Burn

It's 1974 and Deep Purple were one of the biggest names in the rock world. They had delivered a trio of seminal albums in the previous few years: "In Rock" (1970), "Fireball" (1971) and "Machine Head" (1972). But there are problems within the band - a power struggle between Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan. The next album is "Who Do We Think We Are" (1973) which was generally slated for not being up to the standard of their previous efforts. Ian Gillan left, having worked his notice given the previous October, and he was promptly followed by bassist Roger Glover, who was eased out on Blackmore's instructions. This meant new blood was needed and two new bodies were found to complete what would become known as the Mark III line-up. Namely it consisted of: Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. Coverdale was a completely unknown quantity, prior to getting the call to join Deep Purple, and Hughes had been playing with Trapeze. They would both contribute hugely, not just with the performing of the songs, but with the writing as well.












The album opens up with "Burn", probably the only album opener that challenges "Highway Star" for the title "Best Opening Track On A Deep Purple Album". Immediately you hear the two new members working in concert using superb vocal harminisation techniques. Hughes also offers a far more funky bass attack than previously employed in the group, and when melded with the fierce percussion of Paice, as a backdrop to the attack of Blackmore's and Lord's solos, the overall effect is magnificent. The other track that has become known as a standard amongst Deep Purple fans is "Mistreated". It may contain Coverdale's best vocal for the group, and also Blackmore's best guitar solo - all in all a superb slower heavy blues grinder.

Side One

1. Burn  6:00

2. Might Just Take Your Life  4:36

3. Lay Down, Stay Down  4:15

4. Sail Away  5:48

Side Two

5. You Fool No One  4:47

6. What's Goin' On Here  4:55

7. Mistreated  7:25

8. 'A' 200  3:51

"What's Goin' On Here" is the group having fun, getting down, and boogieing to a driving beat and barrelhouse piano. "You Fool No One" definitely sounds like it has its roots in Cream's "I Feel Free" in the vocal harmonies used and is an excellent faster track. The superbly organ-led "Might Just Take Your Life" also features great trade-off vocals over a insistent forceful rhythm with Lord in top form on his keyboard. With the rest of the album maintaining the high standards that these tracks set it is a surprise that it closes on such a weak tune, the tame "'A' 200", an instrumental that would have been better left off altogether. In summing up, this album showed that Deep Purple were still a force to be reckoned with and introduced us to two people who would make a big impact on the future of heavy rock, not just in the UK but worldwide.

Burn (Live 1974 The California Jam)

Mistreated (Live 1974 The California Jam)

You Fool No One (Live 1974 The California Jam)