HEAD BANGERS DEPARTMENT!

Deep Purple
Shades Of Deep Purple
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com

Deep Purple
The Book Of Taliesyn
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com

Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com
By George W. Harris

No, I haven’t flipped out, or gone to the dark side. At one time, the quintet Deep Purple was sort of a British rock version of Booker T. & The MGs. They could conjure up a groove that was infections, and the original band of John Lord/key-v, Ritchie Blackmore/g, Ian Paice/dr, Nick Simper/b and Rod Evans/v was able to mix blues, classical, pop and rock in a way rarely duplicated by other teams. Lord’s B3 could rival Jimmy Smith, while Blackmore’s guitar was only matched by Hendrix. Evans had the classic blue eyed soul voice, making everyone able to create music (in their first incarnation, at least) that was enjoyed by teenie boppers to fist shaking guitar freaks. Here are their first three releases.

Shades of Deep Purple came out of nowhere in 1968 with a mega hit “Hush” that is STILL used on TV commercials. Lord’s Hammond gasps for air here, as well as on the wild eyed “Mandrake Root.” An obligatory “Hey Joe” and rootsy take of Skip James’ “I’m So Glad” tip the hand to the blues, while an intriguing take of The Beatles’ “Help” gives way to the British Invasion. A few bonus tracks are added; most interesting is a cooking BBC broadcast of “Hush.” Not a bad opening hand at all!

The follow-up of the same year, Book Of Taliesyn, includes some rocking instrumentals like “Wring That Neck,” as well as the classic version of Joe South’s “Kentucky Woman” that includes one of Blackmore’s classic rock solos. He bends and twists the strings during a swinging set of bars, concluding with a snazzy little collection of fuzz chords. The band gets a bit on the heavy side with their version of “River Deep, Mountain High” and “Listen, Learn, Read On” but that’s progressive rock for ya.

1969 had the band putting out their most intriguing disc ever, a near perfect creation of what was called “progressive rock.” A gorgeous take of Donovan’s “Lalena” as well as some lovely orchestral work on the three part “April” suite. Evans’ gives haunting vocals on “Bird Has Flown” while the bonus tracks have a couple earth shaking takes of “Emmaretta.” Rock would never be this intelligent again.