Number 76 - Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple

Number 76: Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple 

Rock and roll royalty

Release: June 5th, 1970
Genre: Hard Rock
Favorite Tracks: Child in Time, Speed King, Bloodsucker

 

Where I heard it: 

While Deep Purple may not be a household name, certainly their most recognizable tune Smoke on the Water rings a bell with even the least musically literate. This was my relationship with Deep Purple pretty much all the way until my junior year in high school, when one of my friends and I were discussing the greatest keyboard solos of all time. I was quick to suggest classics like Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, but my friend was adamant in discussing the legitimacy of Deep Purple pianist John Lord, specifically on Speed King. I remember looking up the song on YouTube over a summer night on my backyard deck, less smitten by the keyboard solo and more impressed by the overall arrangement of Speed King in general. I had heard a handful of Deep Purple's radio hits before, and they left plenty to be desired as far as innovation and excitement. Little did I know, Deep Purple as a band were in fact one of the most influential bands in taking the first steps to broadening rock and roll as a genre towards something a bit more extreme. In this regard, Deep Purple In Rock's first steps are about as significant as Neil Armstrong's.

If you've been bad
Oh Lord, I bet you have
And you've not been hit by a flying lead
You'd better close your eyes
Bow your head
Wait for the ricochet 
~ Child in Time

What to expect:

From a personnel perspective, Deep Purple can be classified between several iterations of lineups that each saw success for their timeframe, but are undoubtedly different versions of the band. Deep Purple In Rock began the second era of Deep Purple fronted by prolific vocalist Ian Gillan, the hallmark voice of the band throughout the ages. Gillan's trademark feature is his astonishing vocal range, which is stressed to its absolute limits throughout his studio debut with banshee-like screams that pierce through the noise. Alongside newcomer Roger Glover on bass, these two immediately gained rapport with Deep Purple's existing corps: John Lord on keyboards, Ian Paice on drums, and Richie Blackmore on guitar. Considered Deep Purple's finest grouping, each member had a hand in writing the music for Deep Purple In Rock, further enhancing the musical chemistry developed between artists. This confidence amongst each other inspired some of the most ambitious songwriting for its time, mixing blisteringly fast riffs with all-out rock jams that combines for a versatile range of sound textures that spotlights every member's blinding brilliance. Many of the concepts pioneered on Deep Purple In Rock evolved rock music into a heavier compound that demanded the most from its performers. Though a name for it didn't quite exist yet, Deep Purple's breakneck speeds and spectacular solos would eventually birth a completely new genre dubbed 'heavy metal' - and boy, have we come a long way from its initial conception. While Deep Purple In Rock sounds nothing like the metal we're accustomed to in the modern age, albums like it walked so that bands like Slayer and Metallica could run. 

You came along for a weekend
But you only stayed for one night
You took off your hair
You pulled out your teeth
I almost died of fright
You'd better do something for your own sake
~ Living Wreck

 

Why it's my favorite: 

My education on the evolution of metal music seems to have been given completely backwards. The first metal bands I listened to were all well-established titans of the genre: Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, the works. My tastes only extremified with age as I discovered even heavier genres like death metal and black metal. Eventually, I looped back around to the genesis of metal music by further exploring the depths of prog rock, and found myself surprised at the parallels between early prog and heavy metal. There's a significant lack of shock value in music like Deep Purple that is well over fifty years old, but that's due in part to a lack of precedent at the time. Back then, this kind of music was the most far-out you could find. It fills me with wonder to imagine Deep Purple In Rock as this outrageous, uproarious content that generated controversy and divisiveness upon its release. The appreciation and recognition for metal as a genre has gracefully matured with the public's musical palate, and it's bands like Deep Purple that we have to thank for ensuring its success and longevity.