Deep Purple - Top 10 Albums

Rock Records Reviewed

Episode 32 - Deep Purple
This week I review and rank the top 10 albums made by UK hard rock legends Deep Purple

[nielsbie]

1. In Rock 2.Machine Head 3. Fireball 4. Burn 5. Perfect Stanger 6. Purpendicular 7. Stormbringer 8. Who do You Think You are 9. Now What 10 Infinite

[beejayca]

I agree with you completely but my number one is Fireball. To me its the best thing they ever recorded. I agree that their most influential is In Rock but like you, I now find it quite jarring and harsh, which was part of its glory at the time. Alas, age and mellowing, but I like to think our tastes get more sophisticated and we don't need to be bashed over the head so much. Great video. Cheers!

[thetruthhurts]

Nice review. To me it’s Gillan’s voice that’s the sound of DP but I love Coverdale also. My ranking is like this.

1) Machine Head
2) In Rock
3) Fireball
4) WDWTWA
5) Burn
6) Perpendicular
7) Perfect Strangers
8) Bananas
9) Stormbringer
10) Deep Purple Mark 1 third album.

[tasoskan]

Another very nice video Adam. There was a time that Deep Purple was my favourite band. I was a huge fan. Fireball has always been my favourite album. And still is. Coming next are In Rock and Machine Head. And after these, come the three albums of their early period. They were trying to be progressive, like Pink Floyd and Moody Blues were at that time, but not with that much success. Soon after they found their way and became great . Thanks again for the video.

[roxannewalsh]

Time travelling again: I had heard some of the MKI songs that were played on the radio occasionally and I know I liked April but not enough to buy any of the early albums at that time. Child in Time was the song I that made me go out and get the album. That was in 1970. Of course I was a complete fan of the MKII output and I thought it was all over when that line up broke. I immediately changed my mind when I heard the Burn title song but it took some years during which I started to appreciate the whole album more and more each time I listened to it. Even the short lived Bolin version of the band was promising and their only album stands well in the catalogue. The later albums have good and better ones among them but not enough to make it into the top ranks.
1. Machine Head
2. Burn
3. Fireball (Just for the record Strange Kind of Woman was not on the original album but a single of the time, the original LP had only 7 tracks)
4. In Rock
5. Stormbringer
6. Come Taste the Band
7. Perfect Strangers
8. Who Do We Think We Are
9. Abandon
10. Deep Purple (In my assessment, they were about to become an early prog band if Richie had not got the upper hand over Jon Lord and led them into heavier stuff.)
Deep Purple being a musical companion all my life I can state that the band was not just Gillan/Blackmore (the only constant in their line up was Ian Paice, just to mention it).

[clivehutchby]

TOP TEN: 1. In Rock 2. Machine Head 3. Now What!? 4. Burn 5. Fireball 6. Infinite 7. Purpendicular 8. Perfect Strangers 9. Whoosh! 10. Stormbringer

[tobyjonesmusic]

Great video Adam, hope you’re well given the current situation. I’m going to see Deep Purple (hopefully) in October this year and I’ll admit I haven’t seriously gone into the archives of the albums. I look forward to doing just that after watching this

[wietzedejong]

1. In rock
2. Machine Head
3. Fireball
4. Burn
5. Shades of Deep Purple
6. Who do we think we are?
7. Perfect Strangers
8. Come taste the band
9. Deep Purple
10. Stormbringer

[palacerevolution]

Another great clip Adam, thanks. I was surprised to see 'Fireball' that high up. "Fireball", the track is probably one of my alltime fave cuts, with Jon Lord's blistering Organ solo. IAW you on Coverdle vs Gillan thing. Gillan is such an amazing vocalist; he did the classic DP albums; he did original Jesus Christ Superstar. But personally I am never a huge fan of vocal pyrotechnics, and the super high screeching notes. Even when they are perfectly executed. Coverdale had a lot to overcome: he had to convince masses of DP fans that he had a right to be up there. I also find it a bit fun to watch him on early shows because he is so obviously awkward on stage still. Plus, he had Hughes in the same band with him who was very much of the Gillan school of vocalists. I am not a fan of Glen Hughes lead vocals at all. I prefer Coverdale's throaty voice.

[ninoorjon]

I love all albums except Slaves & Masters, so I don't compare them. And Coverdale is a good vocalist, but Gillan is a great vocalist.

[carncats]

10. Shades Of Deep Purple
9. Perfect Strangers
8. Stormbringer
7.The Book Of Taliesyn
6. Who Do We Think We Are
5. Come Taste The Band
4. Burn
3. In Rock
2. Fireball
1. Machinehead

[paulsimister]

A band I've rarely dipped into after mark IV and I was never very impressed with the mark I. I have an emotional attachment to Come Taste The Band because it was one of the first two rock albums I every had (Christmas 1975). I went on to become a big Tommy Bolin fan. Over the years I've tended to switch between In Rock and Machine Head as their best. These days I tend to pick tracks on my DP playlist with a combination of studio and live versions.

[JohannesYtterstrom]

I must admit that Steve Morses playing took a bit getting used to. The band searched for something completely different than Ritchie Blackmore and they got it. Over time I really started to enjoy it and his earlier band "The Dixie Dregs" which is like instrumental rock thing is an absolutely must. Just a lovely band that compared to say King Crimson is very easy to fall in love with. Even if you don't like Steve Morse with Deep Purple that is something to check out. A hidden treasure in the rock community.

10. Perfect Strangers: The return in a new decade. A solid album but the production is not one that really appeals to me. I enjoy it when I listen to it but I am not drawn to this album very often. With a slightly different production this might rank higher.

9. The Book of Taliesyn: Mark I is very underrated. They hadn't really found their call but the playing is strong and some songs here and there shine. Of the three records this one has the best flow for me.

8. Now What?!: Bob Ezrin started to produce Deep Purple and suddenly they felt more on point again. At this point they don't care about the big hit single or heavy riffs but it does contain some really strong material. Uncommon Man, A Simple Song, Vincent Price among others is to me a lot stronger than much of their later day material with or without Steve Morse.

7. Purpendicular: It sounds like they are having fun again on this record but I agree that some of it is towards filler-material. Cut out 2-3 tracks and perhaps make a few songs shorter then this would been a killer record for me.

6. Who Do We Think We Are: There was a battle within the band and the record was done on pretty bad terms but I still find it all very enjoyable. For me it is sort of their "Stones"-record.. It might not offer anything new but still pretty damn good.

5. Stormbringer: An odd bird but that is the appeal to me. In my ears most of their weaker records seems like less inspired versions of earlier material. This stands out and offer great melodies and pretty good variatation. While not all songs are bonafide classics all of them are enjoyable.

4. Deep Purple In Rock: Like you the style of this album doesn't appeal to me like I think it should. It has perhaps the best hardrock song of all time, Child in Time, but the rest of it I am not 100 % keen on. It is very powerful and raw but I feel that takes away from some other parts I might have enjoyed more. Some parts everyone seems to love is just noice to me (like som The Jimi Hendrix Experience stuff). I never got why that is so great.

3. Burn: From what I understand a part of the early fight between Blackmore and Gillan was that Blackmore wanted Machine Head as some sort of concept. While Gillan wanted more variety like Fireball. Blackmore won that battle and this is to me like Coverdale/Hughes own Machine Head. A very solid record with some standout tracks.

2. Machine Head: Just lovely track after lovely track. A handful of classics and a few rather underrated tunes that meld very good together.

1. Fireball: While not as heavy as In Rock or "perfect" as Machine Head it does, as you state, have a good variety and for me it always sound fresh. It has a loose vibe to it that is very enjoyable. Perhaps not their most important album but the one I like most.

Have a great rest of your day!

[brandonbelt]

I know it's heresy, but Come Taste the Band is my favorite.

[alibobsmarland]

I prefer Coverdale voice to Gillans too.

[daveswallow]

Don't think Ritchie played a strat on In Rock, it was a Gibson semi hollow

[peterroos]

Glad you had Fireball as number 2, but In Rock should be number 1 really!! Machine Head is overrated, but still on third place for me. But hey, I´m an old man who bought them all when they came out so that colours it heavy.