I disagree I love the mix. Especially highway star studio version. Especially the way the organ doubles the rhythm making the guitars sound huge.

You could never convince me that A sounds better than B:

A)



B)

i can only proffer the opinion that Blackmore live is better than Blackmore studio

all those weird crazy bits

Your comparing it to the live version though. They are 2 separate things. Im talking about the remastering s of the studi version.

Jon Lord RIP, have just seen that their legendary keyboardist has passed away.

BBC News - Deep Purple's Jon Lord dies at 71

He is good either way. I just wish Gillan had his head screwed on straight. He's made snide comments about Ritchie every damn time I've seen them.:banghead:

Great band! The first four eras all get equal time and respect for different reasons.

Focusing on the classic 60's-70's eras..

Mk I - Just warming up with a lot of cover versions on their first two (A little of the Vanilla Fudge influence), but Lord, Blackmore and Paice were already showing that they have it with excellent storming musicianship. Rod Evans had a nice voice, but not a great one, but fitted the bill for covers of "Hush" and "Kentucky Woman." Their their S/T third was showing more promice with the originals, but one can hear that a couple of things had to be changed. This era is best exampled on Purple Passages which focused on the originals plus the hit covers. Fine example of Late 60's Heavy Psychedelic music with some groove (LOVE their appearance on Playboy After Dark) and some of the progression that hinted at the great Concerto for Group and Orchestra and their later definitive works. Trivia: The label that carried their first three albums in the US, Tetragrammaton, was co-owned by Bill Cosby! (and also released John and Yoko's Two Virgins and the Soundtrack to Girl on a Motorcycle in the US).

Mark II - The classic line-up, a change for the better with vocallist Ian Gillan and Bassist Roger Glover who were there to Rock (Evens looked more like he was more fitting for a Pop Showband in my opinion), fine albums, Concerto for Group and Orchestra being an interesting project that broke them through in The UK, Live In Japan being the epic. The 2-DVD set shows more great examples of why they were a great live band. In Rock and Machine Head reamain my favorite studio albums from this time. Concerto... remains a little under-rated.

Mark III - David Coverdale has a great voice and it fits very well with them, if not perfectly (Whitesnake showed his vocals maturing more). Following a tough act that left behind some of the better Early 70's Rock albums, Burn showed that they had some strong songs to continue on with. Glenn Hughes' Bass work is good which steered the sound into a more Funky place, although I'm not too much of a fan of his background singing.

Mark IV - Come Taste the Band - The Coverdale/Hughes/Bolin era may have some debate, but after hearing the album, at least the original classic era ended up with some fine music, although to me still a little but of an ill-fit after a lot of definitive songs. Lord and Paice do their ultra great best to keep the band moving (excuse the pun) and Tommy Bolin was a great choice to keep with the band's slightly more Funky style. With a line up of only two original members and three new members, it was time for a rest and to move on for a while, but it is still a bit of an under-rated era. The ultimate mark to call for a rest - The album was quick to go to the Cut Outs in the US, and possibly the first to do so since the first three albums (In fact, my used copy is one).

I also kind of like Tommy Bolin's solo work as well. An excellent guitarist who sadly never lived long enough to fulfill his potential. Teaser (75) and Private Eyes (76) are good albums, with the later having a bit of the Purple style that was in Mark IV, and the one I like more.

Their 80's comeback was alright, too.

Some good pointers there and I'd agree about Rod Evans, he was far better suited to Captain Beyond than he was to Deep Purple.

I'm a big fan of Glenn Hughes BUT not with Purple, he should never have left Trapeze, a band he was far more suited to.

I love Tommy Bolin's work and the pick of the bunch for me with him, as are the riffs he did on the Moxy debut album.

I was really saddened when I heard that. :(

Since I'm heading out shortly to see Deep Purple tonight ( 8-4-14) I thought I'd say my piece about them. YES, if there's ever a conversation between rock fans about the importance of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin in the annals of hard rock, it is IMPERATIVE to include Deep Purple in that conversation! Specifically the "Mach II" lineup ( Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, and Paice). In short order: the REAL Deep Purple, and the ONLY incarnation that should be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame WHEN their time comes. I'm confident that we will see that happen in 2015 FINALLY!

Musically, I have to admit though that their catalog as a whole is somewhat spotty. Which is obviously due to the constant lineup changes throughout their career. That said, of the Holy Trinity of British hard rock, Deep Purple are arguably the best musicians overall. However, I think Sabbath have the stronger catalog when all is said and done. But I digress. Make no mistake though: 'Speed King', 'Highway Star', 'Perfect Strangers', 'Child In Time', 'Bloodsucker', 'Nobody's Home', 'Space Truckin', 'Black Night', and 'Lazy' are all timeless classics, and DESERVE to be heard and appreciated by any self-respecting hard rock fan! Good stuff! Now, off to the show! Bye! :thumb:...:tramp: