Deep Purple – Who Do We Think We Are! – 1973
WDWTWA starts off with that familiar classic rock radio staple, “Woman From Tokyo”. I always thought it was Skynrd or Foghat or someone. Could have been Kiss for all I knew. It’s not bad it’s just very generic. It’s a great track. But it’s not genius. I’m beginning to smell a roller rink….
While I kind of enjoy “Smooth Dancer”, the song brings to focus that this is a band that seems to have run out of ideas. It’s as rote a swingin’ rocker as I’ve ever heard.
And “Rat Rat Blue” sounds like a band that was so bored they just rewrote the opening track. It’s awful. And the swirling solos in the middle just sound like a bunch of guys showing off.
Singer Ian Gillan would leave the band after this. I don’t entirely blame him. Being forced to sing “Place in Line” would make anyone leave.
The album closer, “Our Lady” could have been a leftover from some late 60s Beatles/Stones Satanic/Mystery epic. But nowhere near as good and 6 years too late.
Grade: C-
ASIde: Woman from Tokyo
BlindSide: Smooth Dancer
DownSide: Rat Rat Blue, Place in Line, Our Lady
