Deep Purple covered the middle ground as well. “Blind” is a classical/rock song built around Lord’s keyboards. Donovan’s “Lalena” was the only cover song and was one of the most subdued and low-key performances of its career. It did not really fit the band’s persona. “Fault Line/The Painter” combined a short instrumental, followed by keyboards and more guitar solos. “Bird Has Flown” was psychedelic rock, which the group would soon leave behind.
Deep Purple found the band in a transition period. Blackmore’s guitar sound was moving front and center, with Jon Lord joining him in the beginning to create the basis for a long and successful career. The album was a fitting conclusion to the band’s formative years.
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Article comments
1 - jcmosquito
David - nice to see you got to the Depp Purple stuff finally. I don't know if you remember, but I took a shot at reviewing these albums in July 2008 - and ran out of steam to do the rest. However, lately, I have been listening to a lot of Deep Purple related stuff, and finding odd surprises along the way.
But first - I think you missed it on the last Simper/Evans album - I thought it was strong - well, stronger than all those Beatles' covers and other filler on the first two releases. Actually, there was a two record set called Purple Passages (the cover was mostly blue - go fig) that compiled the best of the three albums - it was pretty good actually.
But in retrospect, the Gillan/Glover deal paid off. But what happened to Simper and Evans?
Not really sure about Nick Simper - hung around in the industry and quit soon after I'd guess. Rod Evans went on to front Captain Beyond, with Johnny Winter's old drummer, Iron Butterfly's bassist, and a later Iron Butterfly guitarist, Larry Rheinhart (sp?). There's some youtube footage of them - a classic 70s hard rock band with some interesting chops, and Rod Evans sounding much tougher and harder than he did during his stint with Deep Purple. Personally - I thought the band had a terrible name, and equally terrible album covers. They could have made it, I think.
I'll be reading along as you write the rest - good luck with it. Especially if you include Rainbow, The Ian Gillan Band, David Coverdale's Whitesnake, Glen Hughes etc. etc. etc..........
2 - David Bowling
Nick Simper and The Nasty Habits have been touring for the past several years and perform the Deep Purple Mark I material.
3 - jcmosquito
And there ya go.... are they any good?
4 - David Bowling
Some of their stuff is on utube and let me say, Yikes!