Mojo - The Music Magazine

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• Mark III is the best line-up ever, and Burn is the best album.

  Posted by Vikk Nascimento (Brazil) at 2:51 PM GMT 16/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• The most overlooked and under-rated Purple albums are, without question, among their best. The period kicking off with the high-heeled arrival of David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes in 1973, and ending with the tragic 1976 death of the ridiculously talented Blackmore replacement Tommy Bolin produced three astonishingly good albums - The incendiary "Burn", the astonishingly good "Stormbringer", and the non-Blackmore funk-feast that is "Come Taste the Band".

  To me, it's a complete and utter mystery as to why so many tend to write-off this trio of albums, especially "Come Taste the Band", a terrifically spirited piece of work that featured the recorded debut of the gifted (but tragic) Bolin. His playing throughout this under-rated gem is frankly astounding, out-Blackmoring Blackmore, especially on the instrumental “Owed to G”. Around him, a loose and funky Purple play brilliantly, reaching the apex of the groove they found with the addition of Coverdale and Hughes to their ranks a few albums earlier. At times, on funky rock’n’soul tracks like “I Need Love”, “Getting Tighter” and the end of “Love Child” it’s hard to fathom that this is (kind of) the same band that knocked off “Smoke on the Water”. It’s funky, it’s spirited, it’s bluesy, it’s as tight as Booker T. It’s a mind-blowing rediscovery (that’s if you can find it anywhere).

  Equally worth it is the brilliant 1974 album “Stormbringer”, which features some of the most emotional playing Blackmore ever taped – even if he did admit the album was shite as he walked out the door having toured it for half an hour. Its blend of anthemic rock, balladry and funk won’t please all classic rockers, but it’s a winning combination none-the-less. Among the many highlights are the funky “You Can't Do it Right” (a cracking Hughes and Coverdale duet), “Hold On”, “Love Don't Mean A Thing” and “Holy Man”. Tracks like “Lady Double Dealer” and the title track are ‘traditional’ Purple while “Soldier of Fortune” closes the album on an emotional note.

  Although feted as the best Mk III album, “Burn” finds the band in transition and although it has its moments, it is eclipsed by “Stormbringer” and “Come Taste The Band”. The 2004 reissue is worth having for the brilliant b-side “Coronaria’s Redig”. The percussive “You Fool No One” is the sound of a band reborn, as is the single “Might Just Save Your Life”. “Sail Away” hints at what was to happen chez-Blackmore. His playing is almost alien-like - far, far, away from his roots; totally other-worldly. It’s a shame he disses this era when his playing could be this good. The title track is also belting.

  AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE – “House of the Blue Light” – aside from some nice keyboards on “Bad Attitude” and some decent drumming on “The Unwritten Law” this 1987 reformation cash-in album is absolute garbage. The sound of millionaire musicians with nothing going on in their heads and hearts. The awful “The Battle Rages On” continued this theme.
  

  Posted by Ronan Casey at 4:13 PM GMT 16/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• Made In Japan. Just one of the finest live albums ever especially the side long version of "Space Truckin'".
  Also for a good round-up of classic era Purple check out Deepest Purple, a 1980 collection compiled by Roger Glover.

  Posted by Alexander Meerkat at 9:40 PM GMT 16/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• Burn was always my favorite.

  It took the Machine Head formula and added the funk.

  Posted by Ron at 6:29 AM GMT 17/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• Burn - Paice is storming - just don't play the last track!

  Made In Japan - is there a better live album?

  Fireball - Gillan's finest hour.

  Come Taste The Band - Bolin was something else.

  Machine Head - classic old school Purple.

  Posted by psodal at 3:28 PM GMT 17/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• Agree that Come Taste the Bank is essential for Bolin's guitar magic, layered over a very tight band.

  Avoid the 3CD Live in Japan unless you want to hear Blackmore butcher the Smoke on the Water intro, twice.

  Posted by David (Australia) at 7:34 PM GMT 17/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• 
  1 - In Rock: The most visceral hard rock album of the 70's.
  2 - Made In Japan: A live album full of energy, it captures the band at their prime.
  3 - Machine Head: Before tensions between Blackmore and Gillan eventually led to the end of MK II, they managed to put out their magnum opus.
  4 - Burn: Here's what the band sounds like under the absolute control of Blackmore- ad it's great.
  5 - Perfect Strangers: A great comeback album, some it was their last great album.
  6 - Deep Purple: The sound of a band finding their way musically... and it's heavy,
  7 - Come Taste The Band: An underrated gem, full of funky rock tunes, plus Tommy Bolin in top form, before tragedy struck.
  8 - Fireball: Not as up to par as In Rock or Machine head... feels more like a transitional album for the band.
  9 - Purpendicular: Free of Ritchie Blackmore, the band explores more fields, and consequently puts out an extraordinary album.
  10 - Who Do We Think We Are?: The last MK II album... and they go out with a bang.
  
  Avoid - Abandon: Something just went wrong with this album... the most uninspired song writing in Purples catalogue.

  Posted by giofav at 7:26 PM GMT 18/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• Okay, of the albums I've heard:
  MOST ESSENTIAL: In Rock.
  A thrilling combination of inspiration and volume (and hubris, viz the cover image). You can here the whole genre of Heavy metal being born over the course of the album, even more so than on Black Sabbath's debut; this album has power AND speed.
  MOST ICONIC: Made In Japan
  When people talk (or bitch) about sprawling Seventies double-live albums, they're most likely thinking about this album. Sure it's self indulgent, but in all the best ways: the greatest DP line-up at the height of their powers showing off, as they deserve to. Also the best showcase for John Lord, the band's secret weapon.
  MOST UNDERRATED: Come Taste The Band
  With only two of the original members remaining, there's no reason to expect this to be any good. Oh wait... David Coverdale, one of the best blues rock singers of the 70s. Also, Glenn Hughes 'The Voice Of Rock' himself. Fine. Oh, and Tommy Bolin, the most underrated jazz fusion guitarist ever. Damn right this album rocks!
  GUILTY PLEASURE: Perfect Strangers
  The band's great comeback plays it safe by toning down the gonzo guitar theatrics and fuzzed up keyboards, but it rocks as hard as anything out of the NWOBHM. The title track may be their second best ever, right after...
  MOST OBVIOUS: Machine Head
  ...Smoke On The Water. 'nuff said.

  Posted by Cowtools at 7:54 AM GMT 19/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• In Rock is THE essential Purple-album: never improved on in terms of freshness and excitement. The earthquake intro to Speed King sets the tone!

  Having said that, they have made loads of good hard rock music over the years. Still do, as a matter of fact - the two latest albums, Bananas and Rapture of the Deep are really good. By any standards.

  Posted by Lasse Stenman at 8:31 AM GMT 19/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• My favourite period is with Coverdale and Hughes.
  Stormbringer is quite different from the rest, but I love the funk accent they put on some songs.
  Top 5
  - Stormbring
  - Burn
  - Come Taste The Band
  - Machine Head
  - Who do We think We Are

  
  And the most underrated is The House of Blue Light.

  The Worst?
  - Slaves and Masters.

  Posted by Luiz, Rio de Janeiro at 2:07 AM GMT 20/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• My favourite period is with Coverdale and Hughes.
  Stormbringer is quite different from the rest, but I love the funk accent they put on some songs.
  Top 5
  - Stormbring
  - Burn
  - Come Taste The Band
  - Machine Head
  - Who do We think We Are

  
  And the most underrated is The House of Blue Light.

  The Worst?
  - Slaves and Masters.

  Posted by Luiz, Rio de Janeiro at 2:07 AM GMT 20/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• I've always been a fan of Shades of Deep Purple which gets my recommendation as the best place to start. Classic white soul of Joe South's "Hush" was the big single (and dance floor pandemonium inducer) but there are other joys to be found such as...
  A cover of the Beatle's "Help" done in the slow tempo that John originally conceived the song in.
  A Spanish tinged version of "Hey Joe" with blistering solos by Richie Blackmore.
  Plus some inspired classical/prog arrangements by Jon Lord and a cover of Skip James "I'm So Glad". It still holds up as an album 41 years later and no doubt inspired both guitarists and organists alike.

  Machine Head was required listening in the early 70's - and that's before the live "Smoke On The Water" from Live In Japan broke the band to a larger audience via AM radio. The "Smoke On The Water" riff is one of the most recognized and attempted bits of hard rock guitar repertoire, as are many of the solos on this album, especially to air guitarists. Zeppelin may have been steeped in the blues but Deep Purple was steeped in soul music as the organ/guitar interplay in "Lazy" shows. More great riffs in "Highway Star", "Pictures of Home" and "Space Truckin'" Maybe the adverse conditions under which it was made gave it that (shades of Spinal Tap!) "one more".

  Posted by Frederick Harrison at 4:36 AM GMT 20/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• In Rock is their best album and defines what they are about. The first of its kind in 1970 and there isn't anything like it by anyone else. If ever a heavy metal band had chemistry, it is with this classic!

  Deepest Purple for the best introduction and selection of their most essential songs. If you only have two albums by them, they have to be these two!

  After this, if you need any other Gillan stuff, then Fireball, yet you're not missing much without it, so on to the Coverdale line-up.

  These three are quite different, mainly due to Glenn Hughes' influence making them funkier. The best is probably Stormbringer, but its impossible to have just one from the set.

  Next up would be Come Taste The Band, as not represented at all on Deepest Purple. This is lighter without Blackmore on guitar, but IS the most under-rated from the 70's output.

  There's nothing like or better on Burn than the title track, this song introduced me to another world when I was 15! The rest of the album pales by comparison, but not bad for Coverdale's first LP.

  And no, don't get The House of Blue Light.

  Posted by Bon Rock, London at 1:48 PM GMT 29/11/2009 Report Abuse

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• I got Fireball soon after it came out at the age of 9. Was thoroughly excited about what Rock could do. Still, little has lived up to that moment. Probsbly shouldn't have started at the top.

  Posted by faustus_3 at 5:53 AM GMT 08/12/2009 Report Abuse

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• I got Fireball soon after it came out at the age of 9. Was thoroughly excited about what Rock could do. Still, little has lived up to that moment. Probsbly shouldn't have started at the top.

  Posted by faustus_3 at 5:54 AM GMT 08/12/2009 Report Abuse

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• 1 Made in Japan - DP are a live band and they were flying in 72
  2 Deep Purple in Rock - the statement
  3 Machine Head - the complete rock album
  4 Fireball - has worn well
  5 Come taste the band - Not Ritchie but Tommy
  6 Purpendicular - Not Ritchie but Steve
  7 Perfect Strangers - a good return
  8 Burn - an interesting move but not Paul Rodgers
  9 Stormbringer - this band was better on record than live
  10 Deep Purple - Jon and Ritchie get going

  Ones to avoid

  House of Blue Light; Abandon; Battle Rages On

  Concerto is often criticised but don't miss Ritchie's extarordinary solo or Malcolm Arnold's and Jon Lord's reactions - a treat!

  Posted by Antony at 11:41 PM GMT 10/12/2009 Report Abuse

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• No one seems to mention "Made in Europe". This is a live record covering some of the best tracks on "Stormbringer" and "Burn". I think it is better than the studio stuff and really the only record past mark-II that I care for.

  I would also like to say that the three mark-I records are quite good. Not the kind of music that DP eventually became known for ; but interesting never the less.

  Posted by Torben (Denmark) at 5:04 PM GMT 24/01/2010 Report Abuse

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