COME TASTE THE BAND

Come Taste the Band is a GREAT ROCK ALBUM, probably the most consistent of the Coverdale/Hughes era and with no shadow of a doubt the hardest rocker they released since Machine Head. Tommy's playing is inspired and lot more diverse than Blackmore. You have hard rock in the shape of Comin Home, Dealer and I need love, a lot of funk in Gettin' Tighter and Soul in You Keep on Moving and This time around/Owed to "G".

Yes its different, a lot different from Burn and Machine Head but is also refreshing cause you listen to Lord's Hammond and Pacey's drumming and you identify it as DEEP PURPLE. And if you're into Coverdale and Hughes singing (I am) you identify it as Purple too. Then there is the refreshing part - BOLIN's playing - completely different from Blackmore. He isnt even trying to play like Blackmore. He's just playing and writing what he likes.

I wouldnt call it progressive althought there's a blink of an eye in Owed to G (and Tommy Bolin was an incredibly gifted musician who played a lot of progressive music, just listen to his work with Billy Cobham, James Gang, Zephyr and his band Energy) but is essentialy a rock album for the masses.

I truly believe that a second effort from this line up would have been hugely sucessfull, because in this one they were just knowing themselves and discovering sounds that would have never been possible with Mr Blackmore handling the lead guitar work.

If you listen to the live album "On the wings of a Russian Foxbat" you will listen the full power of this rock ensemble, and probably you will agree that Come Taste the Band was just a Teaser of what they could do together.

ROCK ON