DEEPEST PURPLE - THE VERY BEST OF DEEP PURPLE

My first touch with Deep Purple and hard rock, which my father considered heavy metal (he still does, to this day). A 'best-of' comprised of DP's greatest hits of all time. No matter what anyone says, I still consider this collection (with Iron Maiden) crucial to my future musical (metal) direction. There was something in their music that dragged to me to the heavier sound. Ritchie Blackmore's hard riffage, Ian Paice's precise drumming, a touch of atmosphere with Jon Lord's organ? Or Gillan's remarkable high vocals, Glover's thumping bass? Could be anything, could be everything. I know I was completely amazed by the sound at the time. Now, after hours and hours of music, I still consider Deep Purple seminal in their style.

Deepest Purple is comprised of material from the 1970 - 1974 period. All 12 songs showcase their hard rock sound which they became known for. However, there's little to none of progressive here. The complexity of the first three albums is nowhere to be found - you get straight-forward R'n'R instead. There's Speed King, Black Night, Highway Star, Burn, the very title of Rock Riff Smoke on the Water, as well as the progressive improvisations of Child in Time. Apparently nothing to speak of these tracks that wasn't already spoken. The tracklist is overall great. Perhaps Into the Fire and When a Blind Man Cries are missing, but you can't make all the fans happy.

For starters, for completionists, for the fans in the middle of the two - this is a must-have.