Deep Purple Prog or Not

Maike:

I can't find the appropriate words to say to what extent I share your views. You're absolutely right, and I did start a thread several weeks ago to include DP, at least the solo albums of Jon Lord here.

I think you're wrong on one point: DP did have a concept album - Concerto! You might like it, you might not like it, but it is there, and the Concerto was played the same year ItCotCK, the very first prog album according to many, was released. Concerto is one of the earliest examples of Symphonic prog, and so is Jon Lord's sequel to this album: Gemini Suite. Too bad it was not recorded with DP line up (albeit 2 more members than Lord himself) in studio, and the live version with DP is very obscure (I couldn't find it yet)

And though it should be discussed in another topic, you're right about (Ozzy era) Sabbath too. I believe Wakeman contributed by more than merely playing keyboards. You can feel his influence in every second of the album, even in Ozzy's singing! No surprise Ozzy some 30 years later paid his debt by singing in the magnificent Return to the Center of the Earth album!
Sabbath's Vol 4, Master of Reality and Sabotage albums are also very proggy, you might add never say die if you wish! I believe these should be included under a seperate category (such as "prog related") and already discussed this in other reviews.

Anyway, Deep Purple is absolutely prog. They have non-prog songs-albums, so what! How many non prog songs does Genesis have?!?!? Albums? Even Yes has very downfall moments.

I can't even compare DP to Queen (though I like them too) and the dreadful Radiohead! I can only compare them to Uriah Heep, which, according to me, is very similar to Deep Purple in many ways (heavy approach, use of keyboards, vocal style), though some do not agree with me on this point. (I understand, because Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream seem similar at first likewise, but they are very different indeed) No matter what, anyone will appreciate the similarity between DP and UH to some extent.

It is not about trying to have my fave band included. DP has long ceased to be my favorite, but I still enjoy their music, and appreciate their music enough to see the "prog" within the "heavy".

Hats off to Deep Purple!

P.S. Despite all the arguments against DP, please consider Jon Lord seperately as a solo artist.

deep purple is not prog

but 'rainbow' sounds more prog.

The Miracle wrote: They're as prog as Rush and proggier than queen. Great art rock, or maybe even prog metal

I do agree with you when it comes to Queen, but not to Rush. Surely their first two albums have more prog elements than the others they recorded (not counting, of course, "Concerto for Group and Orchestra"). They were great, anyway.

Rainbow? That's another story... "Rising" is one of the first prog-metal albums, but one album does not make a prog band.

M. B. Zapelini wrote: The Miracle wrote: They're as prog as Rush and proggier than queen. Great art rock, or maybe even prog metal I do agree with you when it comes to Queen, but not to Rush. Surely their first two albums have more prog elements than the others they recorded (not counting, of course, "Concerto for Group and Orchestra"). They were great, anyway. Rainbow? That's another story... "Rising" is one of the first prog-metal albums, but one album does not make a prog band.

And not the first 2 albums only: at least you should check these out (with an unprejudiced mind):

1. Shades of Deep Purple
2. The Book of Taliesyn
3. Deep Purple (their most proggy album, IMHO. includes the great 3-part suite April)
4. Concerto (as you have already mentioned. Why not counting???)
5. In Rock (let the title not mislead you. It's a great prog album!)
6. Fireball (includes great longer tracks, The Mule, Fools, Demon's Eye)
7. Machine Head (one of the greatest hard-prog albums of all time. Let's not get stuck into Smoke on the Water. Highway Star, Space Truckin', Maybe I'm a Leo, Pictures of Home are great proggy tracks, not to mention the jazzy -and great- number "Lazy"!!!)

at least, you may stick onto the first 3 albums with mk1 line up... not just 2!

Peace!