even take him over Blackmore) Deep Purple without Blackmore seems odd, and frankly not right, and Morse has such a different style of playing, so I've avoided the albums with Morse. For Blackmore stuff, I go to Rainbow, their style suits me more.
To me, Deep Purple is like rock's version of a jazz group. The albums are a solid representation of the band and their tunes, but to really experience the songs the way they should be heard, you need to hear them live. Which is why I think of Deep Purple as one of those few bands where their best album is a live disc, and that is one that I'll write about here.
Made In Japan - A legendary live album. Deep Purple's Live After Death. Once you hear the extended jams on this disc, you won't want to go back to their studio counterparts. This is how these songs were meant to be heard, extended improvised solos that still fit within the context of the song. The energy on this album is also fantastic, you can hear it in everybody, this truly was a special concert. I really have nothing else to say about it, just something that you should listen to right away if you haven't already. One of the best live albums of all time.
Concerto For Group And Orchestra - Now this is something else. A concerto by Jon Lord that serves as the very first combination of rock band and orchestra. I love this album, my 2nd favorite after Made In Japan. The whole rock band with orchestra thing has been done gazillions of times before, but this still remains to be the best. Here, the orchestra gets its own unique sections and parts, and it's music written with orchestra and band combined, unlike most of these things where the band arranges earlier songs for and orchestra accompaniment. The orchestra on this album is huge, and the piece is epic. I love it, classical music at its best. This is something totally different, but I think it is a good way for a rock fan to be introduced to the classical world. Amazing piece.
Vap
Ancient Mariner
The last Mark II album The Battle Rages On is really good. Title track and Anya are some of Deep Purple's best. The classic Mark II albums, In Rock, Fireball and Machine Head are indeed one of the strongest three album runs in rock. I'm not really into Mark I stuff, but April is really good. Burn by Mark III is awesome as well. The others I haven't really listened to.
Jon Lord definitely was very important for Deep Purple. And I agree with Mosh that the live albums are some of the best. Made In Japan is probably Deep Purple's best release. I have to give Concerto a relisten.
Blue Öyster Cult would be an interesting band to talk about next.
Jon Lord definitely was very important for Deep Purple. And I agree with Mosh that the live albums are some of the best. Made In Japan is probably Deep Purple's best release. I have to give Concerto a relisten.
Blue Öyster Cult would be an interesting band to talk about next.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I'm going to curse in the church, ending with a few optimistic questions.
Never got into this band. Maybe too much funk and blues in their sound for my taste.
Naturally they have a handful of songs that strike me but I find Rainbow much more interesting. Not only because of the singer. Better song material. Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, Genesis, Tull, Rush, Golden Earring, so many other bands that are more in my line. Bands which hooked me more with strong melodies (and vocalists more pleasant to the ears). Purple sounds dull compared to these.
How they played, that's something else. Surely not dull. Purple played with fire, and they probably still do.
My criticism is more about what they played and that was not that special in my opinion.
Still, I remember no_5 used to share some old Purple which was more subtle and atmospherical. I liked that stuff better.
I haven't heard all the albums yet, so perhaps I heard the wrong stuff. Would anyone recommend me an album on which you'd find the melodies (vocal, music) particularly grabbing? Still that's about individual taste, but we may never know.
And would you mention some of your favourite Purple songs?
Never got into this band. Maybe too much funk and blues in their sound for my taste.
Naturally they have a handful of songs that strike me but I find Rainbow much more interesting. Not only because of the singer. Better song material. Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, Genesis, Tull, Rush, Golden Earring, so many other bands that are more in my line. Bands which hooked me more with strong melodies (and vocalists more pleasant to the ears). Purple sounds dull compared to these.
How they played, that's something else. Surely not dull. Purple played with fire, and they probably still do.
My criticism is more about what they played and that was not that special in my opinion.
Still, I remember no_5 used to share some old Purple which was more subtle and atmospherical. I liked that stuff better.
I haven't heard all the albums yet, so perhaps I heard the wrong stuff. Would anyone recommend me an album on which you'd find the melodies (vocal, music) particularly grabbing? Still that's about individual taste, but we may never know.
And would you mention some of your favourite Purple songs?
Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
Agree with Foro that I like early Rainbow better than DP. But, those MkII albums are still pretty awesome. The MkII reunion too. Perfect Strangers is a terrific album, and the title track certainly is in my top five Purple songs, maybe top two. (Child in Time off MiJ can't be topped.)
Other great songs that aren't quite as well known: Speed King, Pictures of Home, No No No, Fools, Maybe I'm a Leo, Burn. Those ain't dull. (This list assumes you are very familiar with Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Space Truckin', and Strange Kind of Woman.)
Other great songs that aren't quite as well known: Speed King, Pictures of Home, No No No, Fools, Maybe I'm a Leo, Burn. Those ain't dull. (This list assumes you are very familiar with Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Space Truckin', and Strange Kind of Woman.)
Cornfed Hick
Ancient Mariner
Wait, you already pimped the reunion. Consider me +1 then.
Lord and Blackmore rightly get most of the credit, but Ian Paice's drumming can't be overlooked. That guy was awesome. Could sound like Charlie Watts or Keith Moon equally effectively, sometimes in the same song.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Thank you Cornfed. I hadn't played the whole Perfect Strangers album before, and while I am not that impressed by the album as a whole, I sure dig the opening track. From the separate songs you mentioned (and which were not that known to me) I liked Pictures of Home and Fools the most. The other songs I liked less, often because they were too repetitive or funky. At least they lacked something grabbing. I think Judas Priest modeled one of their songs to Pictures of Home. Can't think of the title at the moment.
I've always thought that Exciter sounds vaguely similar.
Anyway, I think that this:
is the meat of everything. We've had this discussion before, but I think the main difference between our appreciation of a band like Deep Purple is the time we discovered them. I knew them and liked them before I was into classic heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, so I basically could never say that they weren't heavy enough for me or anything. I imagine if I'd gotten to know them after I got into Maiden, my opinion would be similar. What is interesting is that you mentioned liking some of the earlier stuff. If I remember correctly, no5 posted something from Book of Talyesin back then, an album which I thought to be extremely dragging, dull and mediocre, only a handful of moments stuck out. So in other words, you may not want to take any music recommendations from me.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
You're probably right. I guess I have set the bar high with Maiden.
That's not exactly what I do ("let's not check that band because Perun likes it!") but now that you mentioned it. 
Ha!So in other words, you may not want to take any music recommendations from me.
That's not exactly what I do ("let's not check that band because Perun likes it!") but now that you mentioned it.