Classic Rock Album of the Day- Deep Purple- Shades of Deep Purple- (1968) ** 1/2
A few years back I went on a bent as was reviewing and listening to bands who whisked through the breakthroughs and rapid fire changes of what constituted the transition of rock between 1964 and say about 1969. There is no doubt that 100% pivoted on what the Beatles were doing. But in retrospect, the way rock changed in those 5 years was breathtakingly rapid. Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Who, and Led Zeppelin are maybe the some of the best examples of great bands that worked the formula to perfection. None replicated the impact of the Beatles, but all 4 took an idea, ran with it, in a different way, and almost made genres upon themselves.
Deep Purple, of course is centered around the great guitarist Richie Blackmore. Blackmore did a fantastic job circumventing line up changes, that resulted in just enough of an incremental sound changes to keep the fans guessing, and in some cases, the music fresh. In their debut album, and few subsequent, I think you will find both critics and fans liking the original lineup, just for that classic sound. A line up with Blackmore, Paice, and Lord was the backbone of that heavy sound. Their debut album is sorely missing a flailing screaming front man singer who seemed in this music era was needed to complete the rock and roll persona and experience. That is why I believe this why Rod Evan's tenure was so short. And needless to say his foray into Captain Beyond was a disaster and it underscored his shortcomings a vocalist.
In Deep Purple terms, this is a substandard LP, but one has to be fascinated in hearing the progeny of the thought processes that even in their infancy can be plucked out of bits and pieces of this album. In the department of adapting to the psychedelia theming that all their peers were invoking, Purple was pretty much failing on that account. Purple were great hard rockers. Not a great band playing like an Iron Butterfly clone. That is why about a 1/3 of this LP is filler, but one can't discount Hush, and "And the Address" as glimpses of what is to become. Plus the fact that Blackmore had to rely on three staple covers to fill so much vinyl is not a good look. They did the covers well, but others did them better. Well maybe not Hush, and they pretty much cut that one out as their own.
Fun Fact: Yes' Rick Wakeman picked this LP as the greatest British LP ever made. No idea why.
Side 1-
-------------
And the Address- Fine instrumental, and we get spared Rod Evans voice for a bit. Has kind of psychedelia MC5/Blue Cheer touch to it, but putting Lord, Paice, and Blackmore in a focused like jam session was a true winner- 2
Hush- As I mentioned it is a cover, but one that pretty much is associated with them instead of the originals. Does anyone hardly even remember Joe South? Yes, this one's Purple's, just as much as All Along the Watchtower's is Hendrix'. Song incorporates some psychedelia, a prologue like heavy feel too, and enough hook to make it chart worthy. In retrospect, if Hush hadn't charted, would we had even seen a second Deep Purple album. Not so sure. 1
One More Rainy Day- Very dated '60's effort that misses the mark. Song sounds like a slightly edgy Monkee's tune. 7
Prelude: Happiness/I'm So Glad- Kind of a Mix of Cream's, Ulysses, and mash up of Iron Butterfly, and the slightest tinge of King Crimson. Even seems to have a hint of prog...... Prog? Naw............ 6
Side 2-
--------------
Mandrake Root- Draws from that Sookie Sookie Steppenwolf melodic line, and with the same level of hard rocking late '60's flair. Well played, and enough turns and innovation to make it a winner on this LP. 4
Help- Bizarre cover of the Beatle's classic. Extra oddity points for picking one from early Beatles catalog while butchering it. A crooning sappy ballad of this upbeat number is worse than strange. Bet Blackmore wanted this one back for a second opinion. 8
Love Help Me- Solid standard rocker, that really doesn't sound or come across as a Deep Purple. Sure seems the band was struggling with what sound they wanted to go with. Even this song, as uneven as it is, does have some redeeming moments with that quaint '60's vibe in what almost seems to be a schizophrenic LP. 5
Hey Joe- I love this song, whoever sings it, and......of course Hendrix did it best. I do like how Purple illuminated some strange but off beat angles to it though. Spanish theming,sans Spaghetti Western like.....ramming right into the famous melodic line. Nice. 3
A few years back I went on a bent as was reviewing and listening to bands who whisked through the breakthroughs and rapid fire changes of what constituted the transition of rock between 1964 and say about 1969. There is no doubt that 100% pivoted on what the Beatles were doing. But in retrospect, the way rock changed in those 5 years was breathtakingly rapid. Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Who, and Led Zeppelin are maybe the some of the best examples of great bands that worked the formula to perfection. None replicated the impact of the Beatles, but all 4 took an idea, ran with it, in a different way, and almost made genres upon themselves.
Deep Purple, of course is centered around the great guitarist Richie Blackmore. Blackmore did a fantastic job circumventing line up changes, that resulted in just enough of an incremental sound changes to keep the fans guessing, and in some cases, the music fresh. In their debut album, and few subsequent, I think you will find both critics and fans liking the original lineup, just for that classic sound. A line up with Blackmore, Paice, and Lord was the backbone of that heavy sound. Their debut album is sorely missing a flailing screaming front man singer who seemed in this music era was needed to complete the rock and roll persona and experience. That is why I believe this why Rod Evan's tenure was so short. And needless to say his foray into Captain Beyond was a disaster and it underscored his shortcomings a vocalist.
In Deep Purple terms, this is a substandard LP, but one has to be fascinated in hearing the progeny of the thought processes that even in their infancy can be plucked out of bits and pieces of this album. In the department of adapting to the psychedelia theming that all their peers were invoking, Purple was pretty much failing on that account. Purple were great hard rockers. Not a great band playing like an Iron Butterfly clone. That is why about a 1/3 of this LP is filler, but one can't discount Hush, and "And the Address" as glimpses of what is to become. Plus the fact that Blackmore had to rely on three staple covers to fill so much vinyl is not a good look. They did the covers well, but others did them better. Well maybe not Hush, and they pretty much cut that one out as their own.
Fun Fact: Yes' Rick Wakeman picked this LP as the greatest British LP ever made. No idea why.
Side 1-
-------------
And the Address- Fine instrumental, and we get spared Rod Evans voice for a bit. Has kind of psychedelia MC5/Blue Cheer touch to it, but putting Lord, Paice, and Blackmore in a focused like jam session was a true winner- 2
Hush- As I mentioned it is a cover, but one that pretty much is associated with them instead of the originals. Does anyone hardly even remember Joe South? Yes, this one's Purple's, just as much as All Along the Watchtower's is Hendrix'. Song incorporates some psychedelia, a prologue like heavy feel too, and enough hook to make it chart worthy. In retrospect, if Hush hadn't charted, would we had even seen a second Deep Purple album. Not so sure. 1
One More Rainy Day- Very dated '60's effort that misses the mark. Song sounds like a slightly edgy Monkee's tune. 7
Prelude: Happiness/I'm So Glad- Kind of a Mix of Cream's, Ulysses, and mash up of Iron Butterfly, and the slightest tinge of King Crimson. Even seems to have a hint of prog...... Prog? Naw............ 6
Side 2-
--------------
Mandrake Root- Draws from that Sookie Sookie Steppenwolf melodic line, and with the same level of hard rocking late '60's flair. Well played, and enough turns and innovation to make it a winner on this LP. 4
Help- Bizarre cover of the Beatle's classic. Extra oddity points for picking one from early Beatles catalog while butchering it. A crooning sappy ballad of this upbeat number is worse than strange. Bet Blackmore wanted this one back for a second opinion. 8
Love Help Me- Solid standard rocker, that really doesn't sound or come across as a Deep Purple. Sure seems the band was struggling with what sound they wanted to go with. Even this song, as uneven as it is, does have some redeeming moments with that quaint '60's vibe in what almost seems to be a schizophrenic LP. 5
Hey Joe- I love this song, whoever sings it, and......of course Hendrix did it best. I do like how Purple illuminated some strange but off beat angles to it though. Spanish theming,sans Spaghetti Western like.....ramming right into the famous melodic line. Nice. 3
