DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK

Here's where DP got their rise to fame. After their semi-chart hit single Black Night, it's full speed ahead for the heavy metal prog-rock pioneers. Speed King starts it all off with a crasher (aka the "woffle", this got edited off the US LP to please the ears of the WB Music heads) but Jon Lord warms up the organ engine before switching gears with Ian pouring heart n' soulful lyrics (most of 'em copied off of Little Richard tunes) to mold into the new traditional DP sound. Bloodsucker gives Ian's classic screams a whirl, but intensifies as Child In Time rolls in. CIT has a Wagnerian feel with Jon building crescendos and Ian's operatic voices settling into a Wring That Neck-like interlude before returning to the main theme and then to a thundering finale. Flight Of The Rat and Into the Fire show the darker side of DP. Living Wreck brings about the theme of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll". Finally, Hard Lovin' Man rolls the wrecking ball, closing with Ritchie imitating sounds of Pete's Townshend's smashing guitar routine. This is a perfect introduction to the classic Mark II era of Deep Purple.