SHADES OF DEEP PURPLE

DEEP PURPLE version of "Hush" provided on this album was one of the big hits during my teenage rocking growin-up. But, only years later I found out that this debut is a much more than that. Obvious product of the psychedelic/acid rock movement in England in late 1960s, it contains amazingly inspired musicianship (if not songwriting, judging by the quantity of covers) by Lord, Blackmore, Paice and Simper, while Rod Evans is surely one of unjustly neglected vocalists of the rock scene; if you ask me, I prefer his strong singing than the later Gillan's screaming acrobatics during the popular (populist?) Mark II era.

"And the Address", "Mandrake Root", "Prelude: Happiness/I am So Glad" and "Help" are all excellent tracks showing enormous musical talents of these guys, which unfortunatley were to be largely abused in their later career. The musicianship performed in these moments can be matched by the equally stunning achievements of the era, such as the best moments of CREAM, JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE or VANILLA FUDGE. "Shades of Deep Purple" is a definite "proto-progressive rock" album by all means and should therefore be checked by the general prog community.