Deep Purple – Rapture of the Deep “The Wrong Man” rocks. Let me just say that for starters. In this latter day version of Purple, it’s a great litle groovetastic rocker. Gillan is in great voice, Airey makes you not miss Lord. At all. Whereas the title track sounds wayyyy Continue Reading
Deep Purple
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Bananas
Deep Purple – Bananas – 2003 Bye bye, Jon Lord.So, Lord leaves, Blackmore is gone, who’s left? Ian Gillan (who occasionally sounds like Ian Anderson AND Warren Zevon!), drummer Ian Paice. Not much else. Ex-Sabbath keyboardist Don Airey is here instead and Steve Morse is on guitars. You know what? Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Abandon
Deep Purple – Abandon – 1998 Abandon finds our heroes settling in to their roles as niche filling, core fans satisfying, able codgers. In 1998 did you even know that Deep Purple was still playing, let alone were releasing new music? Me neither. But I thought they stopped playing in Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Purpendicular
Deep Purple – Purpendicular – 1996 I like “Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic”. It’s a groovy, slippery trip-blues jam. For some reason it reminds me of Steely Dan at their most energized.Jon Lord’s understated piano playing on “Loosen My Strings” are a welcome surprise, followed by the horrendous over playing of Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – The Battle Rages On
Deep Purple – The Battle Rages On – 1992 Oh, just look at the album cover. If there was ever anything that screamed “Sell out!” it’s that. One thing I’ve learned from this series that the roots of Heavy Metal are deep not in the blues, but in psychedelia. Go Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Slaves and Masters
Deep Purple – Slaves and Masters – 1990 I’m so tired. It’s not because of a new baby or life or work. It’s because of the chore I have set out for myself. When it can be quickly become invigorated by, say, the resurgence to greatness by Black Sabbath on Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – The House of Blue Light
Deep Purple – The House of Blue Light – 1987 Workmanlike, at best, this second record by the Mark II version of Deep Purple is actually my favorite of their post “Smoke on the Water” records. It’s no Fireball and it’s definitely no Machine Head but the band is in Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers – 1984 Ritchie Blackmore! Ian Gillan! Jon Lord! The whole band is back! It’s a Mark II DP reunion! So how is it?!?!? Eh. Look, these guys can obviously play. And they know their instruments, how to play them and they know each others’ instruments Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard of Ozz – 1980 “Daddy, I want music, not talk!” my four year old daughter shouted to me as we were on a run to the pharmacy last night. “You got it!” I said and fired up Blizzard of Ozz, which was next on the Listening Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Come Taste The Band
Deep Purple – Come Taste the Band – 1975 I can’t believe I’m saying this but, I’ve never been so glad to hear Jon Lord’s organ. After the abysmal borefest that was Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, that instrument is a welcome sound.It should be noted that by this time the only Continue Reading