STRANGE KIND OF WOMAN/I'M ALONE

Better change the title lads

"Strange kind of woman" was recorded during the sessions for the "Fireball" album. Although it was included in the US release of that album (where it replaced "Demon's eye") it was excluded from the UK version. The single was released while the album was still being recorded, thus preceding the album's title track which became a single later that year. As the follow up to the band's first hit single "Black night", the song reached the top 10 in the UK, peaking at number 8. One has to wonder whether the song would have entered the chart at all, had it continued to bear its original title of "Prostitute"!

Given the slightly prog nature of the song's arrangement, which sees a heavy "Black night" like riff interrupted by some smooth, reflective lead guitar, the chart success reflects well on the healthy tastes of the record buying public at the time. (It should be remembered that singles chart success was much harder to gain in the early '70s, as much higher sales were required then, and songs tended to remain on the chart far longer.)

The B side "I'm alone" did not appear on any version of the album prior to the 25th anniversary edition remaster, where it was included as a bonus track. While adequate, it is something of a throwaway which was not worthy of its peers on the excellent "Fireball" album.

It seems that by the early seventies some record labels from the U.K. still considered that some songs which were released on singles by some bands should not be included in their albums, despite being recorded at the same recording sessions for those albums. So, while both songs of this single were recorded during the "Fireball" recording sessions, none of them were included in the U.K. version of that album. But in the U.S and in some countries, "Strange Kind of Woman" was released in their versions of the "Fireball" album. I think that "Strange Kind of Woman"" was a much better song than "Fools" or "Anyone`s Daughter". But as a single "A -side "release, it was a very good choice, in my opinion, because I consider it as one of the best songs recorded during the "Firebal" sessions. Maybe it was the most accessible song from those recording sessions, so maybe that was the reason it was released as a single. It is one of my favorite songs from the band, but I prefer the live version from the "Made in Japan" album.

The B-side, "I´m Alone", is also a good song, more like a fast Rock and Roll / Blues song, also much better than "Fools" or "Anyone`s Daughter", in my opinion. It really did not deserve to be relegated as the "B-side" of this single.

Their record company was keen on the money they could generate with Purple. That's why you couldn't have "Black Night" on "In Rock".

"Strange King of Woman" is the same story. This song will have a HUGE version on "Made In Japan". With a fantastic "call & response" between Ritchie & Ian. So close to the departure of the former. Blackmore was unbearable to Gillan and force to quit soon after their MIJ tour (which I witnessed in Brussels in March 73. I was 14.

And in December, I will see one of the first appearance of Mark III. Same place. But not as crowded than their previous show in March.

It was really overcrowded. Such a concert could NEVER take by now because of so many risks taken..

A similarity with "Black Night", is that the B-side (I'm Alone") is also a very good, powerful and energetic song.

A solid 4* for this excellent single.