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Post by Stratmangler on May 31, 2015 22:59:32 GMT
 This was the last album by the most successful Deep Purple lineup (at least it was up until the band reformation in 1984). It was recorded in late 1972 after a gruelling 18 month touring schedule. Tensions within the band were running high, and it comes across on the record. Released in early 1973 the album was a phenomenal success. Deep Purple became the biggest selling artist in the USA that year. Following a Japanese tour in July, singer Ian Gillan stepped off the merry-go-round and walked away from what was for a brief moment the biggest rock band in the world. And they never quite scaled the heights again. Got close, but never quite there. I first heard this album around about October of 1973. I was 11 years old, and in my first term at Secondary School. School was in Germany, and I was a boarder at Kent School, Hostert, and living on base at JHQ Rheindalen, BFPO40. And it was here that I was exposed to the world of rock music. And this was the album that kick started it all for me. Life was never the same again, for I had sampled the musical power and majesty of a band that for me was the greatest rock band ever. The Deep Purple lineup at this time is still the greatest rock band ever in my opinion. This is my number one desert island disc, and it's a frequently visited old friend. It's 35 minutes of distilled genius, and it's the last hurrah of a band at the top of its powers. |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 1, 2015 5:52:14 GMT
Great choice, Chris, I'm playing it now while it's still quiet in the office. I'm going to be controversial here and state that I always preferred David Coverdale for vocals, his voice just does it for me. However, it's good to revisit Who Do We Think We Are as it's not one of my most frequently played DP albums. Oh, and why does Stormbringer get so little mention in biographies?
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Post by Stratmangler on Jun 1, 2015 6:18:49 GMT
I liked the Coverdale era Purple stuff too Martin, but that lineup's first album wasn't released until the following year.
Things on the music scene moved really quickly back then.
If I'd first heard Deep Purple at the back end of February 1974 then I might have suggested Burn as my album choice.
Note that they had to bring in two vocal replacements to cover Gillan's range.
Coverdale's voice was warm and bluesy, but his range was not the greatest
For me 1974 was a voyage of discovery regarding Deep Purple's back catalogue, along with the then lineup's album.
I loved them all, and still do.
And you mustn't forget that Made In Japan is the best live rock concert album ever!!!
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Post by MartinT on Jun 1, 2015 6:27:03 GMT
And you mustn't forget that Made In Japan is the best live rock concert album ever!!! With that you'll get little disagreement from me! |
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 1, 2015 6:40:00 GMT
Thanks for your offering this month Chris.
I'd like to add an alternative method of listening for those who don't have a Spotify account.
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 1, 2015 7:32:59 GMT
This was (I think) also my first Deep Purple album - a birthday present from one of my sisters, along with a Greeny Fleetwood Mac album. I haven't played it in a long time, so I'll give it a spin later.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 7:33:59 GMT
Not bad from me. I normally run for cover at the mention of this type of music, but even I could hear merit. It's not something I would play by choice but if it was playing, I wouldn't feel the need to scarper or turn it off.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 1, 2015 8:25:35 GMT
Deep Purple in Rock was my first DP album, followed by Machine Head. This one gets 8/10 from me. It has some great moments but also some rather ordinary metal that could be from many other bands.
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Post by jamescg1972 on Jun 1, 2015 17:57:18 GMT
Ooh. Looking forward to this one. Deep Purple, good choice. Though for some reason I only ever listen to 24 karat Purple and never go further.
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Post by John on Jun 1, 2015 20:55:27 GMT
A 6 for me
If Made in Japan would of been a 10
Still a good album but never really reaches the heights of some the previous albums for me
Perhaps the ultimate Jam band in this line up
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 3, 2015 12:20:38 GMT
I am ashamed to say I have never listened to this album in full before, despite being a huge fan of the Strat-meister par excellence, Mr Blackmore ... So big thanks to Stratmangler for choosing it.
'Woman From Tokyo' is a totally riff-tastic Purple song with some great changes of pace, and it promises so much; but for me the album slowly and surely loses steam after 'Mary Long' and its hilarious lyrics - 'When can you spare a minute, go find your friend the porny lord. Dig yourself a hole and jump in it!'
The album is still very listenable but for me that's due to the quality of musicianship on show, as opposed to the quality of the song writing. I'm giving 6/10, purely due to the heights Purple can reach when truly on form.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 6, 2015 10:14:46 GMT
First time I've ever heard it. Worth hearing for sure
Down from In Rock, Machine Head and Burn in my opinion
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Post by Stratmangler on Jun 6, 2015 16:39:31 GMT
I am ashamed to say I have never listened to this album in full before, despite being a huge fan of the Strat-meister par excellence, Mr Blackmore ... So big thanks to Stratmangler for choosing it. 'Woman From Tokyo' is a totally riff-tastic Purple song with some great changes of pace, and it promises so much; but for me the album slowly and surely loses steam after 'Mary Long' and its hilarious lyrics - 'When can you spare a minute, go find your friend the porny lord. Dig yourself a hole and jump in it!' The album is still very listenable but for me that's due to the quality of musicianship on show, as opposed to the quality of the song writing. I'm giving 6/10, purely due to the heights Purple can reach when truly on form. The comedic lyrics to Mary Long were a thinly veiled attack on the pious scruples of Mary Whitehouse and Lord Longford. www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=19226 |
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 13, 2015 5:44:34 GMT
I have to give it a 5 out of 10.
Although I have owned a copy for a long time, I can't say I have ever really embraced it. Having played it a few times since this thread was started, I can't say anything has changed really! There is something about the lyric writing that jars with me on this album.
'Woman from Tokyo' is, and always will be a crackin' track though.
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Post by pinkie on Jun 14, 2015 8:00:56 GMT
I'm with John on this one (though I've added it to my French autoroute playlist). As a 16-18 year old it seemed like every school day we drove out to a mates house where the only music was "made in Japan" or "live and dangerous" or "live dates".
And I never really got past that - neither coverdale nor white snake and the like.
My all time favourite deep purple performance however was on a camp site in the south of France (la nautique, near narbonne). The gig was C'dric, a slightly left wing radical francophone singer. Must have been friends of the campsite owners, because this was a tiny gig for him. Basically singer self accompanied on acoustic guitar he was accompanied by a fellow musician in beret, stripey t-shirt (no string of onions, but...) playing accordion.
At the end of a gig playing his own material, at the prompting from mates in the audience they played "smoke on the water". Acoustic guitar and accordion. I know I'd had a few, but it was brilliant. However, the best was yet to come. Gaston switched from accordion to conventional keyboard and they did "sweet child in time".
Although she had never heard it before, and is usually a fairly formal performer, not a natural jammer, and keeps stumm in public (unless being paid to perform) Sue joined in the "gillan screams". Only not a falsetto scream. But proper trained soprano pitch - note perfect. Stunning, and probably never to be repeated - the rest of the audience clearly thought so too.
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Post by Slinger on Jun 14, 2015 13:25:38 GMT
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Post by native on Jun 16, 2015 13:36:09 GMT
Classic rock isn't my thing I'm afraid, so this gets a 4 from me. I did give it a couple of listens yesterday afternoon and this morning, but nothing really took me. Always feel churlish voting negatively, because I'm sure it's a fabulous record to some, but wanted to stay consistent with trying to listen and vote on every album. Anyhow, you'll have the chance to get me back in September Chris - haha!
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Post by jamescg1972 on Jul 4, 2015 16:09:30 GMT
Just realised I'd not voted on this.
I'm in two minds. Woman from Tokyo is brilliant. The beat throughout the album, the tempo, I really enjoyed, but after 2 or 3 songs, I'd tune out and I've not been driven to listen to it many times. 6 from me. Good, but not brilliant.
I wanted to like it more, but failed. Sorry.
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Post by roxbrough on Aug 14, 2015 17:17:23 GMT
I have liked Deep Purple since Concerto for Group and Orchestra.
I find them a band that are hit and miss.
In Rock is over rated in my opinion, especially Speed King, but then that's taste for you isn't it?
Fireball and then Machine Head are the albums I truly love and then the strain of trying to be pleasant to Blackmore began to show. I have watched videos and read articles and it seems the man just cannot get on with anyone.
For me Gillan was the greatest of all rock screamers, Paice was an exceptional drummer and Glover was even better when doing his solo material.
I find the current lineup excellent with Morse and Airey and only feel Purple to be right on song when Gillan is singing, although illogically I love Stormbringer.
So my Deep Purple pick goes like this:-
1. Machine Head.
2. Fireball.
3. Stormbringer.
4. Burn.
5. Rapture of the Deep.
6. Abandon.
7. Perfect Strangers.
8. Elements.
9. Butterfly Ball.
10. Who Do We Think We Are.
I don't think I should vote.
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Post by alaska on Aug 14, 2015 17:45:04 GMT
Not enough good songs here for me. Woman from Tokyo is great of course.
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