Machine Head [Import]

Product Description
1996 digitally remastered Japanese reissue on WarnerBrothers of their landmark top 10 album, first released forthe label in 1972. Features all seven original tracks,including the top five smash 'Smoke On The Water', plus'Maybe I'm A Leo' and 'Highway Star

Machine Head,Deep Purple,Wea,Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Hands down best album of their career (and best album of the last few years, at least for me) The Blackening !! The solo are great but... Heavy..., but boring A return to form

The Blackening Machine Head Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Alt Industrial | Industrial Dance General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Threads of Life HELLYEAH Cannibal United Abominations Dead Again ASIN: B000N3ST9I Release Date: 2007-03-22

Tracks:

1. Clenching the Fists of Dissent
2. Beautiful Mourning
3. Aesthetics of Hate
4. Now I Lay Thee Down
5. Slanderous
6. Halo
7. Wolves
8. A Farewell to Arms

Album Description

Bay Area metal masters Machine Head are back with The Blackening, a glorious follow up to the critically acclaimed Through The Ashes of Empires. An evolutionary album, The Blackening features Machine Head staying true to their roots with some of the heaviest riffs ever recorded while incorporating many beautiful, melodic choruses. Produced by Robert Flynn (Machine Head vocalist/guitarist) and mixed by Colin Richardson (Fear Factory, Cradle of Filth, Bullet for My Valentine), The Blackening marks Machine Head's strong return to the forefront of the metal world. A heavy, technical album that, while rooted in 90s metal, pushes the boundaries of hard music well into the future with songs like "Aesthetics of Hate," "Halo," "Now I Lay Thee Down," "Beautiful Mourning" and more. Machine Head are Robert Flynn (vocals/guitar), Phil Demmel (lead guitar), Adam Duce (bass/harmony vocals), Dave McClain (drums)

Customer Reviews:

Hands down best album of their career (and best album of the last few years, at least for me).......2007-06-25

Everyone wants to talk about a return to form; back to the days of "Burn my Eyes". I think they re molded that form into something completely different. The energy on this album is insane.

Best album since since Heaven Shall Burn's "Antigone" - for me at least.

The Blackening !!.......2007-06-20

This is hands down the best metal record this century. Metal fans of old will embrace this and newer metal fans should be influenced by this.

The solo are great but..........2007-06-18

If you want to hear through the ashes... with great solo guitar you should get this album, but what makes this album get 2 star from me is after the song title "now i lay thee down" you only get song that sound sooo nu metal, yes i only like the first three song from this album, man this album is dissapointing me

Heavy..., but boring.......2007-06-14

I had read all about Machine Head's "The Blackening" album as a "return to their thrashing ways...", so I went out and bought it. Boy, was I disappointed! While the album is indeed heavy metal, it's just dull, with very few interesting guitars and vocals that just bore the heck out of me. I loved Robb's old Vio-lence stuff, and was hoping for more (maybe that's my own fault).

While I don't discourage others from getting this album, it won't be in my collection. Already traded it in... Sorry.

A return to form.......2007-06-08

While many hailed 2004's "Through the Ashes of Empires" as Machine Head's return to form, I disagreed, even though it was a solid album nevertheless. "The Blackening" is a real return to form for the veteran thrashers, who to say have rebounded nicely after the disaster that was "Supercharger" is saying it lightly. This is undoubtedly the closest the band has come to emulating the sound from their classic debut "Burn My Eyes" (produced by Colin Richardson, who the band is re-united with here), which makes it worth checking out alone. Opening track "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" is by far the heaviest opening track Machine Head has crafted in years, and sounds like a new age "Davidian", and is worth the price of admission alone. "Aesthetics of Hate", "Now I Lay Thee Down", and the closing "A Farewell to Arms" are all excellent tracks that proudly mark the return of Machine Head to the real metal world as vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn growls, Dave McClain pounds the skins as if his life depends on it, and Phil Demmel provides the best guitar work the band has seen since the days of founding member Logan Madder. Though it is ultimately too short in it's running time, "The Blackening" is nevertheless a great metal album and a welcome return to form for Machine Head, and here's hoping that this time around the band avoids the stumbling blocks and is finally back on track.

Average customer rating: Classic Rock Collection Heavy Metal Classic! Do I even need to go "In-Depth"? A guilty pleasure Simply The Best

Machine Head Deep Purple Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fireball Deep Purple in Rock Made In Japan: The Remastered Edition Who Do We Think We Are Burn ASIN: B000002KHB Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm A Leo
3. Pictures Of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke On The Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'

Amazon.com

Home of "Smoke on the Water" and "Highway Star," Machine Head blends proto-metal density with epic arrangements, resulting in a record that's far more grandiose than the sum of its parts. --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews:

Classic Rock Collection.......2007-07-04

This is a must have to round out your classic rock collection. Highway Star and Smoke on the Water were big hits in the early 70s. Really enjoy listening Highway Star while riding my Harley.

Heavy Metal Classic!.......2007-02-08

Deep Purple hit their peak with this one...Every song's a winner.
Too bad "Smoke on the water" gets so much airplay, at the expense of the other songs. Did you EVER hear "Lazy" on the radio? Blackmore, Gillan, Paice, Glover & Lord - The whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
The drumming is unbelieveable on this album!

Do I even need to go "In-Depth"?.......2007-01-07

Seriously, 3 of the 7 songs on this album are classic hard rock anthems! Smoke On The Water, Highway Star, and Space Truckin'! Nuff said!!!! Deep Purple pretty much invented heavy metal. It was either them or Ozzy.

A guilty pleasure.......2006-11-29

Best hard rock album ever? Uh, NO. I'm sorry, but I fail to see what the big deal about this record is. Smoke on the Water's cool (obviously), and I like Highway Star, Lazy and Space Truckin' too. But this is a disposable album, I mean listen to songs like Maybe I'm a Leo, Never Before or Pictures of Home and you'll see what I mean. Ritchie Blackmore lacks the creativity, sheer virtuosity, and personality of Jimi Hendrix, but he's a passable guitarist, and he has a way with a riff (Smoke on the Water, for instance). The rest of the group's faceless, though, and the record offers no surprises. with the exception of the harmonica solo on Lazy. I'll admit that caught me off-guard. And the less that can be said about the lyrics, the better. But if you're willing to look past all those flaws (and trust me, there are lots), you'll find it's a fun headbanging indulgence meant for occasional spins.
Recommended listening for hard rock fans (I hate the term metal - it calls to mind those awful hair-metal, death-metal and nu-metal bands)
Back in Black (AC/DC)
Appetite for Destruction (Guns 'n' Roses)
Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
Houses of the Holy (Led Zeppelin)
Are You Experienced? (Jimi Hendrix)
Disraeli Gears (Cream)
All are miles ahead of this.

Simply The Best.......2006-11-21

Ahh, Machine Head! I remember when this came out. I bought the cassette, and within 4 years had literally played it to shreds. Then I bought another cassette. It was one of the first cd's I ever bought, but the first cd was pretty poor sound quality. I found a German cd at a used record store, and the sound quality was excellent. Then, there was the 25th anniversary cd, which was top notch, too. All in all, I figure Deep Purple owes me a gold record for the amount of money I've spent on Machine Head. And it's been worth every penny.

"Highway Star" is a great way to start an album Awesome. All of the songs are great here. "Smoke On The Water" and "Space Truckin'" are the popular ones, but I've always been partial to "Maybe I'm A Leo."

This is one awesome album. If you don't own it, why not?

Average customer rating: great album..and a greater one. If You're Looking for the Best Sounding Machine Head... a classic made even better. Essential for any fan of hard rock music. Machine Head in 3D...Better than the Original!

Machine Head Deep Purple Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: In Rock: 25th Anniversary (UK) Who Do We Think We Are Made In Japan: The Remastered Edition Fireball Burn ASIN: B00000DGRX Release Date: 1998-11-17

Tracks:

1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm A Leo
3. Pictures Of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke On The Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'
8. When A Blind Man Cries (B-Side)
9. Maybe I'm A Leo (Quadrophonic Mix)
10. Lazy (Quadrophonic Mix)

Tracks:

1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm A Leo
3. Pictures Of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke On The Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'
8. When A Blind Man Cries

Amazon.com

Deep Purple were on the eve of breaking wide open when the quintet made Machine Head, a record that launched a heap of hard-rock hits, not to mention the bulk of the live album Made in Japan. No fewer than three classics were unveiled here: "Highway Star," "Space Truckin'," and their biggest hit ever, "Smoke on the Water." Ritchie Blackmore's crunchy guitar was becoming the group's trademark, and the throb that opens "Smoke on the Water" went miles in concretizing his place in the pantheon of 1970s guitar deities. But the story here is the second disc, which is composed of remixes by Roger Glover that introduce long-dormant, more-energized variations on the originals and revive separate solos. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

great album..and a greater one........2007-02-26

This album was one of the first hard rock albums I ever heard. I found a cassette tape of this one day and listened to it. I was only 13 at the time, but I loved it! It stayed in my tape collection for years. I had bought the original CD and now I've bought this. Is it worth it? YES!

Disc one is the original album and its never sounded better. Needless to say, i have sold my original CD of this. The second disc is remixes. There is a noticeable difference especially in the bass and the drums. The vocals sound much cleaner and the music is more balanced and a bit deeper.

'Highway Star' has always been a great song and in its remixed version sounds much better. The beginning intro here should really have been left on the original. There is only one small bit of melody during the solo here that i wish they would have kept in. And its good to hear that the cymbal crash on the end has been left to ring out. The original always seemed to be get clipped off a bit too soon.
'Maybe I'm A Leo' is a bit of a slower song and has a great riff. I remember listening to this intro 100 times when i first heard this because the drums sounded so strange and off beat to me. When my ears finally got used to it, I loved it.
'Pictures Of Home' is my favorite. The lyrics were always incredible and the remixed version here is much better. 'Never Before' always seemed like a weak song to me. It's a bit too much like a pop song and why this was ever considered as a single is beyond me. A decent song, but not as great as the others.

'Smoke On The Water' is, of course, the best known song here. This remix features a different guitar solo, but i still prefer the original. There is a reason this solo was replaced. But it is interesting to hear nonetheless.
'Lazy' had a great organ solo intro that eventually turns into a great blues song. This is another highlight of the album.
'Space Truckin' is a bit of a simple song, but it does have interesting lyrics and this remix makes it sound like a new song.

This CD is a must buy. The remixes for the most part are superior to the original and this is just a great hard rock album anyway. Buy this. This is a five star album all the way!

If You're Looking for the Best Sounding Machine Head..........2007-01-02

A hybrid SACD version is also available here on Amazon. It will play on standard CD players as well as SACD players, and the standard CD layer sounds even better than this anniversary edition. I have both since I want the best sounding Machine Head available and the second disc of Roger Glover remixes in this anniversary edition. This is a good sounding remaster of the original album, but it can't hold a candle to the hybrid remaster.

a classic made even better........2006-12-17

Machine Head needs no introduction. It is THE album with THE song. You know which one I'm talking about. Anyway, the first disc is the original album along with When A Blind Man Cries, an excellent bluesy B-side, and quadrophonic (whatever that means) remixes of Lazy and Maybe I'm a Leo. I didn't notice much difference between those remixes and the originals. The first disc would be worth five stars by itself, as anyone who's heard it knows.

But then there's the second disc, with each of the eight songs remixed by Roger Glover, DP's longtime bassist. There are some pretty noticeable changes, but they aren't bad by any means. On most of the songs, you get to hear the band warming up for a few seconds before doing the song, and the original faded out endings are played through till the band stops. Oh yeah, there are a few new guitar solos in there too. The new version of Smoke on the Water beats the old one by a mile, and I really like that I can hear Ian Gillan screaming at the end of Highway Star. And don't forget there's a bunch of liner notes detailing the story of how the band made the album.

Buy this. If you just own the original version, you're missing out.

Essential for any fan of hard rock music........2006-10-16

Deep Purple's Machine Head is essential for any fan of hard rock music.

Buying this two disc version is worth every penny. To hear these songs remixed was amazing. It made the album sound as if they recorded it just yesterday. Simply stunning!

Highlights: The remix, of course. Get it and enjoy!

Machine Head in 3D...Better than the Original!.......2006-04-20

The remastered disc one is an improvement over the vinyl and nonremastered versions as the bass is more prominent and punchier and the high end is crisper and cleaner. But the story of this release is disc two. There is a VERY, VERY NOTICEABLE improvement over the original. I have often criticized Roger Glover for his inadvertent attempts at sabotaging Deep Purple albums such as House of Blue Light or The Battle Rages On with his flat, lousy production where all the instruments were compressed together so that none could be heard distinctly. But I have to give credit where credit is due. Glover's remixing job on disc two has to be the best remixing job I have ever heard. Each and every instrument can be heard with such crystal clarity that it gives a three-dimensional quality to the sound. When there is a solo, whether it be guitar, keyboards, harmonica, drums or bass, the instrument just JUMPS out of the speakers at you. It sounds as if the group is performing "live" in front of you. And there are nuances in the music I have never heard before, such as the strange, ghostly, slightly echoey, slightly reverbed effect in the guitar solo in Highway Star. I swear I can hear Ian Gillan's high-range screaming in the backround as Highway Star is ending. The explosive drum solo in Space Trucking comes at you from all directions and will leave your head spinning. The tape hiss and the slightly muffled high end have been cleaned up. The vocals, which on all previous versions had at times been mixed a little weakly so that the lyrics were not always decipherable, can all be heard clearly here, but they haven't been boosted so much that the overall mix sounds out of whack. The power of the drums can be felt with force and the high end is so crisp and lifelike it is as if Ian Paice is bashing the cymbals right in your face. In short, this is a PERFECT remixing job. Disc two is worth its weight in gold. It is rare that a remix adds such a clarity and depth to the music that it is far superior to the original in every respect. Forget about the vinyl or nonremastered versions. I have always liked this album very much, but only through this disc two remix do I now fully appreciate what an awesome and powerful album this is as a whole new dimension has been added to the sound. Please, get this NOW. You will wonder how you ever got by with the slightly muffled, slightly muddy previous versions of this album all these years.

Average customer rating: One Of The Best Metal Albums, Period. pointless music with no heart A classic to throw up the horns to Sorry, But 'Burn My Eyes' Isn't 5 Star Material You Morons Wow

Burn My Eyes Machine Head Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The More Things Change Through the Ashes of Empires Burning Red Supercharger The Blackening ASIN: B000000H6G Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

1. Davidian
2. Old
3. A Thousand Lies
4. None But My Own
5. The Rage To Overcome
6. Death Church
7. A Nation On Fire
8. Blood For Blood
9. I'm Your God Now
10. Real Eyes, Realize, Real Lies
11. Block

Customer Reviews:

One Of The Best Metal Albums, Period........2007-03-07

Machine Head's 1994 debut stands the test of time as one of the best debut metal albums ever, and as a classic example of how powerful metal can be. An absolute classic in the genre which has withstood the test of time...even Machine Head can't replicate the pure fury of this album.

If the one-two punch of album-opener "Davidian" and second track "Old" won't convince you of the sheer heaviness and intensity of this band; nothing will. I still get chills over how cool "Old" is when I listen to it...genius metal songwriting. The vocals aren't quite as good as many of the more polished current metal releases out today, but are nothing to dismiss, and become sort of secondary to the righteous indignation of the political and social commentary of the lyrics and the crushing thunder of the uber-heavy riffs, many of which are quite complex, and lay down serious groove. This album signalled the beginning of metal trying to throw off the whole grunge scene and step it up to the next level...the roots of the modern "extreme" metal scene. Very cool, and still amazing after all these years. If you are a metalhead and don't own this disc, shame on you.

pointless music with no heart.......2006-09-01

Metalcore - the epitome of mainstream garbage that Americans love.

Pass on this and move onto bands that matter; such as Kreator, Death, Dismember or Suffocation.

A classic to throw up the horns to.......2006-08-03

I couldn't leave you with a poor MH CD without making up for it with a good one. The band will probably never match up to the debut. This CD has it all: crushing riffs, quirky, cool solos, agressive vocals, heavy bass, and powerful drumming. Standout tracks include "Davidian", "A Thousand Lies", and "Nation on Fire". If you want an alternative to Pantera(though I don't know why you'd want that), then check this out. If you want old-school, killer metal, then you should also check this out.

Sorry, But 'Burn My Eyes' Isn't 5 Star Material You Morons.......2006-04-23

It's 5.196 star material (the extra .196 comes from adding pi/16 to 5.)

Onto less stupid antics, 'Burn My Eyes' really is everything most say it is: a classic that, unfortunately, Machine Head will unlikely ever surpass or even match. One reason this album is great is because even now (12 years later), there is little in the metal field that is similar to it. It possesses a technical intensity that transcends most nu-metal, yet it isn't like many other talented metal bands who are so bogged down with their music that it's hard to listen to (like death metal tends to be.)

Instead, 'Burn My Eyes' is a nostalgiac version of 80s metal, but with a more modern and evolved sound than most 80s metal. It is aggressive enough to be taken seriously as a modern metal band, yet structured enough to always provide the listener with a clear sense of purpose in each song.

One great feature of this album is the innovative combination Machine Head pioneered with quiet, slow melody and faster, more-aggresive thrash. Songs like 'I'm Your God Now,'Death Church,' and 'None But My Own' are good examples of this. They start off quietly, then just when you think the song is going to be boringly slow the whole way through, it piques your interest by getting louder and becoming angrier. These songs alternate between softer melody and louder aggression until they more or less climax with the aggression at the end.

There are, however, other songs, such as 'Blood for Blood,' and 'Block,' which are fast through almost the entire song, and others, such as 'Old' and 'Davidian' which are a bit slower for their duration (but not by much.)

Lastly, this is one of two albums where vocalist Robb Flynn's voice is actually decent (as his voice seems to only get worse with each release.) He is more than capable of delivering the needed aggression to each song.

If you're a metal fan (especially thrash), it's hard to go wrong with this. Buy it, listen to it, and enjoy it, because it's one of the few in its class.

Wow.......2006-04-23

This is why I listen to heavy music! Intensity, for lack of a better word, this is what the entire album is made up of! Favorite songs, Davidian, old, A Nation on Fire.

Average customer rating: Through the Ashes of Empires Old school thrash metal meets Nu-Metal's power riff sound Amazing album, one of the best of '04 Through the Ashes of Empires A Return to Not Returning to Their Roots

Through the Ashes of Empires Machine Head Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Burn My Eyes The More Things Change The Blackening Burning Red Supercharger ASIN: B0000D96NW Release Date: 2003-12-30

Tracks:

1. Imperium
2. Bite the Bullet
3. Left Unfinished
4. Elegy
5. In the Presence of My Enemies
6. Days Turn Blue to Gray
7. Vim
8. Seasons Wither
9. All Falls Down
10. Wipe the Tears
11. Descend the Shades of Night

Album Description

Not only is Through The Ashes Of Empires huge sonically, but the music possesses a fierceness and power that rivals those seminal early albums. By all measures, the results are ferocious. And once again, leave it to the pen of Robert Flynn to scrawl some of the most emotionally intense lyrics in all of metal. While songs like "In The Presence Of My Enemies" and "Imperium" relay all the anger we've come to expect from Machine Head, "Left Unfinished" finds Flynn at his most personal and exposed, as he comes to terms with his deepest unresolved issues about his adoption as a child, and the feelings of abandonment that emerged from that. For this band, a new empire is rising.

Album Details

Include the Video to "The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears" and Footage that was Filmed During the Recording of the Album as an Enhancement.

Customer Reviews:

Through the Ashes of Empires.......2007-01-04

I think this is the best Machine Head album in a long long time. Maybe The More Things Change is their most known album but this one is almost that great. It has their -good- new sound. Powerfull without the Nu Metal Supercharge style.

Old school thrash metal meets Nu-Metal's power riff sound.......2006-04-29

More than a review(cause u dont need a review of this one, just hear it)I will like to say to the young ones that this was what the old school metal used to lack of, the FAT guitars, the round body, and this album has it, thats what makes it so incredible for me, sth I was wanting a long time ago, fat sound with speed and double bass thrashy riffs, and why does this album sounds so old school missed thrash metal? easy!, the prescence of Rob Flynn's VIO-LENCE guitar mate, Phil Demmel, I love Vio-lence and having both in the same band reminds me of what it was back in the day... unbeatable!

Amazing album, one of the best of '04.......2006-02-20

I liked this album on the first listen, the first 3 tracks blew me away, but it took me a while to get into the rest, but I find that always happens with really good CDs.

The musicianship, songwriting and lyrics on this album are simply top notch. This is what professional musicians should be making, real music!

From the epic opener 'Imperium' all the way through to 'Descend the Shades of Night' Machinehead show you how to make crushing, melodic, inspirational metal!

These guys absolutely rocked me live (my ears were ringing for 3 days!)

Get this CD, you will not regret it!

Note: If you can get the special edition with the bonus track 'Seasons Wither' on it, then do so - that track alone is worth the price of a CD!

Through the Ashes of Empires .......2005-12-17

More than anything, the main reason I enjoy this album is because of the powerful messages in each of the songs: "don't give in, don't give up", "I will fight for those I love, I will fight for those I care" are just a few of the awesome lines you will discover. I just cannot get enough of it. I listen to this c.d. every time I have a bad day for strength, or on normal days just for inspiration. No other metal album I own can do that for me.

Besides the powerful song writing, this album is heavy, really heavy. Simply put, the kind of heaviness that makes you clench your fist, grit your teeth, and nod your head slowly, kind of heaviness. The sonic guitar solo's on songs like "Vim" and "Seasons Whither" are incredible. The drumming in every song is so precise and distinctive, you can hear spaces between drum beats, which adds to the heavy sound I mentioned earlier.

Although I do not own any other Machine Head albums, I can assure you that negative comparisons with their previous albums ultimately cannot take away from the excellence of Through the Ashes of Empires, one of the mightiest metal albums ever created by a group of artists, music and lyrics.

A Return to Not Returning to Their Roots.......2005-12-02

Let's be clear: unless you're a moron, you won't believe that this is a return to Machine Head's roots. If it was, it'd be another 'Burn My Eyes,' and this album isn't even close to that.

In reality, this album is merely another direction shift for Machine Head. One can think of it as adding a progressive touch to their two previous albums (mostly due to increased average song length.) Yes, the guitars are less nu-metal sounding and there is more double bass drumming also, but the majority of the album is still hardcore nu-metal.

Unfortunately, it's debatable whether or not this direction shift is really better than Machine Head's original nu-metal position. For all the flak the band has taken for 'The Burning Red,' it nonetheless produced interesting, memorable songs even if they lacked the depth that the older ones had. Now, Machine Head doesn't even have memorability left in their songs; any trace of interest is lost somewhere in the myriad of notes played in their now longer songs.

Part of what also makes these songs more boring (and why it's not at all like 'Burn my Eyes') is because it lacks the subtle change from passive to aggressive. 'I'm Your God Now' and 'None But My Own,' for instance, were songs that started out quietly melodic and then would gradually build up to an effective aggression that would climax towards the end. None of that subtlety exists on any of the songs here, however.

As for vocalist Robb Flynn, he's long since lost his vocal flair. Since 'The Burning Red,' his voice has turned increasingly hoarser and he has to rely more on screaming, and it is only a further reminder that the more talented vocals of the old days are long gone.

The good things I will say of this album are: the song 'All Falls Down,' which is by far the best. Additionally, most of the other songs, while not great, are at least ok ('Descent the Shades' is one exception.)

In sum, longer songs detract from their memorability, the subtlety that 'Burn my Eyes' had from melodic to agressive is absent, the vocals have noticeably worsened over time, and the music still has too many nu metal traces in it. While there are redeeming elements in this album, it is far from their best work and certainly far from what made Machine Head debut as a premier 80s-styled thrash band.

Average customer rating: It's A Hit or Miss Album Incredible How dissapointing Underappreciated stop hacking on this album

Burning Red Machine Head Manufacturer: Roadrunner ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The More Things Change Supercharger Burn My Eyes Through the Ashes of Empires Hellalive ASIN: B00000JLC4 Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

1. Enter The Phoenix
2. Desire To Fire
3. Nothing Left
4. The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears
5. Silver
6. From This Day
7. Exhale The Vile
8. Message In A Bottle
9. Devil With The King's Card
10. I Defy
11. Five
12. The Burning Red

Customer Reviews:

It's A Hit or Miss Album.......2006-12-03

Machine Head has been a band that has always kept my interest for at least three years. However, "The Burning Red" is an album that you should take warning on. At times, there are some somewhat thrash-reminscent tracks ("The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears"), some ballads ("Silver", "The Burning Red"), and then you have the controversial rapcore track "From This Day", which basically has previous fans turn their heads. The Police cover song, "Message in a Bottle", is a pretty good tune, but it's more ballad-esque and less groove thrash.

My opinion: This album is far from their greatest and will never dethrone "Burn My Eyes", but it has its moments as well. Just stay away from the sloppily put together "Supercharger" and you'll be safe.

Incredible.......2006-08-28

This is an amazing CD. The sound is comparable to Sevendust's first album. It's one of the only discs I can listen to the whole way though without skipping around tracks.

I discovered The Burning Red by accident and it has become my favorite CD ever. It's an inspiration to people out there who have suffered and worked hard to rise above all that was bad in their lives.

There are a lot of people on here who don't like it because it is a little different then older Machine Head stuff... Don't listen to them. Some people just fear change.

How dissapointing.......2006-08-03

I find it hard to believe that the same band who put out the heavy metal classic "Burn My Eyes" and the strong follow-up "The More Things Change", would suddenly sink into the nu-metal trash. To be honest, most nu-metal that I actually like, I wouldn't buy a CD from(the nu-metal CDs I do have are from my nu-metal phase). The awesome riffs, the cool solos, the sweet drumming, and a band who had a message about society have been pushed aside here for power chords, rapping, and self loathing lyrics. I gave this 2 stars because I like 2 or 3 songs on here, but one of those 3 songs is a cover. When I saw the music video for "From this Day", it almost made me want to slap Rob in the face. He went from a tall, powerful metalhead to a stupid, trendy, spiky-haired w igger. They would get worse on "Supercharger", but thank god that Machine Head recovered on "Through the Ashes of the Empires". This is not a good place to start for Machine Head at all. Get their first 2 albums and their new one to hear Rob and the gang as a post thrash/groove metal powerhouse, not a nu-metal slump.

Underappreciated.......2006-06-28

I was first introduced to Machine Head by their cover of Black Sabbath's "Hole in the Sky" off the Nativity in Black Vol. 2 tribute album. That track blew me away. They'd taken an already great song and imbued it with a building ferocity and intensity (particularly that last minute or so) I had not expected.

I decided to check out their latest album at that time (The Burning Red) and I was not disapointed. Most of the mp3s I heard were great, most memorably the song "I Defy". So I bought the album.

As the album somewhat deviates from their previous efforts, The Burning Red has been almost universally panned by the die-hard fans, who accuse the band of jumping on the nu-metal bandwagon. I don't consider myself a nu-metal fan, but then I generally think of nu-metal with regards to bands like Deftones, which I'm not really into. It's hard to describe the nu-metal sound, but this just isn't it.

Honestly, I've had a harder time getting into Machine Head's prior albums. They're both good, but they've got a vaguely Pantera-esque sound that doesn't strike the same chord with me. This album sounds to me like a band that's progressing, not selling out. They've learned to write more accessible music with catchier beats and rhythms while maintaining their anger and intensity. The only track I sometimes skip is their cover of Sting's "Message in a Bottle", which is good but starts to feel played after I've heard it a few times. This album is the kind of metal I'd want to make. There's a certain tenacity and build-up behind it all, especially in the verse sections. Vocalist Rob Flynn even breaks out into an angry rap once or twice, but only often enough to be effective and not tiresome. This is not Limp Bizkit.

The Burning Red ranks right up there with some of my favorite crushing metal albums of the 90's like Roots by Sepultura and Demanufacture by Fear Factory. If you ask me, this album is old school.

stop hacking on this album.......2006-04-13

one of the best metal albums yet how can you say they went soft just listen to other bands at that time (metallica went soft with load /reload >limp bizkit nuf said .nealy all (METAL)bands of yesteryear sure as s**t aint metal now the burning red is one of the most underrated albums of the last 7years i recomend you buy this album along with HELLALIVE and FROM THE ASHES OF EMPIRES if your new to metal forget all the posers like limp bizkit and korn(new stuff)buy it and buy it now p.s METAL rules the earth

Average customer rating: Great CD Layer Machine Head and Led Zepp. IV the greatest rock lp's ever! Deep Purple's classic 1972 masterpiece

Machine Head Deep Purple Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Eat a Peach Brothers in Arms Days of Future Passed At Fillmore East Slowhand ASIN: B00008RWRN Release Date: 2006-06-22

Tracks:

1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm a Leo
3. Pictures of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke on the Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'

Album Description

2003 remastered reissue of the classic 1972 album, pressed onto a super audio CD that's playable on standard CD players. Features the 7 track album in DSD Stereo plus the same 7 tracks again in DSD Multi-Channel Stereo (taken from the original Quadraphonic mixes from 1972), along with two extra alternate mixes, 'Maybe I'm A Leo' & 'Lazy', plus 'When A Blind Man Cries'. 17 tracks in all. EMI.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD Layer.......2007-01-02

If you're looking for the best PCM CD version of Machine Head available - this is it. The CD layer on this hybrid SACD is vastly superior to the anniversary 2 CD remaster (which is superior to the original CD release). It sounds very natural and hi-res, exactly what I'd expect the master tape to sound like. On previous versions, including the original vinyl, the mix was all jumbled with the instruments all seemingly jammed on top of each other. On this DSD remix and remaster, the instruments and vocals are all in their own space, and the soundstage has depth, plus the bass is stronger and more defined. The price, at the time of this writing, is astronomical, so I'd recommend buying from one of the Amazon Market sellers or go to Amazon UK.

Machine Head and Led Zepp. IV the greatest rock lp's ever!.......2006-02-17

If you are a lover of rock, then Machine Head by Deep Purple is a must in your collection. I think I have almost every cd and vinyl version of this lp (except the original quad version) in my collection. This was recorded by the Mark II version of the band which is their best lineup. Ian Gillan, Richie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice were the essential hard rockers of the day (along with Led Zeppelin). Recorded in the Grand Hotel in Geneva Switzerland. Because of a fire, the band had no place to record. However, this hotel in Switzerland was empty during the winter and negotiations were completed to use the hallways and corridors to complete the lp. The song "Smoke on the water" sums up the story quite nicely. This lp rocks from start to blazing finish with such classic tunes as the above track, Highway Star, Lazy, and Space Truckin. It leaves you begging for more when it's over. Now, there are 2 surround sound versions of this lp available. The Dvd audio version, and the Super Audio version. Since I have both, I will give you my most honest review, and leave it up to you to decide. First off they both sound excellent. But there is a clear winner of the two. Listening to both several times, I believe the imported Super Audio version wins by a slight margain. The dvd audio version contains many differences in the songs, compaired with the original versions. Guitar solo's are different, also the dvd audio sounds a little more harsher with less bass, and also some of the songs are longer than the original versions. This is not altogether a bad thing but if you want the versions of the songs as close to the originals as possible, then this (SACD)is the cd to have. It has the warmth and sound of the original recording in PCM stereo, and also contains the "Original" quad versions from the lp that was released. Since these are the quad versions there is no sound coming from the center speaker. However there is sound from the subwoofer if you have the 5.1 audio system setup. Even without the audio from the center speaker, the vocals are still mixed in nicely so you wont't notice the difference too much. So I claim this to be the 1st 4.1 surround cd I have in my collection. You also get some alternate surround mixes of Lazy, Maybe I'm A Leo, and When A Blind Man Cries. The Dvd audio isn't bad but in my opinion, the Sacd version just all around sounds better. It is not that easy to get, however. And it is more costly than the standard cd version. But because I love this lp so much I happily shelled out a few more dollars to get it. Now if only Led Zeppelin IV would be released in surrround sound..........................

Deep Purple's classic 1972 masterpiece.......2005-06-23

Machine Head (1972.) Deep Purple's sixth album.
By the time 1972 rolled around, Deep Purple had built up a pretty strong following, despite the fact that they had to replace their original lead vocalist and a few other band members. Normally, making band member changes will destroy a band, but with Deep Purple, that just wasn't true. The so-called "Mark Two" line-up which featured Ian Gillan is widely known as the finest line-up the band ever had. 1972 was a big year for the band, whose reputation was growing. The main reason it as seen as such a big year for the band is because it's the year they released the Machine Head album. Most Deep Purple fans call this the band's finest album. Are they right? Read on for my review.

Three of Deep Purple's biggest hits call Machine Head home, probably the reason it is the band's most popular album. Smoke On The Water, arguably the band's biggest hit of all, can be found here. The opening guitar solo by Blackmore is priceless. And, of course, we have Highway Star. This song is a legendary classic rocker, and though it never gained as much popularity as, say, Smoke On The Water, it is equally excellent. And of course, he have the classic Space Truckin'. With its inventive lyrics and hypnotic melodies, this is one of the band's strongest tracks. The other tracks, though they never became big hits, are no less excellent. The strangely-titled Lazy features some or Blackmore's finest guitar work. The rest of the band is also in their prime, making this one of the band's most interesting pieces of work. Maybe I'm A Leo is another underrated masterpiece that a number of fans constantly praise. Once again, you've gotta love Blackmore's guitar! Pictures of home is a prime example of the classic fast and furious rock that makes fans love Deep Purple so much. And, of course, we have Never Before. This one isn't as fast as some of the other tracks on the album, and it sounds a little more "poppy" than the other songs, but it's still excellent. All in all, this is one hell of an album.

Much like a number of other Deep Purple albums, in addition to the standard CD release of the album, a deluxe edition of the album has also been released. The deluxe edition features a whole extra disc of material! Unfortunately, it's tough to come by the deluxe edition in America, and even if you do, it's priced quite a bit higher than its standard-issue counterpart. Still, whatever edition of the album you buy will be excellent.

Final verdict? This album deserves all of the praise that fans give it on a regular basis. I don't know if I'd call it my personal favorite of their albums, but if it isn't my favorite, it's pretty close to the top (in my opinion, Fireball gives this one a real run for its money.) If you're a a fan of classic hard rock/heavy metal, you must get your hands on this album.

Average customer rating: live charge

Can't Stop the Machine American Head Charge Manufacturer: Nitrus Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Cannibal HELLYEAH The War of Art The Blackening Vena Sera ASIN: B000NJLLWO Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

1. All Wrapped Up
2. Seamless
3. Violent Reaction
4. Downstream
5. Dirty
6. Take What I've Taken
7. When I Failed
8. Stature
9. To Taste Acid
10. Just So You Know

Customer Reviews:

live charge.......2007-04-05

This is what this band is all about. AHC's live shows are a kick in the teeth, stomp your heel on todays cookie cutter unoriginal half hearted "metal" bands. This is a much anticipated addition to any headcharge fans collection, and a great ice breaker for any newcomer.

Average customer rating: bananas over it You would be bananas not to get this cd. Keep Rolling! Ridin' the Purple Wave... Bananas is good for ya

Bananas Deep Purple Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Rapture of the Deep Purpendicular Abandon The House of Blue Light Rapture of the Deep Special Edition ASIN: B0000CNY73 Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

1. HOUSE OF PAIN
2. SUN GOES DOWN
3. HAUNTED
4. RAZZLE DAZZLE
5. SILVER TONGUE
6. WALK ON
7. PICTURE OF INNOCENCE
8. I GOT YOUR NUMBER
9. NEVER A WORD
10. BANANAS
11. DOING IT TONIGHT
12. CONTACT LOST

Amazon.com

"Have you ever had a rock that just keeps on rolling/ Ever seen a train coming down the track" Ian Gillan deadpans on the first song off Bananas. This tune gives you every single 1970s hard rock cliché at once, as it careens from cheesy guitar solo to cheesy organ solo to cheesy dual organ and guitar solo, with a gratuitous use of the cowbell effect right through the whole track. The song is a bit like seeing your grandmother in hot pants. Things do get better from there on out, though not tremendously so. Deep Purple's first studio album in five years has new songs that for the most part sound like their old songs, which is not really such a bad thing. "Haunted," however, presents a new template for the band, a Macy Gray-style ballad. Really. The album brims with trademark DP choogling; original members Ian Paice and Roger Glover remain one of the most solid, thunderous rhythm sections in rock. If you can't get enough of this band's mountainous sound, with its thunderous organs, screaming guitars, and vocals that veer from ominous to operatic, this one's for you. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

bananas over it.......2007-07-19

This is relly a great cd. It is definatly the best of the post blackmoore era purple,They really show there versatility and don't just rest on there name for this cd.This is my third favorite dp albam only bettered by machine head and perfect strangers,and I have almost all of there albams I thought there better days were behind them but maybe not , You can tell Gillian is getting older but he can still outsing most of todays vocalists KEEP ON SPACE TRUCKIN

You would be bananas not to get this cd........2007-02-10

DP rocks as usual, this cd with it's heat, would give you toasted bananas! I highly reccommend it.

Keep Rolling!.......2006-12-07

DeeP PuRple has proved that it is a band for all seasons. Many of those hard rock dinausors now they are disbanded or retired or even they seem very old fashioned. But Deep Purple has its own concept about keeping itself upgraded and the legacy of Deep Purple is still runing very well. I have this album and I love it, especially when saw these songs in 2 Deep Purple's concert in 2004 in LA, I told to my buddies that is the band to be and that is the music that always rocks!

Ridin' the Purple Wave..........2006-11-07

Minus both Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple may require a slight redefinition to accommodate Bananas as a legitimate DP album (don't get me started on "Come Taste The Band"). True, Morse has been a member long enough to carry the banner without Blackmore's shadow chasing him (it may be an injustice to put it that way considering Morse's unique and often superior contributions), but Don Airey, while entirely competent, brings a decidedly generic flavor to the mix. When he does attempt to fill Lord's shoes, he does it coarsely, settling on a broad brush "Purple" sound instead of exploring the opportunities laid out by his predecessor. Paice and Glover seem largely content to move the songs along without breaking a sweat. Consequently there are moments when it sounds like an imitation (albeit a very good one) of Deep Purple, with only Gillan's vocals maintaining the illusion. Some may consider this a natural evolution of the band, but to my ears it sounds like a short jump away from becoming Ian Gillan and friends. Either way you swing, it's an easy album to listen to and close enough to keep any fan happy.

Bananas is good for ya.......2006-11-03

Bananas? I thought this was going to be a disappointment. The founding member and organist Jon Lord is gone and the cover art stinks, but surprise, it's really good. Lord's replacement Don Airey is rock solid. Deep Purple's powerful groove is still there, thanks to Glover and Paice, but sometimes they turn to mid-tempo boogie and even some blues. Singer Ian Gillan is still very witty and vocally solid, while guitarist Steve Morse pays off like never before. Bananas is filled with hooks and songs that get better with each listen. Sure the production could have been punchier, and there may be a lack of long solos, but these are small quibbles. Old Deep Purple fans who still pine for Blackmore may not want to hear about it, but if you're one of those open minded Deep Purple fans, you won't go away hungry. Also check out their recent album, "Rapture of the Deep." It's not like Bananas, but equally good. That's Deep Purple for ya!

Highlights: House Of Pain, Sun Goes Down, Pictures Of Innocence, I Got Your Number & Never A Word.

Average customer rating: IT'S KILLER!!!!!!........GET IT! Best hard rock album of the 70's Machine Head Limited Edition, Worth The Buy...... Purple's crowning achievement

Machine Head (Limited Edition) [2-CD SET] Deep Purple Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fireball In Rock: 25th Anniversary (UK) Made In Japan: The Remastered Edition Burn Perfect Strangers ASIN: B000006UD8 Release Date: 1998-06-30

Tracks:

1. Highway Star (1997 Remixes)
2. Maybe I'm A Leo (1997 Remixes)
3. Pictures Of Home (1997 Remixes)
4. Never Before (1997 Remixes)
5. Smoke On The Water (1997 Remixes)
6. Lazy (1997 Remixes)
7. Space Truckin' (1997 Remixes)
8. When A Blind Man Cries (1997 Remixes)

Tracks:

1. Highway Star (Remastered)
2. Maybe I'm A Leo (Remastered)
3. Pictures Of Home (Remastered)
4. Never Before (Remastered)
5. Smoke On The Water (Remastered)
6. Lazy (Remastered)
7. Space Truckin' (Remastered)
8. When A Blind Man Cries (B-Side)
9. Maybe I'm A Leo (Quadrophic Mix)
10. Lazy (Quadrophic Mix)

Album Description

1997 release, a limited edition two CD set in a slipcase with a 28 page booklet for the 25th anniversary of their landmark 1972 album featuring 'Smoke On The Water', 'Space Truckin'' and 'Highway Star'. 'Machine Head' is remastered &with three bonus tracks: 'When A Blind Man Cries' & Quadro- phonic mixes of 'Maybe I'm A Leo' and 'Lazy'. Also featured here is an eight track bonus CD of 1997 mixes for all seven of the album's tracks, plus 'When A Blind Man Cries'. 18 tracks total. An EMI release.

Album Details

25TH Anniversary Limited Edition. 28 page booklet and bonus track 'When A Blind Man Cries'.

Customer Reviews:

IT'S KILLER!!!!!!........GET IT!.......2007-03-23

Roger Glover's remix of this album is unbelievable! Way more goin' on.......it should be in everybody's collection!
Get it now.......RUN!

Best hard rock album of the 70's.......2006-10-04

This is a two disc set with both the orginal mix and a wonderful remix by bassist Roger Glover. It also includes a great booklet. Machine Head is without a doubt a classic album. Highway Star, Smoke On The Water, Space Truckin', Lazy, Pictures Of Home and list goes on. A masterpiece! Essential music for your home!

Machine Head.......2006-09-25

Band Personnell:
Ian Gillan - Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore - Guitars
Roger Glover - Bass
Ian Paice - Drums
Jon Lord - Organs and Keyboards

This is a really killer album, much great things can be said about this one, and songs such as "Highway Star", "Never Before", "Smoke on the Water" and "Space Truckin'" are surely the best tracks on this album...and maybe the best songs Deep Purple ever have made, this is a great album, and the dual-disc remastered and remixed version is surely gold worth, BUY THIS ALBUM!

Limited Edition, Worth The Buy.............2004-09-18

This double CD set includes both the orginal album remastered and many outtakes, mixes, remixes, with a single b-side, rare quad versions..and unissued guitar solos. Their is also a huge limited edition book inside which roger glover has contributed including many rare photos from the orginal sessions and the story behind the album which produced deep purple's biggest smash hit Smoke On The Water. This album is without a doubt a true classic album worth the buy. Specially in this Limited Edition( double CD set ). Dont buy just the machine head CD buy this limited edition. Recomended!

Purple's crowning achievement.......2001-08-10

Deep Purple could easily have been as big as Led Zeppelin. They were certainly as talented. If only Ritchie Blackmore had got on better with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, this classic line-up could have stayed together for a few more years, and clocked up true supergroup status. And earned an awful lot of money.

But an inability to make compromises often goes with the territory of being highly talented. Listening again to these remastered anniversary editions of 'In Rock', 'Fireball' and 'Machine Head' together with 'Rainbow Rising', I am strongly persuaded by the argument that Ritchie Blackmore has been rock's greatest post-Hendrix guitarist.

This was a re-master I had to buy. 'Machine Head' was the first album I ever bought. For several months it was the only album I owned, so I played it to death. Every piece of music brought into my boarding school had to be approved by the headmaster. At the time, only 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' had been approved. Rather than ask permission and get the album confiscated, I sneaked 'Machine Head' in to the school, intending to play it to myself on headphones. But other boys -- we were 13-year-olds -- wanted their own copies, so a number of crude speaker-to-microphone recordings were made. That summer, the sounds of 'Highway Star' and 'Pictures of Home' echoed around the subterranean cavern that was called the Model Club. Fortunately this was not the era when hard-rock bands felt obliged to insert gratuitous four-letter words into their lyrics. Despite the musical style of 'Machine Head' not nothing like the classical stuff that our teachers wanted us to aspire to, the album was not banned. Strangely, 'Smoke on the Water' was NOT one of the tracks we paid much attention to. It was only when I moved on the next term to another school -- one where boys could learn the guitar -- that I became aware of the legendary status this track was acquiring.

This 2CD set throws up an immediate dilemma: which to listen to first -- the Remixes or the Remasters? I know every note of the original album, so the Remasters were my first port of call. The recordings are clearer, but there's no particular revelation.

What is stunning -- and this is the reason why every Purple fan has to own this version -- are Roger Glover's Remixes. Normally I am suspicious of remixes. Today remixes are usually an excuse for another producer to cut and splice, re-order chorus and verse, and put down several new layers of synth and drum machine. Glover has done none of that, but he has brought a fantastic clarity to the recordings. Most tracks last a little longer, because Glover has left in an additional bar of music at the opening or at the very end. Two tracks, including 'Smoke on the Water', have completely different solos.

In listening to the remixes, you feel very close to the stage of the Grand Hotel, Montreux. There is a tremendous live feel to the recordings. Extraordinarily for a band whose members couldn't abide each other, the level of empathy between the musicians is oustanding. The interplay between Blackmore and Lord is wonderful. (Now at last with the sonic clarity of the remixes I can just about be sure which bits are played by Lord and which by Blackmore.) Even Glover's bass solo on 'Pictures of Home' sparkles.

Ian Gillan may have been casual about the writing of the lyrics, but Purple's music has lasted because the band put so much into the development of each track. I found that it took many listens to fully appreciate all the nuances of their finest recordings. That was, after all, part of the appeal of progressive music. This anniversary set is a fitting testament to the greatest progressive hard rock band I have known.

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