Deep Purple Week on Maidenfans (Sep 21-27, 2009)

[SinisterMinisterX]

It's Deep Purple Week on Maidenfans!

First, about the poll... I think Saxon and Apocalyptica are a bit narrow. I doubt many people here have the albums - I have about 2/3rds of Saxon but no Apocalyptica, and I have one of the biggest libraries on this forum. So I have changed the options to broader topics that will include Saxon or Apocalyptica: NWOBHM or any classical/rock hybrids you can think of.

I'll be back in a minute to talk some Purple. Lemme go unpin the Savatage thread...

...back now. First of all is their first few albums, before the Mark II lineup. These are full of great rock. Nick Simper is one of my favorite underrated bassists, and Lord's experiments with classical music produced some interesting results. The classic from this period is "April", a 3-part epic: spaghetti western music (you read that right), orchestral music, and it closes with a kick-ass heavy rock song. (Entire 12-minute epic here.)

Then you've got the classic Mark II albums. In Rock and Machine Head are well known, but I've always appreciated Fireball too. Made In Japan is obviously the crowning achievement. The live version of "Strange Kind Of Woman" is just incredible.

Burn and Perfect Strangers were alright, but I don't think they really got the fire back until Steve Morse joined. Every album since then has been rock-solid. Bananas is especially great.

 

[Cornfed Hick]

I looked up Deep Purple's discography on Wikipedia and discovered an interesting fact:  Terry Reid turned down offers from both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to become each band's vocalist.  Possibly better for music in general -- Robert Plant and Ian Gillan are pretty damn good second choices -- but geez, what a moron. 

 

[Onhell]

Who is Terry Reid? *hides under rocks*.

*pokes head out* Apocalyptica is popular enough to be its own choice! *hides again*

 

[Cornfed Hick]

Who is Terry Reid?

My point exactly. 

 

[Yax]

I looked up Deep Purple's discography on Wikipedia and discovered an interesting fact:  Terry Reid turned down offers from both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to become each band's vocalist.  Possibly better for music in general -- Robert Plant and Ian Gillan are pretty damn good second choices -- but geez, what a moron. 

I read about that in an article - Top ten career killing moves in Metal. 

 

[Perun]

As with every other hard rock fan in the world, when I think of Deep Purple, the first thing that springs to mind are the classic Mk II albums, In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head and Made in Japan. It's no use denying that. They are among the very highlights of rock music, and should have their place in everybody's record collection. No buts. No excuses. If you don't know them, get them now.

Let's dig back to Mk I. People tend to overlook it, and I can see why. It is mostly irrelevant psychedelic pop music that was wildly popular back in the day and hence pretty successful, but is simply outdated now (one of the bands helping outdate it being Purple themselves). Nevertheless, this stuff has its moments, mostly Hush, the rather cool cover of Hey Joe, Emmaretta and Kentucky Woman. Mostly, this era is a foreshadowing of things to come. You just have to listen closely.

Mk II - as I said, if you don't own these albums, you should ask yourself if you are a real rock fan. First, there is the sheer neckbreaking power of In Rock in general and Speed King, Into the Fire and Black Night in particular - or the merciless majesty of the most atmospheric rock song ever, Child in Time. I remember stopping by a room one evening and hearing Bloodsucker. I went in and told the bloke living there that I wouldn't have thought he listened to Purple. He said, "Yeah, I think it's a best of" and pointed to the cover showing Mt Rushmore in an alternate reality. A best of, indeed. In its own way.

For some reason, I never really cared for Fireball that much, despite the fact that it contains Demon's Eye and the title track. It's a good album, it just has the problem of standing between two larger-than-life classics.

The next one is Machine Head, and the only way to describe how great it is is naming the tracks: Highway Star, Maybe I'm a Leo, Pictures of Home, Never Before, Smoke on the Water, Lazy and Space Truckin'... it's the only album I can think of that has a 100% hit quota. Every single one of these tracks is a classic!

As for Made in Japan, I am simply going to quote a review I once read: If we are again to send a recording of human sounds and send it to space for alien races to hear, then we should only to put one thing on it: Child in Time from Made in Japan.
'Nuff said.

Who do we Think we Are, Burn and Come Taste the Band are nice. But a rock album isn't supposed to be nice. The single most memorable moment from these albums for me is Woman from Tokyo. Perfect Strangers is a good reunion album, but again, it just doesn't hit the mark. Same goes for the following albums... that is, until they finally got rid of Ritchie Blackmore and got a guitarist who doesn't stall their creative process (Steve Morse). Bananas and Rapture of the Deep are, in their own way, a return to form. Don't close your mind and say it's not as good anymore because of Blackmore's absence, but also don't expect something that sounds like the Mk II albums. In any case, they are two of my favourite albums. Bananas has brilliant tracks like Walk On (one of the grooviest songs I know), House of Pain (a nod to the 70's glory), and I've got your Number... and Rapture of the Deep has the title track, Wrong Man (a song I could fall on my knees to) and MTV, just to name the ones you should convince yourself with. Perhaps the two best hard rock albums of the 2000s.

 

[Natalie]

If you don't know them, get them now.

Your wish is my command.

---

And actually I have most if not all of Saxon and I definitely do not have the most extensive library here.

 

[Yax]

I bought Made in Japan today (I had it previously on Spotify but now I have the actual disc) with two bonus tracks. 

 

[Forostar]

Alright, here comes the post from the not much of a rock fan.

Would someone explain what (s)he exactly likes about the music of Purple? What aspects?

It's hard to explain why, but there are three giant rock bands that have never appealed that much to me:
-Led Zeppelin
-The Who
-Deep Purple

Yes: I admit I haven't heard quite some important studio albums by these bands, esp. the last two.
No: I can't imagine I'd like this kind of music as much as Rainbow, Sabbath, Rush, Priest, Floyd, Saxon, Golden Earring, Camel, Wishbone Ash, Midnight Oil, the Dire Straits, or even Status 'kin Quo.
Each of these bands have something I really like about them. Some own musical identity that I cherish. From most of the songs I have heard from Zep, The Who or Purple there's not that own special touch that I admire.

I still think I should give Purple a fair chance. Is "Machine Head" a good starter?

 

[Perun]

I still think I should give Purple a fair chance. Is "Machine Head" a good starter?

Yes, you should, and yes, Machine Head is a good starter. Made in Japan would be even better.

I'm actually pretty surprised you don't like the bands you mentioned. Just as it's hard to explain for you why you don't like them, it's hard for me to explain why I do. I can't rationalise my taste, sorry.

 

[SinisterMinisterX]

Yes, but they're really best live. Made In Japan is an even better starter (it has a bunch of songs from Machine Head anyway).

Zep and the Who are both in my top 10 bands - Zep might even be top 5.

If you want to give the Who a try, the album you need to hear is Live At Leeds. Find the remaster with the full concert, not the original release with only a third of it. On record, the Who had a wide diversity of style - but live, they were pure hard rock.

---

Yes, you should, and yes, Machine Head is a good starter. Made in Japan would be even better.

Perun and I posted the same thing at the same time...

 

[Genghis Khan]

I enjoy Deep Purple a lot.  Last time I listened to it was to and from work and at home again today. 

I have almost all of their stuff, but definitely all that has been labeled as "best of".  I will eventually get the stuff I'm missing (1975-1990) to check it out, with the exception of Perfect Strangers which I have -- the title track and the opener are great.  "It's not against the law".    I'm not aware of any major hits from the rest of this era except from that one album.  I also don't have 'Bananas' but plan on getting it.  Instead I've been...

Recently, I've been giving those psychedelic albums (first 3) a lot of listen.  I do quite enjoy it despite what Perun may have said.  The following are some of my favourites from that era: Mandrake Root, Shield, Bird Has Flown, Hey Joe, Listen, Learn, Read On, Emmaretta and April.  I have the remasters so even the instrumental outtake like Playground is a great listen.  The music really sounds like what it describes.

ASIDE: I just learnt 'Hey Joe' was not an original by Jimmy Hendrix. 

My favourite album is In Rock.  Flight of the Rat, Speed King and Bloodsucker
are probably the best hard rock tracks the band has released, while Child in Time
is one of best songs of all time.  It is the sort that sends chills down my spine.


EDIT:  Does anyone know the classical composition that is inside of the Ike and Tina Turner cover 'River Deep, Mountain High"? 

 

[Cornfed Hick]

Even Made in Japan has its wearying moments, but it, Machine Head and In Rock are definitely worth owning.  Not sure Fireball or any other album is essential to a respectable rock collection, though I do enjoy Perfect Strangers, particularly the two "hits" (I enjoy the title track more than "Smoke on the Water," for example, though it is impossible to overstate how canonical the latter's riff is). 

The thing to understand about Deep Purple (Mark II) is that it featured Jon Lord at least as much as Ritchie Blackmore (though neither is in the band now).  So, unless you like the organ, you aren't going to love Deep Purple.  If that's you, Foro, I completely understand.  Deep Purple isn't among my favorites, either.  But, egads, "Child In Time" is a fabulous song. 

 

[Forostar]

Thanks for all the feedback. In Rock and Machine Head are the ones I have to listen to.
I have Made in Japan but I played it only a couple of times. I am sure that if I would have liked that album more, then I would have been urged more to check out other albums sooner.

The organ is not the problem. I like Child in Time, that song is one of the few I still remember from Made in Japan. I have heard the studio version several times as well (speaking of hits).

@Perun, I can explain what I like about a band (or song) and what I don't like, only I feel that it's too early for me to do that with (esp.) The Who and Purple since I have hardly heard a complete studio album.

edit:
I like this cover

 

[____no5]

Would someone explain what (s)he exactly likes about the music of Purple? What aspects?

It's a band of virtouoses, since ever, but the main reason they are huge is Richie Blackmore, the guitarist that influenced metal guitarists more than anyone

I still think I should give Purple a fair chance. Is "Machine Head" a good starter?

I would say In Rock, also it's possible to start with MKI and Deep Purple (the 3rd and final pre Gillan LP -MAGIC!!)
Here is a sample -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-EJ9dQ5BmA&feature=related 
This solo is larger than life, and all the mood of the song represents so nice the MKI era
I deeply dedicate this masterpiece to you Foro 

EDIT : Be patient there's a big instrumental part before the rock part

In Rock sample -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93pE3npDRRs 

 

[Forostar]

Thank you! Today I heard "In Rock". It was nice, but I must say that this song April grabbed me at least as much, or for sure: more than the average song on "In Rock". I guess I should hear that whole album as well. April is instrumental so I still have to find out how the singer sounds.

edit: wait a minute he suddenly starts singing haha! Not bad! 

 

[____no5]

April is instrumental so I still have to find out how the singer sounds.

No it's not !!! The best part starts after 8: 41

Try this as well (from Book of Taliesyn 2nd MKI LP) ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdIMFyvL234 

Listen to this solo and tell me if Blackmore is god or not. Definately one of my 5 top solos ever
(in the top 5 there is at least one oher Blackmore solo  )

PS : I knew that you would appreciate MKI 

 

[Perun]

I thought Book of Taliesyn was boring as crap. Oh well.

 

[____no5]

I like it pretty much, yet I understand that someone can find it boring!
Generally, I love all MKI albums, exactly for this unique and mysterious atmosphere...

 

[Forostar]

I liked that second song as well (not as good as April), also that "strings"-interlude.