Deep Purple
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968-69) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar - Rod Evans -- vocals - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion - Nick Simper -- bass
line up 2 (1969-73) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar NEW - Ian Gillian -- lead vocals (replaced Rod Evans) NEW - Roger Glover -- bass (replaced Nick Simper) - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
line up 3 (1973-74) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar NEW - David Coverdale -- lead vocals (replaced Ian Gillian) NEW - Glenn Hughes -- bass (replaced Roger Glover) - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
line up 4 (1974-76) NEW - Tommy Bolin (RIP 1976) -- lead guitar (replaced Ritchie Blackmore) - David Coverdale -- lead vocals - Glenn Hughes -- bass, backing vocals - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
line up 5 (1984-89) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar - Ian Gillian -- lead vocals - Roger Glover -- bass - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
line up 6 (1989-92) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar - Roger Glover -- bass (replaced Nick Simper) - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion NEW - Joe Lynn Turner -- vocals (replaced Ian Gillian)
line up 7 (1992-93) - Ritchie Blackmore -- lead guitar NEW - Ian Gillian -- lead vocals - Roger Glover -- bass - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
line up 8 (1993-94) - Ian Gillian -- lead vocals - Roger Glover -- bass - Jon Lord -- keyboards - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion NEW - Joe Satriani -- lead guitar (replaced Ritchie Blackmore)
line up 9 (1994-2002) - Ian Gillian -- lead vocals - Roger Glover -- bass - Jon Lord -- keyboards NEW - Steve Morse -- lead guitar (replaced Joe Satriani) - Ian Paice -- drums, percussion
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- Alaska - Anan - Anthem - Blackmore's Night (Ritchie Blackmore) - Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra (Ritchie Blackmore) - Black Sabbath - Tommy Bolin (solo efforts) - Boz - Brazen Abbot - Neil Christian & the Crusaders - David Coverdale (solo efforts) - The Dixie Dregs (Steve Morse) - Empire - Energy - Episode Six - Fandango - The Flower Pot Men - G3 - Gillian (Ian Gillian) - Ian Gillian and Roger Glover - The Ian Gillian Band - Roger Glover (solo efforts) - Green Bullfrog (Ritchie Blackmore) - Heinz and the Wild Boys - Hughes Turner Project (Glenn Hughes) - The James Gang (Tommy Bolin) - Kansas (Steve Morse) - The Lancasters - Living Loud - Jon Lord (solo efforts - MI Five - Michael Men Project - Mother's Army - The Outlaws - Phenomena - Quatermass II - Rainbow (Ritchie Blackmore) - Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages - Nick Semper and Nasty Habits (Nick Semper) - The Sessions - Silver - Sun Dragon - Sunstorm - Trapeze - Voodoo Hill - Warhorse - Whitesnake (David Coverdale) - Zephyr (Tommy Bolin)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Perfect Strangers Company: Mercury Catalog: 422
824003-1 Country/State: Hertford, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $25.00
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Musical reunions tend to be major disappointments driven by contractual requirements, poorly thought out desires to return to the spotlight, or a need to generate some cash for rapidly dwindling investment portfolios. Anyhow, I remember finding a copy of "Perfect Stingers" in a Northern Virginia Penguin Feather record store/head-shop and thinking "please let the album be more inspired than the George Corsillo and Glenn Dean cover." To be honest, that was setting the bar fairly low, but having invested in so many "comeback" albums (anyone heard Black Sabbath's "Born Again", The Doors' "Other Voices", or Fleetwood Mac's "Time"?) who could blame me for such skepticism?
It only took nine years for the Deep Purple MK II line-up to set aside hurt feelings, bad blood, divergent schedules, etc. to disentangle themselves from outside projects in order to reunite. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and /bassist Roger Glover returned to the fold from Rainbow. Singer Ian Gillian returned from a solo career and a brief stint with Black Sabbath, Keyboardist Jon Lord left Whitesnake. Drummer Ian Paice left Gary Moore's band. The result was the first Deep Purple MK II studio collection since 1973’s "Who Do We Think We Are?" Nine years had passed since the last Deep Purple studio set - 1975's "Come Taste the Band.") Only Lord and Paice had been onboard for what was essentially a Deep Purple Mk III album.
Co-produced by Glover and the band the new collection featured eight new tracks. Seven of the tracks reflected Blackmore, Gillian and Glover collaborations, while 'Nobody's Home' was the lone group efforts. Maybe it was just my excitement hearing a reunion of a band I'd grown up with. Maybe it had something to do with the fact the members appeared to actually be having a good time I can remember listening to the album and thinking it was like meeting an old friend after an extended break. You pick up where you left off and it doesn't seem like there was a break in the relationship. Same feeling here. The album material was reportedly written and recorded in roughly a month during recording sessions in Stowe, Vermont using Guy Charbonneau's Le Mobile remote recording studio. Exemplified by tracks like 'Knocking at Your Back Door' (not the most subtle title), the title track and the blasting closer 'Hundry Daze' the reunion set was nothing less than a blast. Gillian's howling voice; Lord's keyboard colorings; Glover's pounding bass and most of all, Blackmore's guitar ... they were all in place and meshed together as well as they had nearly a decade earlier. The sound seemed a little heavier than prior. Listening to tracks like 'Under the Gun' (with it's anti-war message) and 'A Gypsy's Kiss' it seemed they'd been listening to some of their metal competitors, but the updates suited them well. Admittedly it wasn't any type of creative breakthrough and I'll be honest and admit not every one of these new songs was great. 'Nobody's Home' and 'Mean Streak' weren't bad, but just didn't have a lot of staying power. Nevertheless, the album reflected a surprising sense of energy. The five members sounded fresh and confident. Hard to believe nine years had passed since they'd last recorded together.
Backed by an extensive American tour the album proved a massive success, eventually hitting the US Billboard top-20 and platinum sales status. It hit # 5 on the UK charts.
"Perfect
Strangers" track listing:
1.) Knocking at Your Back Door (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 7:09 rating: **** stars The ominous intro (organ, violin, bass) was worth the entry fee alone ... And when Gillian's voice and the actual melody kicked in. Welcome back Deep Purple. The backing vocals were to-die-for good and Blackmore's two solos tight and melodic. Reminds me a little of Terry Thomas and Charlie. Okay, I'll admit the non-too subtle title and lyrics were even mildly funny "cunning linguist" - seriously, that made it past radio censors? The song was tapped as the album's third and final 45:
US 7" format - 1984's 'Knocking at Your Back Door' b/w 'Son Of Alerik' (instrumental) (Mercury catalog number 880 447-7) US 12" format - 1984's 'Knocking at Your Back Door' (album version) b/w 'Knocking at Your Back Door' (AOR edit version) (Mercury catalog number PR) 332-1)
YouTube has a clip of the Mad Max-styled promotional video that was released in conjunction with the single (it wasn't particularly clever): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GERh0sQzY 2.) Under the Gun (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 4:40 rating: **** stars Guitar heroes are a dime a dozen. Blackmore routinely gets thrown in the mix, but on this he shows he is worthy - with not one, but two killer solos. The band has always billed 'Under the Gun' as an anti-war tune which might explain why Mercury decided against releasing it as the album's first single, though it subsequently appeared as the "B" side on their 'Nobody's Home' 45.. YouTube has a copy of the planned promotional video filmed in support of the canned single: Deep Purple - Under The Gun ( promo clip 1984). YouTube also has a dynamite 1985 concert performance of the tune: Deep Purple Under The Gun Live 1985 HD 3.) Nobody's Home - (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover - Jon Lord - Ian Paice) 4:01 rating: *** stars The album's lone group composition, 'Nobody's Home' rocked pretty hard and showcased a tasty Gillian lead vocal. Also displayed was the patented interplay between Lord's keyboards and Blackmore. At least to my ears this one lacked the melodic edge of many of the other tracks. Mercury tapped it as a promo 7" and 12" single in the States and a stock release in a couple of other countries:
7" format - 1984's 'Nobody's Home' b/w 'Under the Gun' (Mercury catalog number D 23249)
12" format - 1984's 'Nobody's Home' b/w 'Under the Gun' (Mercury catalog number PRO 334-1)
4.) Mean Streak (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 4:26 rating: **** stars Powered
by one of the best Blackmore solos on the album 'Mean Streak' reflects
infatuation a-la Deep Purple ... "She
got a mean streak; Black Mamba don't compete; Temptation bittersweet ..."
Other than that it was another also-ran performance. (side
2) Maybe it's just me, but the sound of Jon Lord's stabbing organ just screams "welcome to the world of Deep Purple". That's certainly the case on the album's title track. Based at least partially on a riff Blackmore had come up with in Rainbow, the dark, throbbing rocker 'Perfect Strangers' is a great tune (I used to ride my bike listening to it on a Walkman). The funny thing is that today when I hear the song's Easter influences it reminds me of something out of the Zeppelin catalog - kind of a 'Kashmir' vibe going on. I've always wondered why Mercury didn't release this one as a single in the States. The track was released in 7", 12" and picture disc formats in the UK and select other countries:.
7" format (UK pressing) - 1984's 'Perfect Strangers' b/w 'Son of Alerik' (instrumental) (Mercury catalog number POSP 719) picture disc (UK pressing) - 1984's 'Perfect Strangers' b/w 'Son of Alerik' (instrumental) (Mercury catalog number POSPP 719 12" (UK pressing) - 1984's 'Perfect Strangers' b/w 'Son of Alerik' (instrumental) (Mercury catalog number POSPX 719
YouTube has a copy of the promotional video recorded for the 45: Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers (Official Music Video) There are also a couple of live performances including another track from their December 1984 appearance in Sydney, Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXQiHe5rLcI 2.) A Gypsy's Kiss (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 4:14 rating: **** stars To my ears 'A Gypsy's Kiss' was a worthy addition to the list of pounding rockers like 'Burn', 'Fireball' and 'Highway Star'. Come to think of it the tune reminded me a bit of all of those previous highlights. Love Blackmore and Lord's solos on this one. YouTube has a clip of the band performing the song at a December, 1984 date in Sydney, Australia. Don't be confused since the bluesy introduction goes on for about a minute before 'A Gypsy's Kiss' kicks in: Deep Purple – A Gypsy's Kiss (Perfect Strangers - Live 1984) [Remastered] - YouTube 3.) Wasted Sunsets (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 3:58 rating: **** stars
Deep Purple and a touching ballad ... not something that frequently comes to mind. Well, powered by what was one of Blackmore's prettiest performances (it's majestic), 'Wasted Sunsets' breaks the pattern. Lovely and Gillian demonstrated he could sing with restraint. Mercury released the song as a 12" promo 45:
- 1984's 'Wasted Sunsets' b/w 'Wasted Sunsets' (Mercury catalog PRO-360-1)
4.) Hungry Daze (Ritchie Blackmore - Ian Gillan - Roger Glover) - 5:01 rating: **** stars Opening up with some thundering Ian Paice drums (how did he get such a big sound?), 'Hungry Daze' somehow managed to combine classical elements with a heavy metal vibe. Adding to the fun was the quick autobiographical overview of their career, complete with a cute nod to "Machine Head" - "The mountain's getting cold and lonely The trees are bare We all came out to Montreux But that's another song You've heard it all before ..." Nice way to close the album.
© Scott Blackerby November, 2024
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