COME TASTE THE BAND

Exit Blackmore, welcome to Bolin (RIP) and mark IV. This was second shock for me in 1975 (after the departure of Gabriel from Genesis). It seems that the three youngsters (Bolin, Coverdale, Hughes) have brought a new dynamic in the band. The newbies are in control and the old guard is just playing what they are told. Coverdale will co-sign seven tracks, Bolin six, Hughes three. Lord and Paice only one ...

The opener "Comin'Home" starts almost like "Speed King" for eighteen seconds, then continues like "Highway Star" : well that's not a bad start, right ? A great opener like the Purple are used to. Lord is pumping his keyboard again like a devil. I just have wished that it would have last longer... "Lady Luck" is a short hard rock tune with powerful vocals (but that will be the Purple's trademark after their Mark I era). I guess that Coverdale / Hughes is one of the best duo of the rock history. "Gettin' Tighter" is in the same vein, but with some strong keyboards and good guitar work from Tommy. "Dealer" closes side one. It is quite hard rocking : great vocals and superb guitar work of the young talented Bolin.

Side two starts with "I Need Love" and is similar to "Lady Luck" : a standard hard-rock Purple track. The rythm of this song (but this is a global remark for the whole album) is slower than previously. Lord is more in the background (it was already noticeable on "Stormbringer"). The end of the song is rather funky. "Drifter" is a very heavy track : slow tempo with good background band to support very strong vocals. At times, the rythm increases and make this tune quite a decent one. The next track, "Love Child" shows the lack of inspiration of the Purple at this moment. This song is really too close to "Drifter". Therefore this album sounds a bit repetitive. "This Time Around" (the sole Lord's contribution co-signed with Hughes) is a romantic ballad followed by the intrumental "Owed To G". This will be the appetizer for the best and the last (already) track of the (short) album.

"You Keep On Moving" : starts very slowly with keys, bass and cymbals. Then the rest of the band is joining : vocals and guitar entering the scene beautifully. The singer duo (and composers of this song) just sounds fabulous while the tempo increases. The song builds crescendo and turns into a brilliant Purple classic. Lord plays one of the too few keyboard break with great conviction. What a great manner to close this album ! One of the all time best Purple song (like another twenty as I already have mentioned in another Purple review) !

Although this album will not be remembered very muchne, it is a good one. It will peak at the 19th spot in the UK charts (Nr. 43 in the US). Three stars and ready for Mark V (actually the come back of the Mark II line-up) with Perfect Strangers in ... 1984.