MACHINE HEAD

Deep Purple

Proto-Prog

4.34 | 1347 ratings

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One of the most influential rock albums ever made, my one and only experience at a Deep Purple concert was buying really expensive tickets five rows from the front and being warned to wear ear plugs, then not being able to see the stage when the concert started because there was a surge of people to the front of the stage. I can't even remember whether I enjoyed the concert or not. It was a long time ago. Richie Blackmore has legend status in Australia and it's easy to see why when you listen to this album. Machine Head showcases his talents as brilliantly as any other album the band has made.

Smoke on the Water features one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time and it's not even the best song on the album. For me that accolade goes to Lazy, the proggiest and the funkiest, with some Hendrix like guitar licks from Ritchie Blackmore and a great organ intro from Jon Lord that gives you no clue where the song is leading you to. Pictures of Home is almost as good as lazy. It starts on drums with a great driving beat from Ian Paice, then goes into several guitar solos before Jon Lord comes in on Hammond organ and then Roger Glover, not be outdone comes up with a great bass solo near the end.

The opener, Highway Star, is a little like the main riff in Fireball, only a lot better, more interesting catchy tune, with some really fine organ soloing from Jon Lord, Ian Gillian's high voice driving it and Ritchie Blackmore waiting in the wings a bit contributing to the overall rhythm before coming in near the end with a stunningly quick guitar solo. Maybe I'm Leo, reduces the pace of the album to a slow heavy number, which suits Ian Gillian's voice to provide a bluesy touch to the song. Blackmore is equally good playing blues as hard rock. If there is a weak song, it's Never Before, with a fairly generic tune, but Roger Glover provides his best bass work on the album, which makes it as interesting to listen to as the rest of the album.

Space Truckin', which finishes the album, would have made just as good an opener as Highway Star. The next best guitar riffing after Smoke on the Water, here on Machine Head, it's only four and a half minutes long. I'm more used to the extended live version on the Made in Japan album, but this shorter version is just as good.

Machine Head reminds you that back in the days of vinyl, bands were restricted to about 40 minutes of music. Deep Purple cram into those 40 minutes of music not one wasted note. Pity bands like Dream Theater today, working with the luxury of CD's, don't know when to stop and overfill their albums with a lot of noodling. They could learn off Deep Purple.

iluvmarillion | 5/5 | 2020-9-10

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