Deep Purple

Deep Purple’s self-titled third album is their final release with singer Rod Evans and bassist Nick Simper, who would be sacked from the group to make room for Roger Glover and Ian Gillan, as Purple turned to harder rock. It’s a shame, in some respects, since there was nothing wrong with this version of the band. Evans, in particular, is the perfect singer for songs that balance between the ‘60s hippie scene and the hard blues-inflected rock the band often toyed with. “Blind” allows Evans to put strong emotion to work, while the cover of Donovan’s “Lalena” is a tour de force. The brief and punchy instrumental jam “Fault Line” includes backwards tape experiments and a riff that would make Black Sabbath millionaires. Jon Lord’s organ is out of this world on tracks such as “The Bird Has Flown” and “April,” a three-part piece that includes significant orchestral work. The band, however, realized the ‘60s were over and began pursuing a heavier course for the ‘70s, including the landmark Machine Head. The bonus tracks include “Emmaretta” in B-side and live BBC performance versions, along with an alternate take of “Bird Has Flown” and an exquisite live rendition of “Lalena.”