One of the first and the most influential
hard rock groups. Although still not quite metal, they were one step
away from it, preparing the audiences of the world for the
appearance of true metal of Judas Priest,
Rainbow, and
others. Vocals of Ian Gillan, guitar work of Richie Blackmore,
throbbing bass of Roger Glover, keyboards of John Lord, drums of Ian Paice, and superb
songwriting made them forever popular with generations of rockers.
They started in the late 60s, achieving some fame with their 1971
hit "Woman From Tokyo," but the real success did not come to them
until the breakthrough masterpiece, "Machine Head" (1972), which
featured two classic anthems: "Highway Star" and "Smoke On Water." A
few years later its members' egos tore DP apart. Gillan and Glover
left the band to pursue other projects, and Blackmoore formed
Rainbow. New line-up featured a frontman David Coverdale. Deep
Purple survived through the 80s (with the most famous album of that
period being 1984 "Perfect Strangers," which cleverly pointed at its all-original lineup) and 90s (the highlight of that era being 1996 "Purpendicular").
It still exists now, led until recently by Glover, Lord (who recently retired), and Paice, although with but traces of their former
popularity.
MACHINE HEAD (1972)
RATING: ****
BEST SONGS: "Highway Star," "Smoke On Water," "Pictures Of Home"
This classic is still quite listenable
nowdays, as I learned when borrowed a cassette from my cousin. A
week later I went out and bought the "greatest hits" album. Although
the album is short, but it contains two timeless classics that
everybody has heard one time or another: speed metal forefather
"Highway Star" and the song with the most recognizable riff in
history, "Smoke On Water." Gillan's voice is crunchy, and he sings
with a great feeling. The keyboard lead break in "Highway Star" is a
classic, with some classical (no pun intended) influences
(Vivaldi?), and the following Blackmore's solo is also tremendous.
Other songs are also quite good, especially "Pictures Of Home." A
very strong album, and a great "TAKE THAT!" to people who claim that
there was no good music in the 70s.
DEEPEST PURPLE: THE BEST OF DEEP PURPLE
(1980)
RATING: *****
BEST SONGS: "Fireball," "Highway Star," "Smoke On Water"
This album contains every hit and a good
song Purple has written in the 60s-70s. Megahits of the Gillan era
("Woman From Tokyo," "Highway Star," "Smoke On Water") are nicely
complimented by the highlights from the period of his successor,
Coverdale. "Fireball" is an excellent song, with great energy and
keyboards (Lord is just smoking!). So is "Strange Kind Of A Woman."
"Speed King," "Stormbringer," and "Burn" all kick ass, although my
favorite song still remains "Highway Star." But this album has
plenty to choose from: 12 terrific tracks, and all of them are
essential for any serious metal lover.
PERFECT STRANGERS (1984)
RATING: ***
BEST SONGS: title track, "A Gypsy's Kiss,"
"Hungry Daze"
At one point, there was only Jon Lord
remaining in the band from the original lineup. But in 1984 Glover,
Paice, Gillan (fresh off of Black
Sabbath's Born Again), and even
Blackmore have come together with Lord to record an album with this
ironic title. While not a complete waste of time, I would not say
this is worth hunting down twenty years later. Let me start by
saying I always found Ian Gillan to be the most overrated singer in
metal. Blackmore only gives us hints of the harmony solos that made
him famous, but these are not even the album's biggest problems. The
sound is just too dated. This 74 sound must have sounded dated even
in 84, let alone in 04. And, naturally, there were too many egos
involved to hire an outsider producer. Unfortunately, the songs do
not always stand out enough to overshadow the production
limitations. Some of them are indeed great: the famous atmospheric
title track, and a speedy rocker "A Gypsy's Kiss," both allow Jon
Lord to truly shine, and Blackmore's outro in the "Kiss" is up there
with the best of them. Opening "Knocking At Your Back Door" (what a
stupid title) and "Under The Gun" both have their moments, but,
again, not enough to chase out the image of middle-aged men trying
to recapture their youth in the age of drastically different music. "Wasted Sunset" sounds like it was designed to be the "Power
Ballad Single of the Year," but that dubious honor went to the Scorpions
and "Still Lovin' You." The main theme in "Hungry Daze" is pretty cool, but Gillan's whines are too
distracting. Overall, as the rating indicates, this is not bad, but
not what I would call a must-have either.
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