There's no doubt Deep Purple was one of the 70's premiere hard rock bands. Just look at some of the facts: their live album Made in Japan consistently ranks near the top of critics' lists of all time greatest live rock albums. They once held the record for World's Loudest Band, and of course, they wrote "Smoke On the Water," which opens with the most recognizable heavy rock guitar riff ever. Yes, they're often acknowledged as giants in their genre, but even nowadays there never seems to be much critical discussion of their work.
I think at least part of the reason why is that for many years there weren't a lot of easily available copies of outtakes and rarities, which often offer another perspective from which to take the measure of an artist. This was to have been rectified by the Rhino reissues which came out about ten years ago. However, despite being loaded up with b-sides, outtakes, alternate mixes, and studio snippets, I'm of the impression they failed to catch on with the general public or even most rock fans. It seems that only hardcore DP fans gave them more than a passing glance.
Turns out there's a reason: the reissues don't really add much to the legend. I thought in particular, the four studio albums made by the Mark II version of the band would have been revealing, but they aren't. In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, and Who Do We Think We Are make up the crown jewels in the DP canon, so one would think in their expanded formats there would be some additional gems brought to light. Well, bassist Roger Glover remixes many tracks, and they do sound somewhat nicer, but you'd have to be paying close attention to notice much difference. And the b-sides and outtakes have been relegated to their proper status in also-ran limbo.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Damn. Here I was all primed for a "Discographer" type series on the 'Purp by the Skeet. So I'm a bit disapointed you didn't go that route here.
Still, nice overview. Maybe one day they'll get around to updating this seminal band's catalog, and giving it the deluxe treatment it really deserves.
-Glen
2 - JC Mosquito
Well, Glen, firstly it was Mr. Bowling who recently got the inspiration for daily blow by blow, album by album reviews, so I'm not going to try to steal his thunder, ride his coattails, etc..... besides, I don't think I could sustain it for more than a week. Secondly, the fact is Deep Purple is one band I don't want to over-think - they've been hard wired into my ear since I was about 11 years old - like how your starch of choice is bread, rice or potatoes depending on what your mother fed you as a child. Finally, ah..... well, I can't think of anything right now - oh yeah - because of their constant personnel changes I'm reviewing their albums in groups - next I'm going for the original Mark I albums with Rod Evans and Nick Simper. But my vacation starts tomorrow so I might have to get around to it when I'm not relaxing oceanside in the sand - as if! Not even zingzing's complete Beach Boys collection could get me doing that!
Skeeter.
3 - David Bowling
Great overview for a band whose albums I wore out in college. My favorite Deep Purple song remains "Rat Bat Blue" from Who Do You Think We Are. I would have enjoyed your reviewing each album. Ideas are meant to be shared. Enjoy the sand and foam, David