March 25, 1972 - Deep Purple and Machine Head

Three weeks after my last release, a new band joins my library when Deep Purple released their sixth studio album "Machine Head" on March 25, 1972. But who are Deep Purple? They are a five-piece hard rock band from Hertford, England and another one of the pioneers of heavy metal. I am admittedly not their biggest fan, as this is my only album by Deep Purple in my library, but it is definitely a must-have. The line-up on this album consists of original members Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Jon Lord (keyboards) and Ian Paice (drums, percussion) as well as Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Gillan (lead vocals, harmonica). The original vinyl had 7 tracks, but like with "Black Sabbath" an additional song was added when it was re-released on CD and it's this 8-track version that I have. Let's give it a listen!

Side one opens up with "Highway Star" and has quite the scream by Gillan. A great rock and roll riff carries the song as Gillan sings about speeding along in his car. There is a wicked organ solo by Lord, really awesome stuff! Blackmore's cool guitar riff brings it back for a third verse and afterwards takes over for a solo. He starts slow, but builds into some more great stuff! They finish with a classic rock flourish and this album is certainly flying out of the gates! The next song is called "Maybe I'm A Leo" whis is Led by a really catchy. It just has such a nice beat to it, it's bouncing! We hear another cool solo that starts as guitar, then changes to organ. Paice plays some nice drum fills bring it back for another verse and Blackmore plays another guitar solo that fades out to end the song. Track 3 is titled "Pictures Of Home" and has a great drum opening, and a cool guitar riff by as well. Gillian's singing is great again, I think he's a pretty good singer. The guitar solo is pretty sweet, and the organ solo is pretty great as well! Glover plays an awesome little bass riff too, and this song has everyone contributing, another great rock song. Side one ends with "Never Before", a slow guitar jam with more great singing by Gillan. They slow it down even more briefly, and there's a decent guitar solo, but it ends with a great piano solo by Lord! Lord and Blackmore have both really shown their stuff on this first side.

Side two starts with "Smoke On The Water" which is led by a simple, but epic guitar riff that carries the whole song. The lyrics describe true events: Deep Purple had gone to Montreux, Switzerland to record "Machine Head" and the "The Casino", the venue they were to record at was going to be theirs after one final live show by Frank Zappa's band. During that concert, a fan launched a flare gun inside the arena, causing a huge fire. Luckily, no one was majorly hurt but the studio had been destroyed and Deep Purple would have to record elsewhere. This is what the lyrics to the song are about, a very interesting tale. Blackmore delivers a solid guitar solo, and Lord adds some cool organ in the final verse. The next song "Lazy" begins with some amazing heavy organ by Lord. It sounds wonderful and hits so hard! Some fantastic guitar starts a new riff, and the organ copies it for cool little jingle they use throughout the song. It's guitar solo time and we hear some more great stuff by Blackmore, followed by a fantastic organ solo by Lord. Finally Gillan sings a few lines before delivering a spicy harmonica solo! Prerty good stuff, and once again I'm not doing it justice when I say there's more awesome guitar and organ. A really fantastic song, with some really great stuff by keyboardist Jon Lord. Track 7 is called "Space Truckin'" and the bass and organ play a synchronized riff to open it. Guitar joins as well for an awesome catchy riff that carries the chorus. I love Gillan's super high screaming, he sounds great and this song is such a headbanger! It seems like a guitar solo is starting, but ends up being cool drum solo by Paice! Blackmore adds more great guitar at the end with some more nice yelling by Gillan. The vinyl ended here, but my final song is "When A Blind Man Cries", originally a B-side. Slow, sad guitar leads the song and Gillan sings really well. His voice sounds like real pain and emotion and he does a great job fitting the mood of the song. Blackmore plays lots of cool guitar throughout this blues-y jam and I think it's a great slower addition to a mostly fast-paced album.

That is the end of "Machine Head" and that was a pretty fantastic album! "Highway Star" and "Lazy" are both really good and there are no bad songs at all in an album exploding with catchy riffs. Deep Purple really nailed it with this one, and they also inspired many others, including a whole metal band in the future that is named "Machine Head". It's certainly a great addition to the library. It's a "couple months" until my next release, see you then!