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Rating: Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord came from the Roundabout, but they stayed there for only a few months. They immediately formed a new band in '68, together with the timeless Ian Paice on drums, Nick Simper on bass, and a talented Rod Evans on vocals, both hailing from The Flowerpot Men and their Garden.
Not the best debut for Deep Purple. The different musical influences of the two founders (symphonic pop, and a great attraction for American rhythm & blues, shared with the other members), are probably the direct consequence of the result of this record (and the subsequent "The Book Of Taliesyn"), a result that partly convinces, which lays the groundwork for what will be in the following years the band's sound, which is still very raw.
The album consists of four covers ("Hush", "Help", "Hey Joe", "Prelude: Happiness - I'm So Glad", which indeed contains "I'm So Glad", also covered by Cream) and three tracks composed by the band, plus an instrumental intro. It is precisely this intro that immerses us with the very first single, "Hush", a cover of Joe South, which receives great success especially in America. "Prelude: Happiness-I'm So Glad" represents a glimpse into the band's future, with the first instrumental forays that will become a trademark especially in live performances. Another prelude is "Mandrake Root", where all the musicians' potentials are highlighted, favoring a darker and more aggressive sound, which will only find its expression in later years (and with the later line-up). "One More Rainy Day" is a purely beat track, where we can appreciate the voice of Rod Evans, truly intense here.
He is also perfectly immersed in "Help", a cover of the Beatles, a song with a rather psychedelic beginning. Fantastic is also the version of "Hey Joe", made famous by Jimi Hendrix. The remaining "Love Help Me" is the most negligible episode, at times it feels like listening to the Beach Boys. Additionally, it is penalized by Blackmore's aggressiveness, in stark contrast to Evans' cheerful singing.
An album that highlights only a small fraction of what Deep Purple will be. A raw debut, as already mentioned, that lays good foundations. But one cannot yet speak of Deep Purple. It will take a couple of years of gestation and a line-up change that will literally shock the music world.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Hush (04:25)
I got a certain little girl, she's on my mind
No doubt about it, she looks so fine
She's the best girl that I ever had
Sometimes she's going to make me feel so bad
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush, she broke my heart but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush, I need your love and I'm not to blame now
Love, love, they got it early in the morning
Love, love, they got it late in the evening
Love, love, well, I want that needing
Love, love, oh I got to get ahead of it
She's got a love like quicksand
Only took one touch of her hand
Blow my mind and I'm in so deep
That I can't eat and I can't sleep
Listen
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush, she took my heart but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush, thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush, I need your love and I'm not to blame now
Love, love, they got it early in the morning
Love, love, they got it late in the evening
Love, love, well, I want that needing
Love, love, oh I got to get ahead of it
04 Prelude: Happiness / I'm So Glad (07:20)
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
Don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what I'm gonna do
Another week in, telephoning
Tired of groaning for you
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
Don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what I'm gonna do
Another week in, telephoning
Tired of groaning for you
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
Don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what I'm gonna do
Another week in, telephoning
Tired of groaning for you
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
(repeat x3)
Glad glad glad glad glad
Glad glad glad glad glad
05 Mandrake Root (06:09)
I've got a Mandrake Root
It's some thunder in my brain
I feed it to my babe
She thunders just the same
Food of love sets her flame
Ah, stick it up
I've got the Mandrake Root
Baby's just the same
She still feels a quiver
She's still got the flame
She slows down, slows right down
I've got the power
08 Hey Joe (07:26)
Hey Joe
Where you going with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe
Now tell me where you going with that gun in your hand
I'm gonna shoot my lady
Cos I caught her messing around with another man
Yes, I'm going down to shoot my lady
Cos I caught her messing around with another man
Hey Joe
I heard you shot your woman down
Hey Joe
I heard you shot your woman down
Right down to the ground
Yes I did I shot her
You know I shot her cos I caught her messing 'round town
Yes I did I shot her
I shot my woman cos she was messing 'round town
I gave her the gun - I shot her!
Hey Joe
Tell me where you gonna run to now?
Hey Joe
C'mon tell me where you gonna run to?
Don't you worry about me
I'm going way down South
Way down South where I'm gonna be free
I'm going way down South
Way down South maybe outside Mexico Way
I'm gonna run, oh yeah
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