BLACK NIGHT/SPEED KING

December 1970. Almost twelve years old.

"Paranoïd", "Whole Lotta Love", "See Me, Feel Me" and "Black Night". These four singles were purchased on the same Wednesday afternoon (school finished at noon and I used to go and buy records before going home).

These songs are still ones of my favourites. Nothing prog here of course; but so great music.

I couldn't imagine how much Purple would influence my young life (as the other three bands of course). When the band had finished with the "In Rock" sessions, the managers of the Harvest label were very enthusiastic about what they had heard, but there was something missing, in their opinion. A song for a single release.

OK, said the band. You're going to get it. They sat together for about two hours but couldn't get anything. So, they went out to a pub and stayed there for a while. Roger & Ritchie went back to the studio and the latter started jamming. It sounded very good to Roger and Ritchie told him : "It is borrowed from Summertime - Ricky Nelson". "You can't use that" said Roger. Ritchie replied : "Why not? Have you ever heard of it" said Ritchie ? Roger said "No". And Ritchie to conclude : "Fine" !

Ian Gillan said later : "We borrowed the title from the words of an old Arthur Alexander song. We stole the tempo from On The Road Again (Canned Heat). Roger and I sat trying to write the most banal lyrics we could think of".

And here you go for "Black Night". Their highest ranking in the UK charts!

My original copy had a black cover with just the song name in white (while "Speed King" was written in yellow). It was more in line with the title of the song than the one featured here.

"Black Night" is of course one of the anthems of the band. They still play it during their concerts (the last time I saw them was in May 2007, some thirty four years after my first Purple concert). There is an excellent and longer version available on the 25th anniversary edition of "In Rock" with more guitar solo.

What is extraordinary about this single is also its B-side. I played it as much as the A-side actually. It was one of the first song of "In Rock" (October 69) in gestation, while the superb and heavy intro was first cut in November. The first version was with a piano (also available, but remixed on the fanstastic 25th year anniversary version of the album). The version available here is the organ one.

This song is another Purple jewel. They could extend it to over fifteen minutes during their live sets and it also belongs to my beloved Purple song.

The quotation for the "Black Night" story are available on the liner notes of the special "In Rock" edition.

As a single this one deserves five stars. Thanks Bob for the entry. It reminds me great souvenirs.

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