From: "Marc P. Guilbert" <>
This piece should have been better than it actually turned out. The
problem is that this was the first recording of DP Mark II with Ian Gillan
and Roger Glover, and although Ian turns in a remarkable vocal performance,
the balance of power in the band had started turning over from Jon Lord
(organ) to Ritchie Blackmore (guitar). As a result, although this
should have been Jon Lord's opportunity to shine, the "band" parts are guitar
heavy. Also, although Jon, in writing it got help from composer Malcolm
Arnold, who also conducted the orchestra, many of the orchestral parts drag.
Anyone on this list who is interested in hearing this, contact me privately
and I'm sure we could arrange a tape trade (it's a standard 45 min long
album, and I have it on CD).
From:
I'll agree with you the Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra (or as
I like to call it Jon Lord's Cumbersome Self-Masturbatory Indulgence) doesn't
compare to anything by THE NICE or much else for that matter...it's a bloody
waste o' vinyl...
From: Brett Rains@
I'd have to agree with you on those early Mark 1 Deep Purple albums. Awesome
ground breaking stuff! Everyone just knows Deep Purple from their usual
"Smoke On The Water" & "Highway Star" material (classic stuff in it's own
rite) & aren't aware of their early prog beginnings. The first 3 albums they
released are definitely early prog--along with The Nice, some of the earliest
prog on record. Keyboardist Jon Lord was definitely in the driver's seat
during this period, & stuff like "The Shield" & "Wring That Neck" are
classics. Even their re-workings of "River Deep, Mountain High", "Help", &
"I'm So Glad" have to be heard to be believed. They were one of the first
rock bands to record with a full symphony orchestra; not with just an
accompaniment, but WITH the orchestra! The recently released "Gemini Suite
Live" CD from the 1970 show has some cool prog moments on it as well.
Definitely prog!
From: "Casey Van Tieghem" <>
>Deep Purple/Deep Purple (First Album Digitally Remastered Import)
I might add it's the most progressive studio album they ever did IMHO.
Concerto for Group and Orchestra, and Gemini Suite are also obviously
progressive. 'April' from the self titled album is an outstanding track on
the album. It's my favorite Purple album.
From: "Marc P. Guilbert" <>
I agree. Even the blues in "Why Didn't Rosemary?" has progressive
tendencies, and the organ solo in "Bird Has Flown" is real high on the
goosebump meter. I think that, in 1969, the ranking for top rock
organists was: Jon Lord (Deep Purple); Keith Emerson (the Nice); Brian Auger
(Trinity); Vince Crane (Atomic Rooster); (I'm showing my ignorance here) (Van
Der Graff Generator). AFAIK, Rod Argent didn't record anything in 1969, so he
isn't in the running. Jon Lord was a MAJOR talent in that milieu.
From: "Casey Van Tieghem" <>
You guys are really impressing me with your musical taste. I think this album
has the best of both lineups as far as sound. It retains the early
vintage Gibson sound of Blackmore, but has the blues feel of later albums
like Machine Head, which I think is my second favorite (maybe tied with In
Rock). That song 'Bird Has Flown' is just stuck in my mind. Jon Lord
has an excellent Hammond sound. Does anybody out there have Mothballs by
Steve Howe? The title track has some Hammond that sounds very much like Jon
Lord, and since there is a similarity with Bodast, and embryonic Deep Purple
(Roundabout), I was wondering if Jon Lord was in the session. You would
think he would get credit.
From:
(back to top)
The song 'Hush' was featured on was Deep Purple's first album - Shades of
Deep Purple. Released in 1968. 'Hush' was also a hit single b/w 'One More
Rainy Day' in the US. Strangely Deep Purple didn't have any hits in England
until 'Black Night' in 1970 or something like that - although obviously Deep
Purple were well known among music circles, and concert goers as a good
group. 'Hush' is a great tune original or otherwise, the Hammond Organ solo
is almost a model for tons of Hammond Organ solos to follow after. Lord was
doing lots of "popping" on that one. I also like their version of 'I'm So
Glad'. They were paving the way for progressive rock later on doing extended
versions of 3 minute tunes like 'Hey Joe'. >>Yes! I was really surprised to
find out that they started out on Bill Cosby's label Tetra sumthin' back in
1964 or so until it went belly up! Most people tend to think of SMTW when
Deep Purple's name is mentioned but they've done some fine stuff in their
day.