Deep Purple: 'Come Taste the Band' - is it really that bad?

Deep Purple's 'Come Taste the Band' is an album that has attracted a lot of criticism, perhaps unfairly so. This, Mk.4's only album and In this video I ask ... is it really that bad?

If you like my channel and appreciate the work that goes into my videos, please support my channel. You can -

Become a Patron! - Be part of a Classic Rock Community!

Make a one-time donation!

Buy me a coffee.

Like the Facebook page:

#deeppurple #classicalbum

[vman]

Happy New Year Barry! First of all, I love when you do these types of videos. We must see things (or hear them) very similarly. Another album that people shit all over and is really a very good album despite Glenn Hughes issues...and Tommy Bolin's as well. Like you said, Bolin's accelerated during the tour. This has got some of my favorite Deep Purple tunes (and I agree with Jon Lord that this should not have been a DP album). I almost believe it could've been labeled as the first Whitesnake album. Blackmore didn't like the direction the band was headed...couldn't get into the funky sound. Bolin was a VERY nice replacement. Again, some of my favorite songs on here: You Keep On Moving, Lady Luck, Getting Tighter, Dealer.... Yes, there are better and more memorable DP albums but by no means is this album poor. Thanks again for the video Barry. Great job as always! V

[FatherStack]

I love this album. Definitely one of Purple's most overlooked and under-appreciated albums.

[sullenoldsam]

I'm surprised so few people are bringing up the absolute jewel that is This Time Around/Owe It To 'G'. The main riff and lead guitars on the latter part of the medley are simply astonishing.

[WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

I have to echo what everyone else says, I love this album. I love the Coverdale/Hughes era. Over the last 10 years or so, when I want to hear Deep Purple, I'm always reaching for those 3 albums. Loads of creative talent looking for an expression that became this album. Burn to Taste is my favorite Deep Purple era.

[VantagePointrocks]

Certainly a step up from Stormbringer, and while, for me, it never hits the heights of Machine Head or Burn, the quality is consistently high across the album. The two more tender moments, You Keep On Moving and This Time Around, are probably my favourite on the album. But in, Coming Home and Getting Tighter, they do show that they can rock like the previous incarnations of the band. Definitely a worthwhile addition to the Purple back catalogue. Bit of a shame that the drug problems of Bolin and Hughes meant this album was to be a one off.

[chutspe]

"You keep on moving" is among my favourite DP songs.

[Moteridgerider]

The contrast between Tommy Bolin’s style and Blackmore’s took me a long time to accept back in the early eighties, when I first heard CTTB. Now, however, I appreciate Bolin’s unique tone and phrasing. His solo on ‘You Keep on Moving’ is a masterpiece. No fancy runs or scales, just classy playing.

[marclahn]

YOU KEEP ON MOVING (what Barry said about the keys v. guitar interplay is a critical good point!), DEALER (grinding good number...the deluxe edition disc 2 features an even more aggressive powerful version) and TB's ferocious soloing on COMIN' HOME are the true highlights for me.


Excellent review, as per usual!

Marc
✨

[peterx]

Great video. Come Taste The Band was never a 'bad' album and it's one of my favourite Purple releases. Surprising to hear that Bolin played bass on a couple of tracks. I saw the MKIV lineup here in Sydney. Ian Paice on drums holds it together. A fantastic drummer whom I would suggest surpasses the noisy Moon & solid, heavy Bonham as a skillful player. Paice is my drumming hero. This IS a Deep Purple album.

[loftlegacy]

A brilliant album that was light years ahead of its time and you can’t stop having a little dance when you put it on.
Sad this era ended in tragedy with Bolin’s death, the incident in Jakarta and Hughes’ addictions…. Whilst Paice, Ashton, Lord and Lord David of the White Snake were great successors to this Purple.

[doktoruzo]

I first heard it in 1979 and have loved it ever since. It was slated when released but time has been kinder to it.
It prompted me to buy Tommy Bolin's solo Lp's which I also love and still play over 40 years later.

[DCToonTime]

Not classic Purple, but in 2023 I am more likely to reach for Burn, Stormbringer or Taste to listen to rather than Machine Head or In Rock, great as they are.

[rikgay]

I absolutely adore this album, got into it heavily around 98/99.
Tommy Bolin had such a great tone!

[micolsen]

It's a very good Deep Purple album. I lived through that era and it was just as enjoyable as the previous albums w/ Coverdale and Hughes.
In hindsight, this album holds its own with any Rock album of 1975/76. If I remember correctly, classic rock magazine gave CTTB a 10/10 when reviewing the deluxe edition.
P.S. Ian Paice the unsung hero... it still had the feel of a deep Purple album.

[TheDeepPurplePodcast]

Excellent review! Always glad to see this album get some much needed love!

[backrowbrighton]

I have always loved this album and often feel it has been one of the ignored greats of the period. This album inspired me to check out Tommy Bolin's work in previous bands such as Zephyr and the James Gang plus his work with Billy Cobham. Such a tragedy Tommy passed away so young. Also what an incredible survivor Glen Hughes is.

[MrBielok]

This is my all-time favourite album. Coverdale here sounds better than ever and Tommy Bolin is just... One detail though Barry, Tommy Bolin plays bass on Coming Home. Glenn Hughes got sent home to recover from his habit since he was totally unable to perform and they needed one more song. This Time Around is a real cry for help from Glenn. So Tommy played bass and did the deep backing voice.

[garyh.]

TRUE in my youth in early 1976 when CTTB first came out, I immediately dismissed it with one cursory listen. After having seen the album cover displayed in the record shop window, I was intrigued to know what Purple might sound like, "Blackmore-less". I was unable to abide what I was hearing and promptly headed down to the second-hand record shop the next day to dispose of it - completely disgusted that I had wasted about $7.00 and was only getting back a measly 75 cents for it. And bitterly, I felt as if my favourite band Deep Purple had betrayed me.

THEN a quarter century 2002 I picked up a compilation album of Jazz Rock Fusion and happened upon a couple of tracks on it which had been pulled from the Billy Cobham Spectrum album. The guitar performances on those two pieces were absolutely stunning. I was intrigued....who was that fabulous guitarist I thought? I read through the liner notes and the name appeared: "Tommy Bolin". I was floored. I listened and listened again, and then totally immersed myself in all things Bolin had touched: Zephyr, Energy, James Gang, the Billy Cobham and Alphonse Mouzon fusion projects, the studio cameo solos on Moxy, and most of Bolins' own solo studio and live albums.

To say that I had become a Bolin believer would be a gross understatement. Yes Ritchie Blackmore was, is, and will forever be my greatest guitar hero ever; however with Bolin came an unbridled, natural feel player who oozed such fluidity on the fretboard. A completely different style than Blackmore, more raw and less technical, but with total mastery of the in a live setting.

When I revisited Come Taste the Band, I didn't necessarily hear that same guitar virtuosity from Bolin on that studio album, nor on that aberration: Last Concert in Japan. But, to hear him on the official Purple release of the Long Beach concert, as well as many of the Tommy Bolin Archives live can hear a true master at work.

History am now a big fan of the CTTB album. It is for me a fresh take on the Purple beast. A one-off, but a nice one. I would highly recommend people pick up the remastered version which was released back circa 2011. It includes a bonus track of Bolin jamming with wild abandon, accompanied only by Ian Paice on drums. Those two cook up an absolute storm. Any doubters of Tommy's chops will change their minds about him. Check it out if you can.

[pedrorocha]

Well, in what Purple's concerned, this is the last album where we have the magical Paice. In 84 and from Perfect Strangers on, he would more or less convencionally play the rythm and not much more. CTTB is an album that aged very well. And it would be worthwhile just by containing «This Time Around/Owed To 'G' »

[andrewk]

One of my favorite albums! Very solid, balanced and real classic rock piece of art. Thank you Michael for bringing it up. Well done.