Deep Purple - Disc of the day

Deep Purple
Burn

(EMI/Purple, 1974)

The birth of Deep Purple Mark III. Get the funk in!

Rolling Stone dubbed Burn “a disappointing effort” on its release in early ’74. In the wake of the four stratospheric, genre-defining albums that preceded it (In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, Who Do We Think We Are?), it’s easy to see why. Burn, of course, doesn’t contain a Speed King, Highway Star or Black Night. Furthermore, the departure of leather-lunged frontman Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover (respectively replaced by then-unknown ex-boutique attendant from Redcar, David Coverdale, and ex-Trapeze leader Glenn Hughes) appeared to herald the beginning of the end for Purple. Thirty four years on, however, Burn appears both brave and influential - not least of all due to the newcomers’ decision to inject a heavy duty dose of funk into Purple’s initial hard rock sound. Stevie Wonder fanatic Hughes is the major influence in that respect, sharing soulful-and-soaring co-vocals with the youthful Coverdale on Lay Down Stay Down, the furiously percussive You Fool No One, and the gloriously riff-heavy title track. Then comes Mistreated – Purple’s first bona fide power ballad. Penned by mercurial guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and Coverdale, both would resurrect the track as they launched their post-Purple careers in Rainbow and Whitesnake respectively, acknowledging the track’s crowd-pleasing, lighters-aloft appeal. This incarnation of the band would last for one more album (the patchy Stormbringer), and while Burn is unlikely to be rehabilitated by those seeking to add a veneer of hipster cool to ‘70s hard rock, it is quite possibly Purple’s last truly great album.

Phil Alexander

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 6:00 AM GMT 21/04/2008