ANTHEMS

My first review for this site: why not begin with the first album that changed my look on music! As a fourteen year old kid who listened to dance music (I'm sorry...) I discovered that there were more ways of making music. It was 15 minutes to midnight on December 31th 2000 and our radio channel had their annual top 2000 show, with CiT being on number two. My mouth fell wide open and I had to check this band out. I came across this cheap compilation and thought the purple coloured Cd case was quite cool.

The compilation is rather good containing hits, live versions and some odd choises. The first thing you notice is the absence of Smoke on the Water, which I personally don't mind. Although SotW is DP's ultimate anthem, it's not my favourite DP song. Highway Star is a much more characteristic DP song and the live version on this CD (from the BBC In Concert radio show) is excellent. Black Night, Strange Kind of Woman (from Made in Japan) and Child in Time (BBC) are the other good live recordings.

The hits Hush, Fireball and Woman from Tokyo are good ranging from pop rock to progmetal. There are sadly no songs from MkIII with Coverdale and Hughes, but MkIV with guitarist Bolan is well represented with the fast Comin' Home and the hard rocking Drifter. The tracks Livin' Wreck and Mary Long are odd choises but are excellent songs. The last track is the short Super Trouper, which reminds me a bit of a television anthem.

This compilation is a good start to learn more about Deep Purple, and highly recommend for young kids who need to be convinced there is more than only dance music!