-  Jon Lord - vocals, keyboards

  supporting musicians (1971)

- Tony Ashton - vocals 
- Yvonne Elliman - vocals
- Roger Glover - bass 
- Albert Lee - guitar
- Ian Paice - drums, percussion 

- The Artwoods
- Ashton and Lord
- Deep Purple
- Flowerpot Men
- Paice, Ashton and Lord
- Whitesnake 

Genre: progressive

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Gemini Suite

Company: Purple

Catalog: BS 2717

Year: 1971

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: alternative cover; perhaps a later pressing

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 788

Price: $10.00

Cost: $66.00

With Deep Purple finding themselves early-'70s critical and commercial favorites, singer/keyboardist Jon Lord and the other band members were suddenly free to follow their creative muses. In Lord's case it resulted in 1971's "Gemini Suite". A collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, the largely instrumental set seems to have drawn on Deep Purple's earlier work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - remember "Concerto for Group and Orchestra"?  Backed by the Deep Purple rank and file (Ritchie Blackmore replaced by guitarist Albert Lee), here's what Lord had to say about the set (pulled from the liner notes):

"The music on this album was originally written as a commission for the BBC and was first performed at the Festival Hall with Deep Purple and the Orchestra of the Light Music Society in September 1970, when it was broadcast live on British and Danish radio. I composed the Suite during the first six months of 1970, each movement being "built" around the musical personalities of the members of Deep Purple. However during the period between the concert and this recording the music grew away from the initial concept and became, to my mind, not so much a composition for "Group and Orchestra" but, more simply, music for amplified instruments and an orchestra. To this end we decided not to make it a Deep Purple project, but to use specified soloists."

And the results ... mildly diverting background music. For the most part overly pretentious, the highlight was the lone vocal "Vocals" featuring Yvonne Elliman.  

"Gemini Suite" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Guitar (Jon Lord) - 
2.) Piano (Jon Lord) - 
3.) Drums (Jon Lord )- 

(side 2)

1.) Vocals (Jon Lord) - 
2.) Bass Guitar (Jon Lord) - 
3.) Organ (Jon Lord) -