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Deep Purple - Shades of Deep Purple CD (album) cover

SHADES OF DEEP PURPLE

Deep Purple

 

Proto-Prog

3.29 | 634 ratings

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TCat
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
3 stars The story of Deep Purple begins with the name of a musician that you won't see on any of Deep Purple's album line-ups. That person was Chris Curtis, former drummer of the beat band 'The Searchers'. The British taste in rock music was changing, and the beat bands were dying out, so Curtis had plans to start a new band that followed along with those changes, something that would be similar to The Nice or The Moody Blues. Something psychedelic, like Jimi Hendrix or Cream, yet experimental like Pink Floyd and something accessible like The Rolling Stones. Curtis' idea was to be the lead singer to a revolving bunch of band members who would step off and on the stage while he remained the only constant. The band was to be called 'Roundabout'.

Early on, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were recruited to be in this new band. It was soon found that Curtis was going to be too authoritative, and was asked to leave the band, however, Lord and Blackmore enjoyed working together so they continued to recruit members. Nick Simper was soon recruited as bass player. Ian Gillian was also asked to joint, but declined. Rod Stewart was considered but was felt that he wasn't up to standard. However, Rod Evans did make the cut and left his club band 'The Maze' and brought along Ian Paice as drummer who replaced the original choice. The band didn't change their name until after some demos were recorded. Just before their first gig, Blackmore suggested naming the band after his grandmothers favorite song, and the name 'Deep Purple' stuck. The five original members (later known as the Mk. 1 lineup) started working on their first album, rehearsing for 2 months and recording it in 3 days. The album has 4 original tracks and 4 covers. The decision to do so many covers was because none of them at the time were accomplished song writers and to also try to follow in the footsteps of 'Vanilla Fudge' in making extra long versions of famous covers.

'And the Address', one of the original songs on the album, is the opening track and is also the first written by the band. It starts things off with an instrumental, opening with what would become the familiar psychedelic organ and guitar power chord sound. The sound is a bit rough and unpolished compared to what it would in later years. The song has the blues-y sound of Cream, but sounded more like beginners at the time. This is followed by the first cover on the album 'Hush', which would also be the first single. Those unfamiliar with Deep Purple's earlier sound will notice the mostly unremarkable voice of Ron Evans, not that he was bad, he just didn't stand out much. The killer organ sound would stand out, however, and would be the thing that would push the band's signature sound even more in subsequent albums. The single would turn out to be a hit for the band and it got their name out to the UK public. The B-side of that single is the next track on the album; 'One More Rainy Day'. This one was written by Lord and Evans and was the last track to be recorded for the album. It sounds more like an accessible song, very pop-oriented and also underwhelming. The first side ends with a longer track 'Prelude: Happiness/I'm So Glad' which is partially written by the band and partially a cover of a Skip James song. The first half, which is credited to the entire band, actually uses parts from the classical composition 'Scheherezade' by Rimsky-Korsakov before moving into a poppy version of James' delta blues song, which was also covered by 'Cream'. It does have a few extended instrumental sections, but they sound like a beginner band.

The 2nd side opens with an original track called 'Mandrake Root' which was originally an instrumental. Lyrics were added at the last minute because the band didn't want more than one instrumental on the album. The song has a more blues inspired sound more like the first track on the album. Incidentally, both tracks were recorded at the same time. The instrumental break features fast and furious drums and a boiling organ solo with a heavy and psychedelic guitar solo following later. The cover of The Beatles 'Help!' follows. This is a much slower version than the original and given the psychedelic treatment very similar to that of 'Vanilla Fudge'. This was apparently the track that landed Deep Purple a recording contract. It is actually a beautiful rendition of the song, but it also leans more towards a pop sound with instrumental break becoming a bit more intense. 'Love Help Me' is an original track written by Blackmore and Evans, but is mostly underwhelming. The final track on the original version was another cover, this time of 'Hey Joe', which had been made famous by Jimi Hendrix. Deep Purple's version starts it off with a 'Bolero' style, long introduction before it kind of clumsily slips into the familiar song. It's a decent enough version at least for a new band, but with the attempt to bring in the Spanish feel ends up making it sound a bit choppy and messy.

The Remastered CD edition of the album includes an outtake, an original song called 'Shadows' which was left off the album. It sounds more like on of their more accessible tracks, a bit too poppy and one that was definitely better left off the album. There is an instrumental version of 'Love Help Me' which is still just as underwhelming as the album version. Then there is an alternate take of 'Help!' which isn't much different from the album version, probably less interesting if anything. A BBC Top Gear Session version of 'Hey Joe' takes out the Spanish dance sections at the beginning and end and actually presents a more concise and 'cleaner' version. The last bonus track is a live US TV performance of 'Hush'

So, this ends up being a not very consistent album for a band that would soon enough establish themselves as one of the best hard rock bands eventually. But this album pretty much remains entertaining mostly for the historical value than anything else. The fact that the album had to be recorded so quickly makes it feel like a rush job. After this album, the band would move to a more jam and experimental band, focusing more on the psychedelic sound that would carry them through their first years. As far as this album, it is fairly underwhelming and definitely has very little to offer as far as progressive music is concerned, but it still ends up being a decent hard rock effort by what was then a fledgling band who never though they would be around as long as they now have been.

TCat | 3/5 |

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