In Rock - Deep Purple

Deep Purple had already got three albums under their belt by 1970, and had established themselves as a successful act with the chart hit Hush, a cover of Joe South's song. However, their own material had fared less well up until this point and a major line-up change had seen the departure of singer Rod Evans and bassist Nic Simper, to be replaced by Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. After recording the ambitious, but flawed, Concerto For Group And Orchestra they headed back to the studio.

The Mark II lineup - as it would become known - was to subsequently release a string of classic albums of which this is the first, before a spectacular break-up at the height of their fame. Getting back to this album, the instantly recognizable cover is a parody of Mount Rushmore, with US Presidents replaced by the members of the band.

On to the songs themselves...

Speed King - *****

Opening with a blistering guitar solo from Ritchie Blackmore, this settles down into a hard rocker with a catchy riff that you're unlikely to forget in a hurry. The lyrics sound like nonsense to me, with an attempt to slip in as many Little Richard song titles as possible, but Gillan delivers them with such passion showcasing the vocal range that had landed him the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar at the time. Over the years this has become a staple of the band's live shows.

Bloodsucker - ***

Turning the pace down a notch, there's a complex guitar riff here that somehow manages to be the only one that you won't find yourself humming along to. The most interesting part is the interleaved guitar/organ break in the middle. To call it filler would be a bit uncharitable, but it's clearly not up to the standard of the songs before and after.

Child In Time - *****

This is a a slower-paced track still, but I'd hesitate to call it a ballad given its subject matter of the Vietnam War. Famously borrowing a riff from the song Bombay Calling, by It's A Beautiful Day, this still manages to surpass the original spectacularly, interspersing it with largely improvised jams from Lord that add to the epic feel. Blackmore contributes an impassioned two minute solo that ups the tempo in the middle. However, what really puts the icing on the cake is Gillan's vocal, which goes from whispers to sorrowful, yet still tuneful, screams. This is easily the standout track on the album, and remains a live favourite to this day.

Flight of the Rat - *****

Yet another catchy guitar riff from Blackmore; where does he get them from? Clocking in at nearly eight minutes, this is another long track, and that's largely down to the lengthy keyboard and guitar solos and Lord puts in a particularly spectacular one here. Blackmore isn't one to be outdone though, and puts in a great performance of his own.

Into The Fire - ****

The shortest song on the album, but still a good one. The simple guitar progression gives it an anthemic feel that I'd think is similar to Queen's We Will Rock You, still seven years in the future, and this track was always a live favourite. Blackmore puts in an uncharacteristically slow and structured solo here.

Livin'g Wreck - ***

Time for a bit of light relief with a comedy vocal about what seems to have been a particularly bad groupie experience; I'm sure any resemblance to actual events would be entirely coincidental, of course. Again, to call it filler would be a little bit harsh, as it's still a decent track, but it just doesn't quite live up to those that surround it.

Hard Lovin' Man - *****

Time to end the album on a high note, and you should know the score by now. Blackmore cranks out one more from the riff machine. Lord intertwines a monster of an organ solo, reportedly his favourite of all time, and Gillan launches into an impassioned vocal performance. At over seven minutes, and with scarcely a break in the pace, it's another epic performance.

Overall, the album has stood the test of time very well and should rank alongside the likes of Led Zeppelin II and Black Sabbath's Paranoid in terms of its influence on subsequent hard rock music. In terms of Purple's own catalogue, I'd think it only equalled by Machine Head. Yes, it's that good.

Although this is a review of the original version, it should be noted that there's also a 25th anniversary edition that has been digitally remastered and contains a number of bonus tracks.