“Spread The Word Around”
“Deep Purple: Mk II”:1969 – 1973
Dr. Rox Remember When? (#11) for WDGY Radio (Article #86 May 2018)
By: RLSchwinden: aka: MrZerr0
The summer of ’72, I was a kid in Sioux City, and the new song “Smoke On The Water” was constantly playing from my little Panasonic “Red Ball” AM Radio, My Uncle John’s Band “Freedom Of Wild Water II” played this song at the Riverside Jr High School Dance, it was one of the 1st songs I ever learned on guitar, that & “Iron Man” I didn’t really understand what the words meant, I thought the “Fire in the sky” referred to a sunset. So this edition I will cover the most successful & longest running lineup of ‘Deep Purple’ referred to as “Mk II”
>Purple Shades: 1968<
The band was formed in May 1968, in Hertford, UK, the name came from Ritchie Blackmore’s Grandmother’s favorite song “Deep Purple” by Peter DeRose from 1933. The founder & leader (until 1970) Keyboardist Jon Lord (John Douglas Lord; born in Leicester on 9 Jun 1971 – 16 Jul 2012) & Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Richard Hugh Blackmore; born in Somerset on 14 April 1945) & Drummer Ian Paice (Ian Anderson Paice; born in Nottingham on 28 Jun 1948) with Bassist Nick Simper & Vocalist Rod Evans.
In the Summer of 1969, after 3 albums, Blackmore, Lord & Paice decided to take the band in a newer “Hard Rock” direction. They recruited 2 members of the Harrow-London based Band ‘Episode Six’ one being Vocalist Ian Gillian (born in London on 19 Aug 1945) & the other Bassist & Founder of ‘Episode Six’ Roger Glover (Roger David Glover; born in Wales on 30 Nov 1945), who in my opinion in ’72, was about the coolest looking guy on the planet earth. ‘Episode Six’ released 9 Singles from 1966-68 on PYE & MGM records.
Hence Deep Purple “MkII” was born. This lineup lasted from June 1969 to the July 1973, releasing; 4 studio albums 2 live albums & 12 singles. With this lineup most songs were written with Music by: Blackmore & Glover & Lyrics by Gillian, although all 5 members were credited.
> Symphony No. 69 <
The 1st release for the band was the “Live” album ‘Concerto For Group And Orchestra’ released in Dec 1969. Lord wrote an orchestral piece for the band, it was recorded live & released, the 1st time a rock band played live with an orchestra. The 1st single released by the band was the Non-LP “Hallelujah (I.A.T.P.) b/w April Part 1” probably because Gillian had been singing the part of “Jesus” in the “Rock Opera Concept Album” ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ released in late ’69.
> Into The Fire: 1970 – 1971 <
The 1st real release for the band is actually the 2nd album for this lineup, the LP ‘In Rock’ is released in June 1970, strangely with the Non-LP single “Black Night b/w Speed King” which hit #66 on the Billboard Charts in Jun ’70. There was one out-take left off of the album;”Cry Free”. The stand out tracks for me are; “Flight Of The Rat” “Speed King” & “Child In Time”.
The next release although Not A ‘Deep Purple’ album is worth noting, as it put Vocalist Gillian in the limelight, & brought a whole new notoriety to the band that he was currently in. The musical album ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ was recorded in Oct 1969, but released in the USA in May 1971 & became a #1 album on the Billboard charts.
The next release for ‘Purple’ is ‘Fireball’ released in July 1971 & rises to #32 on the Billboard Charts, the single released for this album is “Fireball b/w Demon’s Eye & or Anyone’s Daughter” released in Oct 1971. My favorite tracks form this release; “Fools” “No One Came” & “No No No”
> Fire In The Sky: 1972 <
In March 1972 the release their milestone ‘Machine Head’ which rises to #7 on the Billboard Charts, the single released for this album is “Never Before b/w When A Blind Man Cries”. Unbelievably the Anthem “Smoke On The Water” is Not released as a single, but does get a massive amount of airplay. My favorite tracks from this LP: “Maybe I’m Leo” “Never Before” & “Highway Star” *De Dee is very proud of the fact she is one of the only women she knows of, who knows all of the words to “Highway Star” she was told this by a band she was watching one night in St. Cloud.
As Band is at the height of their popularity the album ‘Purple Passages’ is released in Nov 1972, a double LP “Best Of” with 12 tracks off of the 1st three Deep Purple “Mk I” albums released in 1968-69. As the band embarks on the tour for their most successful album, they do make a stop here in town: Here is the date & setlist;
3 December 1972 Sunday Bloomington Met. Ctr.
Highway Star
Smoke on the Water
Strange Kind of Woman
Lazy
Paice’s Drum Solo
The Mule
Space Truckin’
Speed King
Lucille
> Super Trooper: 1973 <
Still at the zenith of their popularity they release their 2nd “Live” album ‘Made In Japan’ (recorded in Aug ’72) released in April 1973 & rises to #6 on the Billboard Charts, the single released for this album is from the previous LP “Smoke On The Water (Studio) b/w Smoke On The Water (Live)” is released in May 1973 & rises to #4 on the Billboard Charts. The final album from this lineup is ‘Who Do We Think We Are’ released in Jan 1973 & hits #15 on the Billboard Charts the single released is “Woman From Tokyo b/w Black Night (live)” which makes it to #60 on the charts in Oct 1973. There is an out-take from this session “Painted Horse”. This is probably my favorite album from this lineup with the songs; “Smooth Dancer” “Super Trooper” “Rat Bat Blue” & “Mary Long”. It is the summer of ’73 & Gillian is frustrated with Blackmore & decides to leave, not long after Glover follows, thus ending the “Mk II’ lineup until April 1984 for ‘Perfect Strangers’
*Here are some CDs worth noting from the Mk II lineup;
‘In Concert’ released on Vinyl in Dec 1980
‘Live In Montreux 1969’ recorded 4 Oct 1969 released 2006
‘Gemini Suite Live: 17 Sept 1970’ released 1993
‘Scandinavian Nights Sweden 12 Nov 1970’ released in 1980
‘Long Beach 1971’ released in 2015
‘Copenhagen 1972’ released in 2013
I have seen Deep Purple 3 times:
10 Jun 2001 in MPLS @ Target Ctr.
1 July 2005 in St. Paul @ Harriet Island,
It was here I met Glover; we discussed his favorite artist “Little Richard”, Paice; we discussed his time playing in the band with Tommy Bolin 1975-76 & Gillian; we discussed his stint in “Black Sabbath”
Sep 2006 Ian Gillian Solo @ Medina Ballroom in Medina
7 Aug 2015 Sioux City, Ia. @ Battery Park
*Be sure to tune into “Mr. Zero’s PsychoGello Vinyl Radio Show” for my Deep Purple Mk II (Episode #46) on 17 June 2018 Sunday 10:30am on WDGY 740am , Streaming & FM: 92.1, 103.7, 170.1. You can hear the past 45 Episodes on www.MrZeroS.Com – “Podcast” tab. This is one dedicated to El Mark’s new Baby Charlie.
We shall see you on the other side…. MrZerr0
Mr. Zero’s *Est. 2009
www.MrZeroS.Com
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
Deep Purple Mk II
1969 to 1973
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