The three albums that most formed the foundation of my music addiction are Kiss Alive, Led Zeppelin II, and Deep Purple Machine Head. To no one's surprise, I first heard the core tracks of Machine Head on Purple's Made in Japan live album, so I had heard much looser versions of four of the tunes prior to hearing the studio pieces. Given Purple's penchant for adding lengthy instrumental solos in concert, it was interesting to hear the studio versions for the first time. It is absolutely stunning how well this album holds up considering it was released over 50 years ago.  Obviously, “Smoke on the Water” is the all-time classic, but to demonstrate its longevity, look up “Highway Star” solo on YouTube. 50 years later, fledgling guitarists cut their teeth on mastering Blackmore's virtuoso solo (in my mind, the greatest in rock history) more than any other “classic” solo from the golden age. Purple was made up of five of the greatest talents in hard rock history and this album, along with In Rock, demonstrate that for all the world to hear.

Kip

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   This album came out in 1972, I was 12 at the time and a little before I was really into music. I was aware of the band, I would look at their album covers at department stores while my parents shopped and I knew they were a cool rocking type of band, but wasn’t real familiar with them. I did buy “Smoke on the Water” as a 45, then I had a friend who bought Made in Japan, and I became aware of the band even more.  Then for a quarter I bought The Book of Taliesyn at a garage sale, but that didn’t really capture my imagination and I didn’t dig deeper until years later. But if I made that move to a desert island and could only bring one Deep Purple album, this is the one I’m picking. I think the 2012 remaster of the album makes it easily stand up against any albums produced today. Yeah, the keyboards make it a little dated, but tell the truth I actually kind of like that sound. I think Deep Purple proved that in the 70's you could mix organ and rock, and it worked! Kudos to Jon Lord for that.

Jeff

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   For me it’s hard to calculate the massive impact this album has had and still has with rock music lovers. Even now I imagine some fledgling guitarist marveling at Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar sonics. Wondering how on earth can I learn what he has put into stone (wax)? How can I play these notes to even resemble what I’m hearing out of my speakers? The answer is simple… you can’t. Even the best guitarist in the world get it wrong. That’s just the way it is. This album was a little before me though. I came to Deep Purple with the Made in Japan album. Which just floored me! The energy, the chops, the great songs were and still are inspiring. And ooooh that voice! That beautiful, powerful, passionate voice! Ian Gillian you will forever be known to me as “Ian golden tonsils “. I just got a chill…

Mark

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1. Highway Star (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) A+

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   There are no better live or album openers than this track. Allegedly originating from a snarky response to a neophyte reporter asking, “so how do you write a song,” Highway Star has been a staple of their live show, literally from BEFORE anyone had heard the studio version. Slowly accelerating from a Roger Glover repeated bass note, the song slowly builds until Ian Gillan unleashes a scream that inspired countless vocalists to come. Talk about announcing your presence with authority. An ode to a beloved car, this has made every list of best driving songs ever since it's release. They even change keys in the verses to mimic the shifting of gears. Jon Lord's 'Hammond through a Marshall' sound set them apart from all of the other name bands of the time and his solo in this one is at the top of his most memorable list. The development of his solo moves the same way a car driven too fast on a curvy road does. And then there is Ritchie's solo. Again, the spot features key changes that mimic a shifting car, building to a speed-picking portion that was supposedly taught to him by an older mentor as an exercise. Jeff and I agree that the best solos are mini “songs” unto themselves and this one fits that to a T. Even the ending mimics the breathless feeling of coming to a stop after driving too fast or having a near accident. An absolutely perfect song that never grows old for me. (I was going to say “I never TIRE of hearing” but the English teacher voice in me said “enough.”)

A++

Kip

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   This is a perfect opener of a song for this legendary album. I’d love to be a fly on the wall as to what song this album opens up with because “Smoke on the Water” or “Space Truckin” had to be a contender. I think “Highway Star” is one of those perfect rock ‘n’ roll songs that has an impeccable high tempo, driving rhythm section and sweet solos by Blackmore and Lord that all adds up to a classic driving down the road songs. I’ve never got tired of this masterpiece. Perfect song, wouldn’t change a thing!

A+

Jeff

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   I love the way Jon Lord’s organ has such a guitar aesthetic. I wonder if this was an influence on Ritchie’s guitar approach or the other way around. Or both? Either way they sound similar to me. I’ve heard this tune a million times and it still gets my head bobbing. ‘Sir golden tonsils” is amazing here as well. Just amazing. Great classic tune fit for king and pauper.

A

Mark

 

2. Maybe I’m a Leo (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) B-

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   Typical of Purple, the second song varies greatly from the opener. Beginning with a walking funk riff that I'm certain was written by Glover, this one is definitely a vehicle for both Lord and Blackmore to solo over. The groove continues through the verses and solos, almost as background music. Again, a more restrained traditional vocal delivery by Gillan is used here. This seems to be more a Glover/Gillan creation, as it was rarely performed live by the Mark II crew, but recent shows have frequently featured this piece. As close to a throwaway as Purple gets on an album of this magnitude.

B-

Kip

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   Never played this song as much as other stronger tracks, the riff starts to wear on me by about 4 minutes in, but I like the sound of Gillian’s voice and the solos by both Blackmore and Lord with that chugging rhythm is the best part of the song for me. I always enjoy at 1:50 when they start to jam, I just want to be in a smoky bar and raise a glass to the band at this point. Great groove guys, love it!

B

Jeff

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   A well-oiled machine for sure. Man, these guys are so tight! Too tight!? Naah. I like the change to electric piano on the solo section.  It kind of cleanses the palate. Scraping away the grease and grime that the Hammond organ leaves behind. Nice touch. The songs OK, just a blues basically. A vehicle straight to jamsville, nothing wrong with that, especially when you have Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord in the driver’s seat!

C

Mark

 

 

3. Pictures of Home (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) B

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   This song is my earliest memory of having a tune create a visual in my mind, which is kind of the point of the tune and title, I suppose. A real “groove” song, which isn't often true of the Mark II version of Purple, this one really works. Centering around a rather swooping riff that I believe was brought in by bassist Roger Glover, Gillan's sometimes esoteric lyrics here are absolutely perfect. Again sung in a much more understated style, the song discusses longing that anyone having to be apart from home and people can relate too. It also doesn't hurt that Glover gets a feature bass moment in the middle that is one of the greats of that period. I also love how drummer Ian Paice uses the snare roll to lead into Blackmore's beautiful solo. This is classic Purple. While Blackmore felt it was too sedate for the live setting, it has been more currently featured in concert and the crowd loses their mind when Glover does his solo spot. A terrific song.

A-

Kip

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   Deep Purple is such a talented band, this song shows so many of their strengths and it showcases the many tricks up their sleeve to make it such an interesting listen. Cool wide vocal range, the bass solo and wow the drumming that at times demands my full attention, lastly the interesting topic of the lyrics of being alone on a mountain. Wikipedia says that the song was released originally without the drum introduction, but I wasn’t able to find that version anywhere on YouTube?

B+

Jeff

 

   Ian Paice in my view is one of rock and roll’s greatest drummers. I know he gets his due in the drumming community, but largely is unheralded. His span of work is amazing! And he’s still killing it! I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you Mr. Paice for making the musical world a brighter place. Now the song is pretty cool, but not one I seek out. The usual band suspects are present and accounted for so I listen and learn…

C

Mark

 

4. Never Before (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) B

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   Beginning with a staccato, funk riff, the song progresses into a much more straightforward tune that finishes each verse with a riff reminiscent of Zeppelin's “Good Times, Bad Times.” Lord even features a traditional piano accent to the choruses. A bit lighter fare than the norm for Purple, it none the less features both Lord and Blackmore on solos, but Gillan's famed vocal gymnastics are nowhere to be found on this piece. This is a noticeable attempt to write a more accessible tune for radio. The band was unanimous in their belief that this was the single from the album and would be a big hit. That, Glover has been quoted as saying, is “why they are musicians and not music executives.”  During this period, Purple seemed incapable of writing a bad song, but this is definitely one of the less memorable pieces. Let's be clear, this would be a feature track for a lesser band, but in this track listing, definitely an afterthought.

B-

Kip

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   I’m surprised that this was released as a single. But not surprised it only got to #35 on the UK single charts, it just doesn’t seem like a radio hit to me. It does do a great job of showing off how versatile the band was. The song was edited for the release of it as a single, and all they did was shorten the best part of the song, the organ solo at the end. I know it seems sacrilegious to not like or catch on to a song by this band, but this track doesn’t do much for me, don’t hate it, but not my favorite.

C+

Jeff

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   This tune has a nice proggy-ness vibe! I dig it! Funky verse into melodic bridge, then a cool rocking chorus. Good stuff.

B

Mark

 

 

5. Smoke on the Water (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) A+

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   (I have, somewhat, jokingly said that it took me over a year to initially hear side 2 of Zeppelin IV because of the immense quality of the first side requiring constant repeats, I have to say the same would have happened here, had side 2 been the opening side. Good lord what a monster three songs.) I find this song difficult to discuss, because of its ubiquitous presence on rock radio, the Zappa story being recounted countless times and, most importantly, the fact that almost every hopeful guitarist cites this riff as the first they ever played. The riff has come to personify classic rock, yet the song seems to be the antitheses of all that normally represented Purple. Not only is the riff (deceptively) simple, so are the bass, keyboard and drum parts as well. Few are the bands that could legitimately boast a virtuoso at every instrument, but Purple DEFINITELY could. The almost rudimentary addition of a single instrument to build to the vocal is seemingly songwriting 101, but man does it work. Even Blackmore's solo is understated by his standards, featuring the staccato descending ending that leads back into the song. Born of a disaster, recorded in very modest surroundings AND as almost an afterthought (it's working title was “Dur, dur, dur”) the song has come to be representative of an entire era of music and, according to Ian Paice, has produced an income of six, sometimes seven, figures to each of the five members, every year since the live version was released. Just...wow.

A++

Kip

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   Wow, I don’t know if I have anything fresh or unique to say about this monster song that hasn’t been said before. It’s like trying say something new about the Mona Lisa. As a kid I bought this as a 45 and played it over and over. I did like that on the flip side was a live version of the song and that sounded great too. I loved playing this on my little stereo as I envisioned myself as a superhero. That opening riff was my theme song as I marched out onto the battlefield. The opening riff sounded good too when you took the 45 and played it at 33! Slowed down it was so frickin heavy sounding. Sorry, there’s no new spin I could put on this this song…it is just freaking awesome. What else can I say?

A+

Jeff

 

   If “Smoke on the Water” were a kaiju this tune would be so monstrous, so massive so smoky and deadly even Godzilla (minus one or otherwise) would poop his pants and hightail it back to his mama. I imagine Smokey’s (we’ll call him Smokey) legs would be Ian Paice and Rodger Glover. A solid foundation. Yeah I like this! His arms would of course be formidable weaponry So Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord are approved! His torso would be a perfect integration of Marshall and Ampeg amps, various mic stands, Hammond B3’s, drums, roadies, groupies and the occasional Road manager. And at the top…the head: the glorious’ Sir golden tonsils’ Himself. Ian Gillian! Of course, he would have long, thick, luxurious hair, and a set of conga’s close by just in case… just in case.

A

Mark

 

6. Lazy (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) B+

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   A personal favorite of mine, “Lazy” was inspired by a Clapton tune Blackmore has seen performed live that he thought would work for Purple. This song DOES personify Purple as a band. Obviously meant to be a vehicle to demonstrate the incredible solo abilities of Blackmore and Lord (and Gillan, if one wants to include his harmonica), “Lazy” is rather the ultimate 70's excessive tune, when you consider the vocals don't come in until 4:15 of the track. It honestly feels somewhat like a “filler” track, as the basic song is actually very short, but while untraditional, man does this kick ass. It's kind of the ultimate jam song, but somewhat incredibly (for a band who somehow turned “Space Truckin'” into an entire side of the live album) they stick shockingly close to this template when it's performed live. It really feels like a tune that was recorded in one take, with the entire band playing. I've always felt like this was their, “we ARE better players than everyone else” song. And I agree.

A

Kip

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   Killer opening! Wish they played organ like that at church, that would have got the congregation moving! This song takes it time getting started but I’m a sucker for harmonica, once that kicks in at 4:51 I’m hooked. I think this is a great song just too long on the second part of the opening for me.

B+

Jeff

 

   As you may or may not know I’m not a boogie fan, but this one really swings! A great platform to show off their chops. Maybe I’m turning boogie friendly? Hmmm…

B

Mark

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7. Space Truckin (Blackmore, Gillian, Glover, Lord & Paice) A+

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   I have to disclose that this is my bucket list song. I would love to play this live, either on guitar or bass, before I die. I absolutely adore this song. The keyboard/bass riff just explodes out of your speakers. The lyrics are space/50's inspired gibberish, but somehow, they work too. The descending riff under the chorus had to have been the demise of many 70's speakers, as this song is impossible not to crank up when it comes on. Jeff talks about hearing particular songs blasting out of car stereos and this is one for me. This is an incredibly well-crafted songs, that Purple inevitably wrecked live, by turning it into the vehicle for Paice's 20-minute drum solos. Remembering that I had heard this first in the live format, this was a revelation for me the first time hearing this version. One of my very favorite songs of all time. It's certainly not “When the Levee Breaks” but what an album closer none the less. Open with “Highway Star” and close with this monster. They WERE better than everybody else.

A++

Kip

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   Nothing was better in life than cruising in my friend's MG sports car, top down, smoking a cigarette, going down the road in the middle of night and blasting "Space Truckin". We were playing the Made in Japan version, but this song still brings back that moment every time I listen to it: that chance to just feel instantly cool, no worries in the world, just that magic moment created by the ultimate in cool...Deep Purple!  It sounds so good loud and to think it was recorded in a hotel room! It is funny that Richie Blackmore was inspired by the Batman theme for this (so was George Harrison for "Taxman"). Such a simple song inspiring two rock masterpieces! But WOW...what a strong track to end this album!

A+

Jeff

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   I love this song so much it’s embarrassing! My favorite song by far from this album. Ever notice the simplest riffs are the best? This tune grooves so hard! The ‘come on space truckin’ section is perfection! Especially, when ‘Ian Sir golden tonsils’ goes to his awesome high voice. I dig the drum solo section too. Not too long, not too out there, just keeps the song rolling along just right. Great tune!

A+

Mark