Deep Purple - Deep Purple - 1969
Deep Purple's eponymous album comes a year after their debut AND sophomore records. And from the very first few seconds you can tell it's a different affair entirely. "Chasing Shadows" is a drummer's showcase and Ian Paice is up to the challenge. The blending of tribal percussion to Blackmore's psychedelia drenched lead licks is nothing short of astonishing. It would sound contemporary 3 years later. Nothing on the previous two albums is as exciting, and I'm including "Hush" in that statement. There's only one cover on Deep Purple and it's Donovan's "Lalena", a rendition so slow and meticulous that its almost funeral. It's a terrific pairing with their cover of "Help".
On the other hand, while original material like, "Blind" COULD have fallen into the ho-hum category of the previous band's material offerings, the intensity of Blackmore and Lord's playing, each seemingly in competition with each other, upping the ante, bringing more and more power to their instrument's contribution, is perfectly matched with Paice's drumming. So, what might have been trite prog-rock of the 60s, is, instead, the foundation of what rock could and would be.
Deep Purple is an important entry into the pantheon of Metal. I think it's terrific, dark, brooding, haunting and amazing that just 9 years earlier the music scene was all about bobby soxers and teeny boppers. If you were 15 in 1955, you were 29 when this record came out. You either got it, or you got off it (or you dropped some acid and got off on it). Talk about a generational divide.
Deep Purple is the first DP album I can really get behind. It's terrific. The semi-orchestral "April" is worth the whole damned trip.
Grade: A
ASide: Why DIdn't Rosemary, The Bird Has Flown
BlindSide: Chasing Shadows, The Painter, April
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