Deep Purple-Deep Purple

Deep Purple

What artwork! On this the 3rd album by Deep Purple, Rod Evans, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice and Nick Simper produced another gem. Nice opening track "Chasing Shadows", the psychedelic-pop of "Blind", really like the modern jazz playing by Jon Lord, Blackmore also gives a stand up job too. Donovan's "Lalena", Rod Evans vocals are fantastic, nice cover. "Fault Line/The Painter", one of my favorites from early Deep Purple, Blackmore's guitar work is freakin' great, Lord's organ and Ian Paice's drumming is tops. this should be played on every classic rock station! "Bird Has Flown", with that funky beginning, almost reminds me of Evans' Captain Beyond. Another solid effort here, after this album bassist Nick Simper and vocalist Rod Evans would be fired, months later in came Ian Gillan and Roger Glover from Episode Six. Next studio album would be "In Rock", for 1970. A big change in direction for the band. I own this CD and probably heard it first (Vinyl) around '70/'71. I loved it right away and did my early trippin' to it. What memories! As the other reviewer said, this stuff beats out the following more commercial material. The sound quality is the best you're gonna get. It amazes me how the original tapes have held up after 35/40 years. If you like acid rock with a few twists (the Donovan song "Lalena") you will be glad you made this purchase. Go for it!