Deep Purple Discography

This discography only includes regular releases: no compilations etc.

All opinions expressed here are mine. Feel free to disagree.

Mark I: (Blackmore - Evans - Lord - Paice - Simper)

Shades of Deep Purple (USA: Tetragrammaton 1968 ; Europe: EMI Parlaphone 1968 ; Japan: Polydor 1968) (CD)

Deep Purple's debut album, recorded very hastily. Heavily Vanilla Fudge inspired, and as with all Mark I albums, Jon Lord is much more to the fore than later. More late 60s rock than hard rock. Highlights include their US hit Hush (No. 4 on Billboard charts), their original number Mandrake Root, and a beautiful ballad version of Beatles' Help.

The LP made it good in the USA as well, charting at No. 24. But they were still unknowns in Europe.

European CDs have been deleted, so this is only available from Japan. However, there is a German reissue titled Hush.

Tracks:

And The Address (Blackmore/Lord)
Hush (Billy Joe Royal)
One More Rainy Day (Lord/Evans)
Prelude : Happiness (Trad. arr. Deep Purple)
I'm So Glad (James)

Mandrake Root (Blackmore/Evans/Lord)
Help (Lennon/McCartney)
Love Help Me (Blackmore/Evans)
Hey Joe (Roberts)

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The Book of Taliesyn (USA: Tetragrammaton 1968 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1969 ; Japan: Polydor 1969) (CD)

After the relative success of Shades in the US, this album was quickly recorded during the Autumn of 1968, and was put out the same year in the US; but it wasn't released before 1969 in Europe, where the band was much more obscure. This was the first release on EMI's legendary prog label "Harvest", by the way.

As it's predecessor, the quality varies, but I find it to be a good album. Ritchie's solo during Deep Purple's cover of Neil Diamond's (!) Kentucky Woman remains one of his best to date. Shield remains a very strong number, Mark I's best.

Sales were lower in the US for this one, and there were still no chart action in Europe.

The US versions changed the name of Wring that Neck to Hard Road. The European LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

Listen, Learn, Read On (Blackmore/Lord/Evans)
Wring That Neck (Blackmore/Lord/Simper/Paice)
Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
a: Exposition (Blackmore/Lord/Simper/Paice)
b: We Can Work It Out (Lennon/McCartney)

Shield (Lord/Blackmore/Evans)
Anthem (Lord/Evans)
River Deep, Mountain High (Spector/Greenwich/Barry)

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Deep Purple (USA Tetragrammaton 1969 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1969 : Japan: Polydor 1969) (CD)

Deep Purple's third, self-titled, album, and the last to feature the lineup with Evans on vocals and Simper on bass. Success was dwindling in the States by now (it barely made Billboard's top 200), and indeed by the time this album was released in Europe, the new line up of Deep Purple was building a strong reputation as an underground live act in Europe, fronted by Ian Gillan. No one was interested in an album by the old line up. This was the last ordinary Purple release with Jon Lord as the dominant force in the band.

However, the last album by the original line up is a good one, many would say it's Mark I's best. From the haunting, driving Chasing Shadows to the semi-classic April, this album has a lot to offer, even though none of the titles (if any?) would stay in their live shows for long.

The European LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

Chasing Shadows (Lord/Paice)
Blind (Lord)
Lalena (Donovan)
a: Fault Line (Blackmore/Lord/Simper/Paice)
b: The Painter (Blackmore/Lord/Evans/Simper/Paice)

Why didn't Rosemary (Blackmore/Lord/Evans/Simper/Paice)
Bird has flown (Evans/Blackmore/Lord)
April (Blackmore/Lord)

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Please note: In the USA, the Mark I albums were originally released on Bill Cosby's label "Tetragrammaton". They have never been properly reissued since that label went bust, shortly after the release of "Concerto". (Deep Purple later shifted to Warner Bros. in the USA.) Thus, the US releases of these albums are dodgy both legally and soundwise. (Sound copied off LPs - which in deed in turn was copied off the old Tetragrammaton LPs!) Go for European CD releases on EMI, or Japanese on Warner Pioneer.

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Mark II: Blackmore - Gillan - Glover - Lord - Paice

Concerto for Group and Orchestra : Deep Purple Recorded Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Arnold (USA: Tetragrammaton1969 ; USA: Warner 1970 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1970 ; Japan: Polydor? 1970)

Jon Lord's attempt of merging classical music and rock. Recorded 24. September 1969. Some of it's failed, but there are some good music in there. Ian Gillan's singing is breathtakingly beautiful.

The European CD has two bonus tracks, done in a short Deep Purple set prior to the Concerto. This album is not out on CD in the USA.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

First Movement (Lord)
Second Movement (Lord/Gillan)
Third Movement (Lord)

Bonus tracks on the EMI release:
Wring that Neck
Child in Time

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Deep Purple in Rock (Europe: EMI Harvest1970 ; USA: Warner 1970 ; Japan: Warner? 1970) (CD)

With Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replacing Rod Evans and Nick Simper, the band could really start to churn out the music they had been moving towards in their live sets. The infusion of fresh blood is overevident on this album, which still stands as one of the bands brightest moments.

The album was recorded between intense touring in Europe from Summer 1969 to early 1970, and the band had built itself a name when the album hit the stores during the summer of 1970. It remained in the UK charts for a year, peaking at No. 4. In the USA, however, they had vanished into obscurity.

Ritchie Blackmore dominates the sound much more now, gone are the ballads and the flirt with classical music, enter no compromise hard rock. Ian Gillan's voice helps give the band an edge that was missing earlier.

Standout tracks: All of them.

In the USA and in Japan, Speed King has the intro edited off.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve, with lyrics printed on the left side of the inner spread.

Tracks:

Speed King
Bloodsucker
Child in Time

Flight of the Rat
Into the Fire
Living Wreck
Hard Lovin' Man

All tracks written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

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Fireball (USA: Warner 1971 ; Europe: EMI Harvest 1971 ; Japan: Warner 1971) (CD)

The follow up went straight to the top in Europe, and they'd toured the US enough to begin selling there again by now, reaching No. 32 on Billboard. This album is much more varied than it's predecessor, showing much more subtlety and variation. It's my favourite. Hints of what might have evolved if Deep Purple had developed in a more adventurous direction. Especially the three last tracks (side 2 on the LP) are classics.

US and Japanese versions of this album swopped the new track Demon's Eye with a slightly extended version of the earlier single Strange Kind of Woman.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve and a lyric sheet.

Tracks:

Europe:                USA/Japan:
Fireball                Fireball
No No No                No No No
Demon's Eye             Strange Kind of Woman (long)
Anyone's Daughter       Anyone's Daughter

The Mule                The Mule
Fools                   Fools
No One Came             No One Came

All tracks written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

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Machine Head (Europe: EMI Purple 1972 ; USA: Warner 1972 ; Japan: Warner 1972) (CD)

Deep Purple's biggest commercial success. Straight to No. 1 in Europe, and hit big in the USA after Smoke on the Water was released as a single, and made it big on US radio.

Hard to find any flaws on this album, it's nearly perfectly executed, and all tracks are classics to a certain degree. Their live show still incorporates all but one song from this album! The only possible critisism, is that some of the excitement from the two previous albums seems to have been lost in the growing work pressure on the band. Ritchie Blackmore had also taken more or less total control by now, vetoing input he didn't like.

But - no Deep Purple collection is complete without it, for sure.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve and a lyric sheet.

Tracks:

Highway Star
Maybe I'm a Leo
Pictures of Home
Never Before

Smoke on the Water
Lazy
Space Truckin'

All tracks written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

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Made in Japan (Japan: Warner 1972 ; Europe: EMI Purple 1972 ; USA: Warner 1973) (CD)

... and no Deep Purple collection is complete without this one, either!

Recorded live in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, on 15., 16. and 17. August 1972, this set for the first time let those who hadn't seen Deep Purple in the concert halls hear what a tremendous live band they were.

Simply a classic, there's not much more to add about this one. It also helped establishing Deep Purple as one of the world's best selling bands at the time, and reached high in the charts, despite being a double album. At No. 6 in the USA, this is actually the Deep Purple album that reached the highest Billboard chart posistion.

Released as Live in Japan in Japan, with different cover art, and a colour negative with the first batch of albums!

The LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

Highway Star (Osaka 16. Aug.)
Child in Time (Osaka 16. Aug.)

Smoke on the Water (Osaka 15. Aug.)
The Mule (Osaka 16. Aug.)

Strange Kind of Woman (Osaka 16. Aug.)
Lazy (Tokyo 17. Aug.)

Space Truckin' (Osaka 16. Aug.)

All tracks written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

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Who do We think We are! (Europe: EMI Purple1973 ; USA: Warner 1973 ; Japan: Warner 1973) (CD)

The band was falling apart at the seams as this album was recorded, and it's showing.

Still, some good material. Woman From Tokyo became an AOR radio classic in the USA. The feelings between Blackmore and Gillan were not the best at the time, as documented in Gillan's biting lyrics for the sweeping Smooth Dancer. They still topped the charts in the UK, but it "only" reached 15 on Billboard.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve and a lyric sheet.

Tracks:

Woman From Tokyo
Mary Long
Super Trouper
Smooth Dancer

Rat Bat Blue
Place In Line
Our Lady

All tracks written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

Albums released after the split:

Powerhouse (Europe: EMI Purple 1977 ; Japan: Warner 1977) (CD in Japan only.)

This album collected some previously unreleased material from the Mark II line up.

Painted Horse is an outtake from Who do We think We are!

Hush, Wring that Neck and Child in Time are taken from the short set done before Concerto for Group and Orchestra in September 1969. The two latter are now included on the European (EMI) Concerto CD.

The live version of Black Night is from one of the Made in Japan dates, and had previously only been released on single in some countries, and it's thus now available on the Singles A's & B's compilation.

Cry Free is a Deep Purple in Rock outtake.

With the material being so diverse, Simon Robinson wants to collect things on a "Rarieties" CD, with more material added, summing up the odds & ends in the Deep Purple catalogue. The LP is therefore not issued on CD in Europe. Three of the cuts are on other CDs, though, as mentioned above.

Tracks:

Painted Horse (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Hush (Live, 690924) (Royal)
Wring that Neck (Live, 690924) (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Simper)

Child in Time (Live, 690924) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Black Night (Live, 720816) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Cry Free (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

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Deep Purple in Concert 1970-1972 (Europe: EMI Harvest1980 ; Japan: Warner 1980 ; USA: CBS Portrait 1980) (CD: Japanese version copies the LP, the European EMI set has bonus material.)

An excellent live set, compromising two sets done for BBC Radio's "In Concert" programme, in February 1970 and March 1972 respectively. Especially the 1972 disc contains some of the best Purple ever.

The original 1980 2LP set missed out on two tracks due to playing length limitations, these, as well as inbetween song chat, is added on the 1992 EMI CD version. NOTE: the Japanese CD was released before the UK CD version was released, and misses this!

The European LP had a gatefold sleeve, and b/w photos on the record bags.

Tracks:

2LP/Jap. 2CD:         EMI 1992 2CD:

		  1970:

Speed King              Speed King
Wring that Neck         Child in Time
			Wring that Neck
Child in Time           Mandrake Root
Mandrake Root



		   1972:

Highway Star            Highway Star
Strange Kind of Woman   Strange Kind of Woman
Lazy                    Maybe I'm a Leo
Never Before            Never Before
			Lazy
Space Truckin'          Space Truckin'
Lucille                 Smoke on the Water
			Lucille

All songs written by Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice, except:

Wring that Neck

Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Simper

Mandrake Root

Blackmore/Evans/Lord

Lucille

Penniman/Collins

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Scandinavian Nights (UK: Connoisseur 1988 ; USA: Relativity 1992* : Japan: Teichiki (sp?) (2CD)

*(Released as "Live and Rare" in the USA)

This concert was recorded by Sveriges Radio at a concert in Koncerthuset, Stockholm, on 12. November 1970. Vintage Purple, in other words, and the only chance to hear Deep Purple's 1970 show from the time they really let it rip.

The set consists of nearly half hour long versions of the instrumental Wring that Neck and Mandrake Root, a near 20 minute Child in Time and the most frentic version of Speed King I've ever heard, along with songs that aren't available live on other official albums, like Into the Fire and Paint it Black (a vehicle for Paicey's drum solo).

Sure a must have for Mark II fans, although some of the numbers are drawn out a bit too much! :-) Sadly, the LP format was the main format when this was released, so the CD version also has the songs in wrong running order.

The 2LP had a gatefold sleeve, and a booklet. Tracks:

Album order:            Set order:

Wring that Neck         Speed King
			Into the Fire
Speed King              Child in Time
Into the Fire           Wring that Neck
Paint it Black          Paint it Black
			Mandrake Root
Mandrake Root
			Black Night
Child in Time
Black Night

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Gemini Suite Live (UK: RPM 1993) (CD only)

Deep Purple performs Jon Lord's Gemini Suite along with members of the Light Music Society, again conducted by Malcolm Arnold. The piece was taped by BBC Radio at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 14. September 1970.

This work would in 1971 be rerecorded and released as a studio album, without Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore playing on it. On this first performance, all of Deep Purple performs; Jon had written the piece with one movement for each band member.

Again, some interesting music, some excellent playing (and singing!), but hardly the first album you'd buy by the band.

The CD comes with a fold out booklet, with pictures from the event and background info.

Tracks:

First Movement:


Guitar


Organ


Second Movement:


Vocals


Bass


Third Movement:


Drums


Finale

All music written by Jon Lord; "lyrics" for the Vocal movement written by Ian Gillan a few hours before the show!

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Live in Japan (Europe: EMI 1993 ; Japan: Warner Pioneer 1993) (3CD only)

These are all three dates that Made in Japan was taken from, nearly in full. What's missing is The Mule and Smoke on the Water from the MIJ dates, and a couple of encores, left out due to space limitations.

The sound has been cleaned up from the original master tapes, and this set really gives you the chance to study the live band Deep Purple. Recorded on three subsequent days, each show stands out enough on it's own accord to make the set interesting listening!

Detailed booklet comes with the box.

Tracks:

Osaka 1 (720815)        Osaka 2 (720816)

Highway Star            Highway Star
Child in Time           Smoke on the water
The Mule                Child in Time
Strange kind of woman   Strange kind of woman
Lazy                    Lazy
Space Truckin'          Space Truckin'
Black Night             


Tokyo (720817)

Highway Star
Smoke on the water
Child in Time
The Mule
Strange kind of woman
Lazy
Space Truckin'
Speed King (Osaka 1)

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Mark III (Blackmore - Coverdale - Hughes - Lord - Paice):

Burn (Europe: EMI Purple1974 ; USA: Warner 1974 ; Japan: Warner 1974) (CD)

Ian Gillan left, and Roger Glover, who'd been heavily involved in song writing, was asked to leave due to one of Ritchie's whims.

Enter stage right: Blues-voiced David Coverdale straight out of amateur bands and a job as a desk clerk, and funk-inspired bass player and vocalist Glenn Hughes, fresh out of Trapeze. The mood in the band seems to have lifted as they started out fresh with new blood, and this album rates high among most fans.

It sold very well, too, and helped Deep Purple being nominated as the "best selling band" in USA this year - although sales of the last three Mark II releases during 1973, plus the success of the Smoke on the Water single were the main reason behind this. This was the first album since Fireball that didn't top in the UK, but it did good (4?), and reached No. 9 on Billboard and went platinum.

The music changed a bit due to the new influences, taking a direction towards straight forward hard blues rock, losing something of what had made Mark II so special in the process. But this album is worth it for the sheer energy.

Hughes recently claimed he'd partaken in writing most of the album, but couldn't be credited due to contractural reasons.

US LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

Burn (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Might Just Take Your Life (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Lay Down, Stay Down (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Sail Away (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)

You Fool No One (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
What's Goin' on Here (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Mistreated (Blackmore/Coverdale)
'A' 200 (Blackmore/Lord/Paice)

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Stormbringer (Europe: EMI Purple 1974 ; USA Warner 1974 ; Japan Warner 1974) (CD)

They went into the studio with intentions of making a double album, but never got that far. Mark III had their first tour behind them now, and frictions were already growing, especially between Glenn Hughes and the others. And - no surprise - Ritchie Blackmore in particular. Ritchie hated the way Glenn Hughes started infusing funk into Deep Purple's music. Ritchie eventually lost interest in the way the band was heading, and left to continue with Rainbow during 1975.

The album has some good tracks, but to me it hasn't stood the test of time all that well as a unit.

Sales were dropping slightly by now, although they made top ten in Europe and reached No. 20 on Billboard.

The LP had a single sleeve, but lyrics were printed on the back.

Tracks:

Stormbringer (Blackmore/Coverdale)
Love Don't Mean a Thing (Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes/Lord/Paice)
Holy Man (Coverdale/Hughes/Lord)
Hold On (Coverdale/Hughes/Lord/Paice)

Lady Double Dealer (Blackmore/Coverdale)
You Can't do it Right (With the One You Love) (Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes)
High Ball Shooter (Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes/Lord/Paice)
The Gypsy (Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes/Lord/Paice)
Soldier of Fortune (Blackmore/Coverdale)

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Albums released after the split:

Made in Europe (Europe: EMI Purple 1977 ; USA: Warner 1977 ; Japan: Warner 1977) (CD)

Recorded on Ritchie's three last dates with Deep Purple in April 1975. This album is heavily edited, right down to the applause at the end being a tape loop! Not all that inspired playing, either, and many think the sound is below par.

Weak sales.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve.

Tracks:

Burn (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Mistreated (interpolating Rock Me Baby) (Blackmore/Coverdale)
Lady Double Dealer (Blackmore/Coverdale)

You Fool No One (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Stormbringer (Blackmore/Coverdale)

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Live in London (Europe: EMI Harvest 1982 ; Japan: Warner 1982) (CD only in Japan)

Recorded for yet another of BBC's "In Concert" programs on 22. May 1974, this album gives us Mark III on their first tour, and is generally much more inspired than Made in Europe. The material borrows heavily from Burn, of course, as this was their only album by then.

A planned European 2CD version, including the set closer, a half hour long Space Truckin', has been long talked about, but no release date is set.

The LP had an inner bag with photos.

Tracks:

Burn (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Might Just Take Your Life (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Lay Down, Stay Down (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Mistreated (Blackmore/Coverdale)

Smoke on the Water (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
You Fool No One (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)

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Mark IV (Bolin - Coverdale - Hughes - Lord - Paice):

Come taste the Band (Europe: EMI Purple 1975 ; USA Warner: 1975 ; Japan: Warner 1975) (CD)

After Ritchie Blackmore left to form Rainbow, Jon Lord and Ian Paice initially wanted to call it a day, but were convinced by the "newcomers" to continue. The young American guitar wizzard Tommy Bolin was eventually recruited as Ritchie's replacement - a wise choice, as he had a totally different playing style, and the band's sound changed noticably.

However, comparsions from the fans were unavoidable, and many had problems adjusting to the new style, which was the funkiest Deep Purple ever got, with Glenn Hughes finding an ally in the jazz-influenced Bolin. The album wasn't the biggest commercial success, and things clearly weregoing towards an end, with a deep split between Coverdale, Lord & Paice on one side and Bolin and Hughes on the other. The two latter also began developing serious drug problems, resulting in the sad death of Tommy Bolin half a year after they finally split in June 1976. But many fans regard this as a very good, but different, Deep Purple album.

The LP had a gatefold sleeve, and lyrics on the inner bag.

Tracks:

Comin' Home (Bolin/Coverdale/Paice)
Lady Luck (Cook/Coverdale)
Gettin' Tighter (Bolin/Hughes)
Dealer (Bolin/Coverdale)
I Need Love (Bolin/Coverdale)
Drifter (Bolin/Coverdale)
Love Child (Bolin/Coverdale)
a: This Time Around (Hughes/Lord)
b: Owed to "G" (Bolin)
You Keep on Moving (Coverdale/Hughes)

Album released after the split:

Last Concert in Japan (Japan: Warner 1977 ; Europe: EMI Purple 1977) (CD)

A rather saddening release, not capable of showing what Mark IV could be like live. It claims to be recorded at a concert in Tokyo on the 15th of December 1975, but it's very edited, and probably has music from several shows thrown in. Tommy Bolin had gotten a bad dose of heroin up his left arm in Djakarta the previous day, and was more or less numb - his playing is abyssmal. The album was never released in the UK, but got released in the rest of Europe, where the band had less control. It was originally intended to be a Japanese release only.

Ironically, Tommy Bolin's solo number Wild Dogs turns out to be the only bright moment on the album.

Tracks:

Burn (Blackmore/Lord/Paice/Coverdale)
Love Child (Bolin/Coverdale)
You Keep On Moving (Coverdale/Hughes)
Wild Dogs (Bolin)

Lady Luck (Cook/Coverdale)
Smoke on the Water (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
/Soldier of Fortune (Blackmore/Coverdale)
/Woman from Tokyo (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Highway Star (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

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Mark V (Blackmore - Gillan - Glover - Lord - Paice) ( Mk. II reunion):

Perfect Strangers (Europe: Polydor 1984 ; USA: Mercury 1984 ; Japan: Polydor 1984) (CD)

After several years of rumours about Deep Purple teaming up again, the legendary Mark II line-up finally managed to get their act together in 1984. This album is very much the result of five old bandmates getting together again after a long time and finding the spirit again - they picked up where they left, and there's not much in the way of experimentation here.

A good, solid album, it showed that Purple still was a musical force worth paying attention to. It reached No. 17 on Billboard (platinum album), and hit top ten over most of Europe. The reunion tour once again saw Deep Purple filling the arena world wide.

The cassette and the CD had the bonus track Not Responsible. The LP had lyrics and pictures on the inner bag.

Tracks:

Knocking at your backdoor (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Under the gun (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Nobody's home (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)
Mean Streak (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Perfect Strangers (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
A Gypsy's kiss (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Wasted Sunsets (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Hungry daze (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)

CD/MC and Knebworth 85 special picture disc LP has one bonus track:
Not Responsible (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

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The House of Blue Light (Europe: Polydor 1987 ; USA: Polydor 1987 ; Japan: Polydor1987) (CD )

The "difficult second album" for the reunited Deep Purple. They used long time in the studio on this one - too long, many would say, as it's a bit overproduced and leaves a lot to be desired in the spontanity department.

I personally liked it, it's a bit like a Fireball for the 80s, with more experimenting from the band than on Perfect Strangers. Sales in the USA particullary were bad, but it sold decently in Europe. Tracks like Spanish Archer and Strangeways are outstanding Deep Purple songs, IMHO.

The LP had the lyrics printed on the inner bag.

All tracks are shorter on the LP than on the CD. (Strangeways in particular.)

Tracks:

Bad Attitude (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord)
The Unwritten Law (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Call of the Wild (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Mad Dog (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Black & White (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)

Hard Lovin' woman (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
The Spanish archer (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Strangeways (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Mitzi Dupree (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Dead or Alive (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)

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Nobody's Perfect (Europe: Polydor 1988 ; USA: Polydor 1988 ; Japan: Polydor 1988) (CD)

I don't know if the title was an excuse for doctoring these live recordings heavily in the studio, but that's what they did. Firstly, most songs are taken from several venues (more than what's listed on the album, according to people who've checked them against live tapes - actually, hardly any of the music are from the US dates listed!), and - well, it doesn't sound all that live at all... Besides, the band is not in top form.

Ah well, Deep Purple not in top form and tampered with is still Deep Purple so it's not a bad album, but hardly a necessary release. To make the confusion complete, the CD is edited down from the 2LP original and lacks some tracks, and the cassette has a track that both the CD and LP lacks, but loses one of the tracks from the LP!

Hush is a "live studio jam" recorded during the mixing of the album, and really doesn't do much.

Tracks:

Highway Star (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Strange Kind of Woman (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Perfect Strangers (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Dead or Alive (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover) *

Hard Lovin' Woman (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Bad Attitude (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord) +
Child in Time (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

Knocking at your Back Door (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Lazy (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Space Truckin' (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice) @

Black Night (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Woman from Tokyo (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Smoke on the Water (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Hush (Live Studio Jam) (Billy Joe Royal)

* On cassette only.
+ On LP only.
@ Not on CD


Album released after the split:

Knebworth 85 - In the abscence of Pink (UK: Connoisseur 1991 ; Japan: ? ?) (2CD)

22. June 1985: It was Deep Purple's only gig in the UK on their reunion tour, and it turned out to be the rainiest solstice in the country! This album is made out of BBCs tapes from the gig. Two songs are missing because the tapes were lost (one other was also lost, but they dubbed it off a bootleg of the gig!)

The sound is messier, the faults are easier heard, Ian Gillan is not in top form - but I generally prefer this one to Nobody's Perfect.

Tracks:

Highway Star (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Nobody's Home (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)
Strange Kind of Woman (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
A Gypsy's Kiss (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)

Perfect Strangers (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)
Lazy (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Knocking at your Back Door (Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Difficult to Cure (Trad. arr. Blackmore/Glover)
Space Truckin' (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

Speed King (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Black Night (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Smoke on the Water (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

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Mark VI (Mk Turner):

Slaves and Masters (Europe: RCA 1990 ; USA: RCA 1990 ; Japan: RCA? 1990) (CD)

Tensions had grown between Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore again, resulting in Ian Gillan being fired in 1989. Much to everyone's surprise, the new singer was finally announced to be Joe Lynn Turner, of former Rainbow "fame".

The resulting album has split fans: many think it's just not the same with Turner fronting, others listen more to the band, who's actually sparks off on some occations on this one. But to me, the music is just too bland.

The LP had lyrics on the inner sleeve.

Tracks:

CD:                                  LP:
King of dreams                         A: King of dreams
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner)                The Cut Runs Deep
The Cut Runs Deep                         Fire in the Basement
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner/Lord/Paice)     Fortuneteller
Fire in the Basement
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner/Lord/Paice)  B: Truth Hurts
Truth Hurts                               Love Conquers All
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner)                Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast in Bed                          Too Much is not Enough
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner)                Wicked Ways
Love conquers all
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner)
Fortuneteller
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner/Lord/Paice)
Too Much is not Enough Breakfast in Bed
 (Turner, Held, Greenwood)
Wicked Ways
 (Blackmore/Glover/Turner/Lord/Paice)

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Mark VII (Blackmore - Gillan -Glover - Lord - Paice) (Mk II re-reunion)

The Battle Rages on... (1993) (CD)

Turner didn't work, and the other's forced Ritchie to take Ian Gillan back. The result is a decent album, which has it's moment.

I've never seen the LP! :-)

Tracks:

The battle rages on (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Lick it up (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Anya (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord)
Talk about love (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Time to kill (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Ramshackle Man (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
A twist in the tale (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Nasty piece of work (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord)
Solitaire (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
One man's meat (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)

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Come Hell or High Water (Europe: RCA 1994 ; Japan: RCA 1994) (CD)

The live album from the last tour with Ritchie (1993), and finally they deliver! Good stuff. Think I rate this as the best reunion album.

Japanese CD has two bonus tracks. (Is this one out on LP at all?)

Tracks:

Highway Star (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Black Night (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
A Twist in the Tale (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Perfect Strangers (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover)
Anyone's Daughter (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Child in Time (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Anya (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord)
Speed King (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Smoke on the Water (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

Bonus tracks on Japanese CD: Lazy (edited) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)
Space Truckin' (edited) (Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice)

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Written by Trond J. Strøm - t.j.strom@ub.uio.no

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